Fishing Otter Lake in Keweenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Keweenaw County, Otter Lake is a Michigan water. Land around it is pine and birch. The water covers some 50 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.5 miles in total. It is low-lying compared with other Michigan water we list. Start from East End, 31 miles down the road. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 31 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Otter Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Keweenaw County include rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker and cisco. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Otter Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 12°F in January to roughly 63°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Otter Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Beaver Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Otter Lake if anything is unclear.