Fishing at Duck Lake, Gogebic County, Michigan

• Overview

  Michigan holds Duck Lake, in Gogebic County. What surrounds it is pine and birch. This is sizeable water at about 616 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Some 7.4 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It ranks high for size among our Gogebic County listings. Nearest town is Eagle River, 20 miles off. Beyond it, Iron River at 29 miles and Stambaugh, Iron River at 30 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Duck Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Gogebic County cover bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Duck Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 9°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Anyone fishing Duck Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is a ramp at Duck Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Devils Head Lake is 1.4 miles off. Nothing on Duck Lake should be assumed from this page alone.