Fishing Barnhart Lake in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  Schoolcraft County in Michigan is where Barnhart Lake sits. The country here is rolling bush. About 4 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Schoolcraft County standards. For a base, Manistique sits 9.2 miles out. After that come Munising at 28 miles and Gladstone at 35 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Barnhart Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Schoolcraft County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Barnhart Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 15°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Barnhart Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Smith Slough is 3.8 miles off. Check the position on Barnhart Lake before loading the car.