Fishing Mehl Lake in Marquette County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mehl Lake stands in Marquette County, Michigan. The bank is 1,106 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 90 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.7 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It is among the larger waters listed here for Marquette County. Nearest place of any size is Gwinn, 3.2 miles away. K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base lies 3.9 miles off, Harvey another 15 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Mehl Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Marquette County cover white sucker, yellow perch and rainbow smelt. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Mehl Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Mehl Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. 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. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Irene Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Mehl Lake as something to verify.