Arbutus Lake Fishing in Chippewa County, Michigan

• Overview

  Chippewa County, Michigan, is where Arbutus Lake sits. It sits in pine and birch country. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Some 28 miles away sits Newberry, the nearest settlement. Greater Sudbury sits 188 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Arbutus Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Chippewa County include rainbow smelt, bloater and lake whitefish. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Arbutus Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 14°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Arbutus Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Betchler Lakes sits 1.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Arbutus Lake if anything is unclear.