Riordan Lake Fishing in Chippewa County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Chippewa County end of Michigan holds Riordan Lake. The bank gives way to lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Chippewa County list. 10 miles away sits Sault Ste. Marie, the nearest town. For a city, Greater Sudbury is 165 miles off. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Riordan Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Chippewa County include rainbow smelt, bloater and lake whitefish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Work Riordan Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 13°F at the bottom of winter. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Riordan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Eagle Lake is 5.7 miles off. Confirm before you fish Riordan Lake.