Fishing at Lake Francoeur, Marquette County, Michigan

• Overview

  Lake Francoeur is listed under Marquette County, Michigan. The bank is 1,440 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. Our Marquette County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, West Ishpeming sits 11 miles out. For a city, Green Bay is 126 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Francoeur

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Marquette County cover white sucker, yellow perch and rainbow smelt. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Lake Francoeur for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 64°F in July and bottom out at 12°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Lake Francoeur.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Little Perch Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lake Francoeur before loading the car.