Rose Lake Fishing in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  Rose Lake sits in Schoolcraft County, out in Michigan. The setting is pine and birch on every side. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Schoolcraft County are larger. Head to Manistique, 21 miles away, for anything you forgot. It is 152 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Rose Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, alewife and bloater. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Rose Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 16°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Rose Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Moon Lake is 1.4 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Rose Lake.