Cornell Lake in Schoolcraft County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Schoolcraft County in Michigan is where Cornell Lake sits. It sits at 702 feet above sea level. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Schoolcraft County are larger. Manistique sits 11 miles from the bank. Green Bay sits 127 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Cornell Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Schoolcraft County: rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Cornell Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 15°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Cornell Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. West Lake sits 2.6 miles off and takes the overflow. For Cornell Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.