Fishing Bay Lake in Keweenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Bay Lake falls inside Keweenaw County. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 23 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Bank access stretches around 0.9 miles in total. It lies lower than most water we list in Michigan. Laurium lies 34 miles from the water. It is 96 miles to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Bay Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Keweenaw County: rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker, cisco and lake whitefish. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Bay Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 63°F and February near 19°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early December in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Bay Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Schlatter Lake is 1.9 miles off. Confirm access to Bay Lake locally before you travel.