Ready Lake Fishing in Alger County, Michigan

• Overview

  Ready Lake lies in Alger County, in Michigan. It lies 817 feet above sea level. It measures about 69 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. It is among the larger waters listed here for Alger County. Munising at 11 miles is the nearest place to stop. Manistique lies 31 miles off, K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base another 32 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Ready Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Alger County records list yellow perch, rainbow smelt, northern pike, white sucker and rock bass among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Ready Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 15°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Ready Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Shady Lake is 1.3 miles distant. Check the position at Ready Lake before loading the car.