Powell Lake in Alger County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Powell Lake in Alger County, Michigan. The water sits 850 feet up. At about 70 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It ranks high for size among our Alger County listings. Head to Munising, 7 miles away, for anything you forgot. Green Bay sits 140 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Powell Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name yellow perch, rainbow smelt, northern pike, white sucker and rock bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Work Powell Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 65°F on average, January about 15°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Powell Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Sister Lake, 0.4 miles away. For Powell Lake in particular, ask before you travel.