Fishing at McIntosh Lake, Presque Isle County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Presque Isle County entry here is McIntosh Lake, in Michigan. It stands 787 feet above sea level. At roughly 10 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. For a base, Rogers City sits 13 miles out. Indian River is 29 miles away, with Cheboygan at 32 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on McIntosh Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Presque Isle County records list rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. McIntosh Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 67°F for July and 18°F for January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on McIntosh Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Gifford Lake is 0.6 miles distant. The position on McIntosh Lake is worth confirming on the day.