Fishing Boss Lake in Chippewa County, Michigan

• Overview

  This water sits in Chippewa County, Michigan. The country here is rolling bush. At about 56 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 1.5 miles on foot. The town to know is Sault Ste. Marie, 11 miles out. The big place round here is Greater Sudbury, 148 miles distant. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Boss Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Chippewa County list rainbow smelt, bloater and lake whitefish. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read Boss Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 12°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near early December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Boss Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Meniss Lake, 0.8 miles out. Ask locally about Boss Lake if anything is unclear.