Lake Emily in Iron County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Emily lies in Iron County, Michigan. The country here is lake country bush. The water covers around 332 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 3.1 miles of margin, front to back. Few waters listed in Iron County are bigger. Head to Stambaugh, Iron River, 6.4 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Iron River at 6.9 miles and Crystal Falls at 8.1 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lake Emily

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Iron County, recorded fish include brown trout, yellow perch and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Lake Emily the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 9°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Lake Emily to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Launch at Emily Lake Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Lake Fifteen, 2.4 miles out. None of that is settled for Lake Emily in what we hold.