Harvey Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Harvey Lake falls in Marquette County, part of Michigan. The setting is lake country bush on every side. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Marquette County list. Harvey is the closest town at 7.5 miles. Negaunee follows at 7.6 miles, then Marquette at 8.7 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Harvey Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Marquette County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, rainbow smelt, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Harvey Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 15°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Harvey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Grace Lake, 2.4 miles out. Confirm before you fish Harvey Lake.