Fishing at Mud Lake, Chippewa County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mud Lake sits in Chippewa County, out in Michigan. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. The water measures roughly 11 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Saint Ignace sits 26 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 185 miles away. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Chippewa County records list rainbow smelt, bloater, lake whitefish, alewife and lake trout among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Mud Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 15°F in January up to 65°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Mud Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Part of this sits inside or beside Muir Woods Nature Preserve, so read the notices. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Johnson Lake is 0.6 miles distant. The position on Mud Lake is worth confirming on the day.