Fishing at Thompson Lake, Mackinac County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Mackinac County, Michigan, sits Thompson Lake. The bank is 597 feet above sea level. It measures some 247 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The margin runs to about 3.8 miles in total. On our Mackinac County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Cheboygan, 7.5 miles out. After that come Saint Ignace at 17 miles and Indian River at 25 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Thompson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Mackinac County cover white sucker, rainbow smelt, yellow perch, rock bass and alewife. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Thompson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 18°F in January to roughly 67°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Thompson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Twin Lakes is 1.9 miles off. The position on Thompson Lake is worth confirming on the day.