Man Lake in Alger County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Man Lake stands in Alger County, Michigan. The water sits 774 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 20 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest place of any size is Munising, 15 miles away. Green Bay is the closest city, 134 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Man Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Alger County records list yellow perch, rainbow smelt, northern pike and white sucker among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Man Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Man Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Tie Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Man Lake carry more weight than any list.