Delene Lake Fishing near L'Anse, Michigan

• Overview

  The Baraga County end of Michigan holds Delene Lake. The bank is 1,650 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 67 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Michigan listings. Supplies mean a trip to L'Anse, 15 miles off. Baraga lies 17 miles off, Crystal Falls another 31 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Delene Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name yellow perch, pink salmon and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Delene Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 64°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Delene Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, King Lake at 1.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Delene Lake before loading the car.