Musgrave Lakes in Luce County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Luce County, Michigan, you have Musgrave Lakes. The setting is rolling bush on every side. At 8 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is Newberry, 15 miles away. Green Bay is the closest city, 171 miles away. Nearby alternatives: Dishpan Lake 0.4 miles away, Fur Farm Lake 0.7 miles off, Lost Lake 0.9 miles away, Smith Lake 1.1 miles off and Peter Lake 1.1 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Musgrave Lakes

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Luce County, recorded fish include yellow perch, white sucker and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Musgrave Lakes the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 16°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Musgrave Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Dishpan Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Musgrave Lakes, the notice at the access point is the final word.