Milakokia Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Mackinac County, Milakokia Lake is a Michigan water. Everything around it is mixed forest. Roughly 3.2 sq miles of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. You are looking at roughly 9.4 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It is among the larger waters listed here for Mackinac County. Manistique lies 23 miles from the water. Then Newberry, 24 miles, and Munising, 46 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Milakokia Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Mackinac County records list white sucker, rainbow smelt, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Milakokia Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 16°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Milakokia Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Long Lake at 2.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Milakokia Lake before loading the car.