Fishing Lake Wilson in Presque Isle County, Michigan

• Overview

  Within Presque Isle County, Michigan, you have Lake Wilson. The ground round it is pine and birch. At roughly 17 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Presque Isle County list. Supplies mean a trip to Rogers City, 12 miles off. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 167 miles distant. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Wilson

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Presque Isle County: rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Lake Wilson to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Anyone fishing Lake Wilson regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is a slipway at Lake Nettie Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A toilet block sits half a mile away. This sits inside Porcupine Run Nature Preserve, so read the reserve notices first. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Lake Nettie at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. For Lake Wilson in particular, ask before you travel.