Mullett Lake

If you are getting ready to fish Mullett Lake, keep the first plan simple. This lake is in Cheboygan County. It covers about 16,630 acres. The deepest recorded spot is 148 feet. On a first trip, I would use the wind, water color, visible cover, and any signs of bait to decide where to spend time on Mullett Lake.

Fishing at Mullett Lake

The deeper basin gives fish plenty of vertical room. Watch for suspended bait and sharp breaks instead of assuming everything is sitting on bottom.

In spring, check warming flats beside a quick depth change. During summer, fish the hours and depths with the best temperature and oxygen. In fall, follow bait as cooling water makes more of the lake comfortable again.

At Mullett Lake, I would give the first three stops different jobs. One should test shallow cover, one should test a clean edge, and one should test deeper water. That tells us more than making the same cast in three places that only look different from above.

About This Water

Michigan's legal state-record lake sturgeon came from Mullett Lake. The fish weighed 193 pounds, giving this lake one of the most impressive entries in the state record book.

Fish Species

The current record for Mullett Lake in Cheboygan County lists Alewife, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Cisco, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Creek Chub, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, and Lake Sturgeon, along with 16 additional recorded species. That is a starting point, not a promise that every species is common in every season or every part of the basin. For largemouth bass, compare shallow cover with the first firm edge before assuming the fish moved deep. Smallmouth bass make rock, harder bottom, windblown points, and offshore edges worth extra time. A small jig is a clean way to locate the active panfish depth. Stocking is kept separate from present-day abundance: the record lists Brown Trout, Lake Trout, and Splake. A release confirms fish were placed here, not that they survived, reproduced, or remain common today.

Build the tackle around the likely fish instead of bringing the heaviest setup by default. Keep released fish supported and wet, remove hooks efficiently, and follow Michigan rules on bait movement and transport.

How I Would Fish It

• Check fresh water. Inflow can add oxygen, color, current, and food, especially after rain or during summer heat.
• Compare inside and outside edges. Fish may tuck deep into cover under bright skies and slide to the outer edge when light fades.
• Downsize before giving up. A smaller profile can turn followers or light bites into hooked fish without forcing a complete location change.
• Use contrast with purpose. Natural colors fit clear water, while stronger contrast helps fish locate a lure in stain or heavy vegetation.
• Mark the exact clue. Remember the depth and habitat, not merely the place where the fish happened to bite.

Give a pattern enough time to be tested, not enough time to waste the day. A move of fifty yards to a new edge can matter more than a complete run across the lake.

Mullett Lake is big enough that trying to cover all of it in one day usually wastes time. Pick one bay, basin, arm, or stretch of shoreline and work it well. Look for a simple pattern, such as fish holding on weeds, rock, wood, current, or bait at one depth.

Electronics can save time on Mullett Lake, but they do not need to make the trip complicated. Use the map to find a few likely breaks, use sonar to check depth and bait, and then fish what you actually see. If the screen is empty, keep moving until the water gives you a reason to stop.

Wind can change Mullett Lake quickly. It may push bait toward one side, muddy a shallow bank, or make open water rough. Check the hourly forecast and have a calmer section in mind before the day starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start fishing?

Begin where healthy cover touches a depth change. If that area is empty, check the nearest inflow, point, or hard-bottom patch before making a long move.

When should I change spots?

If Mullett Lake is not showing bait, bites, followers, or healthy cover after a fair try, change depth or move to a different type of water. Do not stay put only because the spot looks good.

What should I check before the trip?

Confirm current size and possession rules, examine the weather window, and note whether rising or falling water may affect cover and current. Old trip reports cannot replace those checks.