Fishing Redboat Lake in Gogebic County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Gogebic County, Michigan, sits Redboat Lake. The land about it is lake country bush. Roughly 26 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Michigan listings. For supplies, Wakefield is 12 miles out. After that come Bessemer at 16 miles and Ironwood at 20 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Redboat Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Gogebic County names bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Redboat Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 10°F at the bottom of winter. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around late April to about late November in an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Redboat Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A ramp at Redboat Lake Boat Launch is mapped 140 yards away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Elbow Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Redboat Lake before loading the car.