Fishing Lake Benson in Keweenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Keweenaw County, Michigan, is where Lake Benson sits. It lies 778 feet above sea level. At about 59 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. With about 1.9 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Amethyst Harbour is the closest town at 33 miles. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 35 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lake Benson

  Our records hold no depth for this water. 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. Reported across Keweenaw County: rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker, cisco and lake whitefish. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Lake Benson gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 13°F and August at about 62°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about late November in an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Lake Benson more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Forbes Lake, 0.5 miles away. Confirm access to Lake Benson locally before you travel.