Skeels Pond near Munising: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Alger County, Skeels Pond is a Michigan water. The country here is lake country bush. Small at around 15 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest town is Munising, 16 miles away. Further out sit Manistique (24 miles) and Gladstone (29 miles). Within a short run: Camp K Lake out at 0.6 miles, Mink Lake about 0.6 miles, Pan Lake out at 0.7 miles, Blue Lake about 0.8 miles and Hammond Lake out at 0.9 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Skeels Pond

  We hold no depth figure 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 and white sucker among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Skeels Pond the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 15°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Skeels Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Camp K Lake, 0.6 miles away. Check the position on Skeels Pond before loading the car.