Jackpine Lake Fishing in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Schoolcraft County, Michigan, this is Jackpine Lake. The ground round it is pine and birch. With some 59 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Manistique at 17 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Green Bay is 132 miles off. Neighbouring water: Lake Twentythree at about 0.2 miles, Highbridge Lake within 1 mile, Ganamush Lake at about 1.1 miles, Norway Lake within 1.2 miles and Carr Ponds at about 1.5 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Jackpine Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Jackpine Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Jackpine Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is a ramp at Jackpine Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Lake Twentythree, 0.2 miles out. Ask locally about Jackpine Lake if anything is unclear.