Lower Holmes Lake Fishing Guide, Iron County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Iron County entry here is Lower Holmes Lake, in Michigan. The land about it is mixed forest. With some 47 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 1.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Michigan listings. Crystal Falls at 3.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Stambaugh, Iron River follows at 14 miles, then Iron River at 15 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lower Holmes Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Iron County records list brown trout, yellow perch, northern pike and walleye among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Lower Holmes Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Lower Holmes Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Shoe Pac Lake at 1.6 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Lower Holmes Lake in what we hold.