Fishing at Little Chief Lake, Marquette County, Michigan

• Overview

  Little Chief Lake is set in Marquette County, Michigan. It sits in pine and birch. The water covers some 47 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It is high ground by Michigan standards. Crystal Falls sits 19 miles from the bank. West Ishpeming is 22 miles and Ishpeming 24 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Little Chief Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Marquette County include white sucker, yellow perch and rainbow smelt. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Little Chief Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 10°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Little Chief Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Chief Lake, 0.6 miles away. Where Little Chief Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.