Fishing at Little Island Lake, Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  Little Island Lake falls in Schoolcraft County, part of Michigan. It lies 741 feet above sea level. At about 45 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The nearest town is Munising, 16 miles away. Further out sit Manistique (21 miles) and Gladstone (34 miles). Others close at hand: Pewee Lake sits 0.5 miles out, Farm Lake 0.7 miles, Brevick Lake sits 0.7 miles out, Nevilles Lake 1.1 miles and Peanut Lake sits 1.2 miles out. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Little Island Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Schoolcraft County include rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Treat Little Island Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 15°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Pewee Lake, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Little Island Lake carry more weight than any list.