Fishing Whitney Lake in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Whitney Lake in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. It stands 869 feet above sea level. The nearest town is Newberry, 18 miles away. Munising is 39 miles away, with Manistique at 41 miles. Round about: Perch Lake near enough 0.4 miles, Hanes Lake out at 0.7 miles, Bennet Springs near enough 0.8 miles, Tahquamenon Lakes out at 0.8 miles and Frank Lake near enough 0.9 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Whitney Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Schoolcraft County: rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Whitney Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 64°F and January near 16°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Expect Whitney Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Perch Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Whitney Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.