High Lake Fishing near L'Anse, Michigan

• Overview

  The Houghton County end of Michigan holds High Lake. The bank is 1,362 feet above sea level. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. Our Houghton County list holds plenty of bigger water. The nearest place of any size is L'Anse, 22 miles away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 132 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on High Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Houghton County include rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. High Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 11°F in January up to 65°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to High Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Elginor Lake, 0.7 miles away. Rules at High Lake are worth checking on the day.