Fishing at McNearney Lake, Chippewa County, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find McNearney Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan. The bank gives way to mixed forest. The water covers some 122 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 2.0 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Chippewa County listings. Some 27 miles away sits Newberry, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Greater Sudbury, 189 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on McNearney Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Chippewa County records list rainbow smelt, bloater, lake whitefish and alewife among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat McNearney Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 15°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. That shapes the year on McNearney Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Peck and Rye Lake at 2.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Where McNearney Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.