McMullan Lakes in Chippewa County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Chippewa County, Michigan, is where McMullan Lakes sits. Elevation runs to 630 feet. Surface area runs to about 14 acres — small enough to read in one session. Ground here is low by Michigan standards. Newberry sits 34 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 194 miles off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on McMullan Lakes

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Chippewa County records list rainbow smelt, bloater, lake whitefish, alewife and lake trout among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. McMullan Lakes gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 16°F and July at about 64°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near early December in autumn. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Anyone fishing McMullan Lakes regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The water borders Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Marsh Lakes, 0.8 miles away. Ask locally about McMullan Lakes if anything is unclear.