Fishing at Chapin Mine, Dickinson County, Michigan

• Overview

  Chapin Mine stands in Dickinson County, Michigan. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 14 acres — small enough to read in one session. Iron Mountain sits 0.4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Kingsford is 2.1 miles away, with Quinnesec at 4 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Chapin Mine

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Dickinson County include bluegill, walleye and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Chapin Mine before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 12°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Chapin Mine follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Mud Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Chapin Mine is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.