Fishing at Anderson Lake, Iron County, Michigan

• Overview

  Michigan holds Anderson Lake, in Iron County. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Around 47 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is high ground by Michigan standards. The closest town, Crystal Falls, is 4.5 miles distant. Green Bay sits 112 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Anderson Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Iron County: brown trout, yellow perch, northern pike, walleye and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Anderson Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 65°F and January about 10°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Anderson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Mud Lake, 1 mile away. Where Anderson Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.