Nester Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Nester Lake stands in Ogemaw County, Michigan. Land around it is rolling bush. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Skidway Lake, 8.6 miles away. For a city, Lansing is 112 miles off. Near neighbours include: Withey Lake sits 1.1 miles out, Fish Lake about 1.6 miles, Big Williams Lake sits 1.7 miles out, Little Williams Lake about 2.1 miles and King Lake sits 2.1 miles out. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Nester Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Ogemaw County include bluegill, rock bass and pink salmon. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Nester Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 18°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Nester Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Withey Lake, 1.1 miles away. The position on Nester Lake is worth confirming on the day.