Pollock Lake in Mackinac County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pollock Lake sits in Mackinac County, out in Michigan. The water sits 600 feet up. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Mackinac County. Saint Ignace is the closest place, 18 miles off. Greater Sudbury sits 167 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Pollock Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Mackinac County names white sucker, rainbow smelt and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Pollock Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 14°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Pollock Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Young-Montgomery Nature Preserve runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Mill Pond sits 1.3 miles off and takes the overflow. For Pollock Lake in particular, ask before you travel.