Mud Lake Fishing in Dickinson County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mud Lake stands in Dickinson County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 1,093 feet. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Dickinson County standards. The town to know is Iron Mountain, 0.6 miles out. Further out sit Kingsford (1.4 miles) and Quinnesec (4.2 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Dickinson County cover bluegill, walleye, yellow perch and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Mud Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 12°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. West Mud Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Mud Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.