Hemlock Lake Fishing near Wakefield, Michigan

• Overview

  Hemlock Lake lies within the bounds of Gogebic County, Michigan. It lies 1,631 feet above sea level. At 12 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is high ground by Michigan standards. Wakefield sits 29 miles from the bank. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 141 miles distant. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Hemlock Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Gogebic County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Hemlock Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 10°F in January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Hemlock Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Blair Lake is 0.6 miles off. Confirm access to Hemlock Lake locally before you travel.