Elbow Lake in Gogebic County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Michigan holds Elbow Lake, in Gogebic County. Height above sea level is 1,578 feet. The water covers some 26 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Compared with other Michigan water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Wakefield, 11 miles off. Bessemer follows at 16 miles, then Ironwood at 20 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Elbow Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Elbow Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 10°F in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Elbow Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The slipway at Elbow Lake Boat Launch is 90 yards away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Redboat Lake is 0.6 miles distant. For Elbow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.