Fishing at Holmes Lake, Iron County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Holmes Lake belongs to Iron County. Height above sea level is 1,407 feet. With some 28 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It is high ground by Michigan standards. For a base, Crystal Falls sits 9.9 miles out. Iron Mountain is 20 miles away, with Kingsford at 22 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Holmes Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Iron County, recorded fish include brown trout, yellow perch, northern pike and walleye. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Holmes Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 11°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Holmes Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Holmes Lake Boat Launch provides a boat ramp about half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Mitchell Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Holmes Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.