Fishing at Poor Lake, Gogebic County, Michigan

• Overview

  Poor Lake sits within Gogebic County in Michigan. The bank is 1,680 feet above sea level. Roughly 104 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 2.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is among the larger waters listed here for Gogebic County. Nearest town is Eagle River, 22 miles off. For a city, Green Bay is 135 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Poor Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Gogebic County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Poor Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 9°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Poor Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Fishhawk Lake is 0.6 miles off. Rules at Poor Lake are worth checking on the day.