Fishing at Shady Lake, Alger County, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Shady Lake in Alger County, Michigan. The country here is rolling bush. The water measures roughly 7 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. On size it sits at the modest end of our Alger County list. The town to know is Munising, 11 miles out. Further out sit Manistique (30 miles) and Gladstone (32 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Shady Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Alger County cover yellow perch, rainbow smelt and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Shady Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 15°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It holds true on Shady Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Doe Lake is 0.4 miles off. Check the position at Shady Lake before loading the car.