Fishing Roland Lake in Baraga County, Michigan

• Overview

  Roland Lake falls in Baraga County, part of Michigan. The setting is mixed forest. With some 41 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. L'Anse lies 14 miles from the water. For a city, Thunder Bay is 119 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Roland Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Baraga County records list yellow perch, pink salmon and white sucker among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Roland Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 14°F to 64°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Roland Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a slipway at Roland Lake Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Bella Lake at 4.3 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Roland Lake in what we hold.