Fishing at Belle Lakes, Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Schoolcraft County end of Michigan holds Belle Lakes. It sits at 879 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 27 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Newberry lies 17 miles from the water. The big place round here is Green Bay, 173 miles distant. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Belle Lakes

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Schoolcraft County: rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Belle Lakes light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 16°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about early December in an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Belle Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Hanes Lake, 0.6 miles away. Check the position at Belle Lakes before loading the car.