Sprinkler Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Alcona County entry here is Sprinkler Lake, in Michigan. It sits in pine and birch country. Around 68 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 1.4 miles keeps the choices simple. Some 11 miles away sits Hubbard Lake, the nearest settlement. It is 137 miles to Lansing, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Sprinkler Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name white sucker, rock bass, yellow perch, northern pike and brown bullhead. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Sprinkler Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in January up to 67°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan around that when you fish Sprinkler Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A ramp at Sprinkler Lake Boat Launch is mapped half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try DeLap Lake, 0.7 miles away. Signs at Sprinkler Lake carry more weight than any list.