Fishing Foote Lake in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Foote Lake in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. The water sits 735 feet up. At roughly 24 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Manistique, is 18 miles away. For a city, Green Bay is 135 miles off. Alternatives close at hand: Forty Pond the better part of 0.4 miles, Hughes Lake 0.6 miles away, No Name Lake the better part of 0.6 miles, Side Lake 0.7 miles away and Pot Lake the better part of 0.8 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Foote Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Schoolcraft County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Foote Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 65°F and January at 15°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Foote Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The slipway at Triangle Lake Boat Launch is half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Forty Pond, 0.4 miles away. Treat access at Foote Lake as something to verify.