Hunting and Fishing

The surface area of Presque Isle County covers 660 square miles. Twenty percent of the property in the county is owned by the State of Michigan or the U.S. Government.

With few exceptions, these lands are open to hunting, trapping and fishing. Big game hunters will find deer, black bear and turkey available in good numbers and the small game and predator population provides excellent sporting opportunities.

In addition, there are two commercial hunting preserves in the county. T.L.C. Ranch, located just north of M-68 near the village of Millersburg offers pheasant, quail and chukkar, while the Muy Grande Ranch, located just off County Road 634 south of Millersburg offers several varieties of big game. Guided hunting is also available at Nettie Bay Lodge, located between Hawks and Millersburg on County Rd. 638.

Presque Isle County is blessed with almost 100 inland lakes ranging in size from Grand Lake at almost 5,700 acres to Tomahawk Lake at just over twenty acres. In addition, Presque Isle shares Black Lake with Cheboygan County, Long Lake with Alpena County and Tomahawk Creek Flooding with Montmorency County. Almost one-half of the county’s lakes are either located on state land or have public access sites, and contain the most prevalent species of warm and cool water fish, including bass, walleyes, perch, northern pike, bullhead and all species of pan fish.

Presque Isle County has over seventy miles of Lake Huron shoreline with three improved launch sites that provide access to the lake. These are located at Presque Isle Harbor in Presque Isle Township, Rogers City Marina in the City of Rogers City and Hammond Bay Refuge Harbor in Bearinger Township on US 23 approximately 20 miles north of Rogers City. All three of these launch sites are capable of handling any pleasure craft that is capable of being towed. In addition, all three sites maintain transient slips that are available for those who wish to keep their boats in the water for extended periods. There is an additional public access site at the mouth of the Ocqueoc River. This is limited to smaller boats with shallow draft, and there is no dockage available. For those interested in fishing Lake Huron on a licensed charter boat, there are three such services available in Presque Isle County. Charter boat trips are also available on several of the larger inland lakes located in and around Presque Isle County, thus extending the available sport fishing opportunities. Given the uncertain nature of Lake Huron’s winds and weather, this also offers the fisherman a “back-up” plan in the event the big lake is unfishable.

The Department of Natural Resources maintains one of its largest salmon planting/harvesting facilities just south of Rogers City on the Swan River. Each year, the DNR releases several hundred thousand Chinook salmon fry, which has established Northern Lake Huron as one of the best salmon fisheries on the Great Lakes. The DNR also plants Brown Trout and Steelhead Trout in the larger streams that flow into Lake Huron creating both offshore and stream fisheries. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plants Lake Trout fry at various offshore reefs in Lake Huron, and these fish provide a bountiful sport fishery all up and down Presque Isle County’s Lake Huron Shore. Recently, walleye and bass have added variety to the angler’s catch.

There are over 300 miles of streams in Presque Isle County providing opportunities to fish for trout, salmon, bass, pan fish, and most warm water species. Public Access sites are located throughout the county and are indicated on the county map. Ocqueoc Outfitters offers guided fishing on the Ocqueoc River system for salmon and steelhead.

Onaway is known as Michigan’s Sturgeon Capital since the ancient fish spawn in the Black River just north and west of Onaway, and provides a sport fishery during the Sturgeon spearing season each February on Black Lake. Shanty rental is available from Ocqueoc Outfitters (see below).

Parrott’s Outpost
20628 State St. PO Box 531
Onaway, MI 49765
1-800-733-0412
http://www.parrottsoutpost.com

Adrian’s Sporting Goods
335 N. Bradley Hwy.
Rogers City, MI 49779
(989) 734-2303

The Dry Dock
450 N. Bradley Hwy.
Rogers City, MI 49779
(989) 734-2924

Ocqueoc Outfitters
John Roby
15524 US 23
North Ocqueoc, MI 49759
(989) 734-4208
http://www.ocqueocoutfitters.com

J.C. Charters
Capt. Jeffrey C. Schwartz
(740) 627-7376

TLC Sport Fishing Charter Service
Capt. Rick Colonna
12558 Orcutt Hwy.
Millersburg, MI 49759
(989) 733-5443
http://www.tlcbirdpreserve.com

Brunings Charter Service
Capt. Tim Bruning
259 N First Street
Rogers City, MI 49779
(989) 734-3463

TLC Ranch
12558 Orcutt Hwy.
Millersburg, MI 49759
(989) 733-544
http://www.tlcbirdpreserve.com

Muy Grande Ranch
1035 Whitetail Way.
Millersburg, MI 49759
1-888-331-7274
http://www.muygranderanch.com

Nettie Bay Lodge
9011 W. 638 Hwy
Hawks, MI 49743
http://www.nettiebay.com