Fishing Bob Lake in Houghton County, Michigan

• Overview

  Bob Lake is a Houghton County water, in Michigan. It lies 1,175 feet above sea level. Roughly 131 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 1.9 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Few waters listed in Houghton County are bigger. You are 21 miles from Baraga. Beyond it, L'Anse at 22 miles and Ontonagon at 24 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Bob Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Houghton County list rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Bob Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 12°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Bob Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Launch at Bob Lake Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Picnic facilities are recorded some half a mile out. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Penegor Lake is 4.2 miles distant. Ask locally about Bob Lake if anything is unclear.