Perch Lake in Marquette County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Perch Lake is listed under Marquette County, Michigan. The ground around here is lake country bush. It runs to roughly 56 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 1.5 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Michigan listings. West Ishpeming at 13 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Green Bay, 130 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch, rainbow smelt and smallmouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Perch Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 11°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Perch Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The slipway at Perch Lake Boat Launch is half a mile away. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Milwaukee Lake is 0.4 miles off. Rules at Perch Lake are worth checking on the day.