SC Mike
07-20-2007, 03:34 PM
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/SC_Lakeoftheweek.gif (http://sportsmansconnection.com)
Tea Lake, Oscoda County (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/lakeinfo/27378-Tee_%28Tea%29/)
Nearest town: Lewiston
Surface water area: 216 acres
Maximum depth: 70 feet
Water clarity: NA
Accessibility: State-owned public access with hard-surfaced ramp
on south shore of northern lobe, parking for 4 vehicles
Accommodations: Restrooms
44ˇ 50’ 29’’ N / 84ˇ 17’ 37’’ W
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/mi/tea.jpg (http://sportsmansconnection.com)
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/mi/tea-stocking.jpg (http://sportsmansconnection.com)
Fishing Information:
Tea Lake is located in the northwestern corner of Oscoda
County just south of Lewiston. The shoreline of the small
lake is well developed with homes and cabins with the exception
of a few areas around the lake that remain in a natural
state. This development prompts a fair amount of recreational
activity during most of the summer but the lake still remains
clear and clean with moderate weed growth. A majority of
the vegetation can be found around the lake’s three islands,
otherwise it is in scattered patches along the shoreline. In
these patches of weeds anglers will find healthy populations
of bluegills, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass,
perch, and walleyes.
Most species are present in good numbers with a decent
size structure. Pike are found from pike minnows on up
to the occasional 30-incher though most are in the 20-inch
range and tip the scale to 3 pounds. The lake has a reputation
for occasionally producing large walleyes. These fish are
maintained through DNR stocking efforts. The most recent
walleye stocking was in the spring of 2006 when 9,720 small
fingerlings were released. There were also 1,208 black crappies
and 700 yellow perch planted later in the year. Tiger
muskies were planted a couple of decades ago, if any fish are
caught, you know they’ll be good size.
Drew Wilson of Mio Sport Shop, 115 W. 8th St., Mio, MI
48647, (989) 826-3758, says walleye anglers on Tea generally
use a crawler harness or vertical jig just before dark. The edges
of weed beds in 10- to 15-feet of water are good places to start
looking, especially on the north arm where the water is a bit
cooler. Pay attention to the steep breaks off the east shore of
the big island (Spot 1), the inside turn just northwest of the
70-foot-deep hole (Spot 2), and jig the steep break or troll the
weedline of the east shore on the north arm (Spot 3).
If looking for bass or bluegills, the weedbeds around the
islands or the point off the north shore of the middle island
(Spot 4) should be thoroughly worked. If the ’gills aren’t biting,
cast the same areas with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or top
water lures in the evenings for largemouth bass. The narrows
between the north and south arm (Spots 5) offer another good place to
look for these fish. Cast to the pockets and weed margins, in the pendulous
lobe just east of the lower narrows (Spot 6). Winter anglers usually
fish this lake for bluegills or perch with wax worms on a jig right out from
the public access in 10- to 30-feet of water.
The lake is separated into three separate basins. The north basin consists
of sand and gravel, grows some weeds, and is also the deepest of the
three. The south basin holds more aquatic vegetation and naturally has a
mucky bottom. In between the north and south basin is the middle basin.
This section of lake has both deepwater and some aquatic vegetation.
The launch site is located on the southeast shore of the north section. It
is a decent launch but parking is scarce so you may want to show up early.
Sportsman's Connection is a leading publisher of lake maps and
fishing information. 130-250 Michigan lakes are covered in
each of 7 (newly revised) fishing map guides, and are available
for download at www.sportsmansconnection.com/Michigan/ (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/Michigan/)
(http://www.scmaps.com.)
Tea Lake, Oscoda County (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/lakeinfo/27378-Tee_%28Tea%29/)
Nearest town: Lewiston
Surface water area: 216 acres
Maximum depth: 70 feet
Water clarity: NA
Accessibility: State-owned public access with hard-surfaced ramp
on south shore of northern lobe, parking for 4 vehicles
Accommodations: Restrooms
44ˇ 50’ 29’’ N / 84ˇ 17’ 37’’ W
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/mi/tea.jpg (http://sportsmansconnection.com)
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/images/lakeoftheweek/mi/tea-stocking.jpg (http://sportsmansconnection.com)
Fishing Information:
Tea Lake is located in the northwestern corner of Oscoda
County just south of Lewiston. The shoreline of the small
lake is well developed with homes and cabins with the exception
of a few areas around the lake that remain in a natural
state. This development prompts a fair amount of recreational
activity during most of the summer but the lake still remains
clear and clean with moderate weed growth. A majority of
the vegetation can be found around the lake’s three islands,
otherwise it is in scattered patches along the shoreline. In
these patches of weeds anglers will find healthy populations
of bluegills, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass,
perch, and walleyes.
Most species are present in good numbers with a decent
size structure. Pike are found from pike minnows on up
to the occasional 30-incher though most are in the 20-inch
range and tip the scale to 3 pounds. The lake has a reputation
for occasionally producing large walleyes. These fish are
maintained through DNR stocking efforts. The most recent
walleye stocking was in the spring of 2006 when 9,720 small
fingerlings were released. There were also 1,208 black crappies
and 700 yellow perch planted later in the year. Tiger
muskies were planted a couple of decades ago, if any fish are
caught, you know they’ll be good size.
Drew Wilson of Mio Sport Shop, 115 W. 8th St., Mio, MI
48647, (989) 826-3758, says walleye anglers on Tea generally
use a crawler harness or vertical jig just before dark. The edges
of weed beds in 10- to 15-feet of water are good places to start
looking, especially on the north arm where the water is a bit
cooler. Pay attention to the steep breaks off the east shore of
the big island (Spot 1), the inside turn just northwest of the
70-foot-deep hole (Spot 2), and jig the steep break or troll the
weedline of the east shore on the north arm (Spot 3).
If looking for bass or bluegills, the weedbeds around the
islands or the point off the north shore of the middle island
(Spot 4) should be thoroughly worked. If the ’gills aren’t biting,
cast the same areas with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or top
water lures in the evenings for largemouth bass. The narrows
between the north and south arm (Spots 5) offer another good place to
look for these fish. Cast to the pockets and weed margins, in the pendulous
lobe just east of the lower narrows (Spot 6). Winter anglers usually
fish this lake for bluegills or perch with wax worms on a jig right out from
the public access in 10- to 30-feet of water.
The lake is separated into three separate basins. The north basin consists
of sand and gravel, grows some weeds, and is also the deepest of the
three. The south basin holds more aquatic vegetation and naturally has a
mucky bottom. In between the north and south basin is the middle basin.
This section of lake has both deepwater and some aquatic vegetation.
The launch site is located on the southeast shore of the north section. It
is a decent launch but parking is scarce so you may want to show up early.
Sportsman's Connection is a leading publisher of lake maps and
fishing information. 130-250 Michigan lakes are covered in
each of 7 (newly revised) fishing map guides, and are available
for download at www.sportsmansconnection.com/Michigan/ (http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/Michigan/)
(http://www.scmaps.com.)