Paint Lake Fishing Guide, Gogebic County, Michigan

• Overview

  Paint Lake belongs to Gogebic County, Michigan. It sits in rolling bush country. Around 238 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The margin runs to about 4.1 miles in total. Size puts it in the front rank of our Gogebic County list. For a base, Iron River sits 21 miles out. Stambaugh, Iron River follows at 22 miles, then Crystal Falls at 32 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Paint Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Gogebic County include bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Paint Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 64°F, while January sits near 10°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Paint Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. 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. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, East Paint Lake is 0.7 miles off. Check the position at Paint Lake before loading the car.