Fishing at Mud Lake, Keweenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Michigan holds Mud Lake, in Keweenaw County. It sits at 1,125 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 46 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Head to Laurium, 20 miles away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 84 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Keweenaw County cover rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker and cisco. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Mud Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 63°F for July and 16°F for January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Mud Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Lake Bailey is 2.1 miles distant. What applies at Mud Lake may have changed since it was mapped.