Hoist Lake Fishing near Eagle River, Michigan

• Overview

  Hoist Lake is set in Gogebic County, Michigan. It lies 1,696 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 31 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. With about 1.0 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is high ground by Michigan standards. 19 miles away sits Eagle River, the nearest town. The big place round here is Green Bay, 127 miles distant. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Hoist Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Gogebic County, recorded fish include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Hoist Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 9°F at the bottom of winter. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hoist Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. 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. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Sharptail Lake, 0.9 miles out. Signs at Hoist Lake carry more weight than any list.