Fishing at Swede Lake, Alger County, Michigan

• Overview

  Swede Lake lies in Alger County, Michigan. It lies 843 feet above sea level. At roughly 14 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The nearest place of any size is Munising, 2.7 miles away. Green Bay sits 144 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Not far off: Cox Pond 1 mile away, Wetmore Lake at 2.4 miles, McFarlin Lake 2.6 miles away, Nelson Lake at 2.7 miles and Mud Lake 3.3 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Swede Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Alger County include yellow perch, rainbow smelt and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Swede Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 64°F in July and bottom out at 16°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Swede Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Cox Pond at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. For Swede Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.