Fishing at Cranberry Lake, Marquette County, Michigan

• Overview

  Cranberry Lake is listed under Marquette County, Michigan. It lies 1,565 feet above sea level. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Marquette County list. For supplies, West Ishpeming is 20 miles out. Crystal Falls is 21 miles and Ishpeming 21 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Marquette County include white sucker, yellow perch, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Cranberry Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan any trip to Cranberry Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Lily Lake, 0.3 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Cranberry Lake for certain.