Lily Pond in Marquette County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Michigan holds Lily Pond, in Marquette County. Around the bank it is lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Marquette County are larger. West Ishpeming sits 26 miles from the bank. After that come Ishpeming at 26 miles and Negaunee at 26 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lily Pond

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Marquette County records list white sucker, yellow perch and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Lily Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 17°F in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Anyone fishing Lily Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Ives Lake, 0.9 miles out. What applies at Lily Pond may have changed since it was mapped.