Ketchum Lake Fishing near Iron River, Michigan

• Overview

  Ketchum Lake lies in Iron County, Michigan. Elevation runs to 1,542 feet. The water measures roughly 15 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Compared with other Michigan water on our list, it sits high. Iron River lies 15 miles from the water. Green Bay is the closest city, 127 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Ketchum Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Iron County, recorded fish include brown trout, yellow perch, northern pike and walleye. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Ketchum Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 64°F for July and 10°F for January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Ketchum Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Big Spring Hole at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Ketchum Lake is worth confirming on the day.