Fishing at Richard Lake, Presque Isle County, Michigan

• Overview

  Richard Lake is listed under Presque Isle County, Michigan. It stands 794 feet above sea level. The nearest town is Rogers City, 10 miles away. After that come Indian River at 30 miles and Cheboygan at 31 miles. Round about: Mud Lake some 1.1 miles off, Bullhead Lake (1.5 miles), Upper Barnhart Lake some 1.6 miles off, Lower Barnhart Lake (1.6 miles) and McIntosh Lake some 2.4 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Richard Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Presque Isle County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Richard Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 67°F and January near 18°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Richard Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Mud Lake, 1.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Richard Lake are worth checking on the day.