Sandy Lake Fishing near Baraga, Michigan

• Overview

  Sandy Lake is set in Houghton County, Michigan. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. Roughly 101 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Bank access stretches around 2.5 miles in total. It ranks high for size among our Houghton County listings. Baraga is the closest town at 19 miles. Atlantic Mine lies 21 miles off, L'Anse another 21 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Sandy Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Houghton County include rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco, yellow perch and lake whitefish. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Sandy Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 13°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Anyone fishing Sandy Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a ramp at Sandy.lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Horseshoe Lake, 0.8 miles away. Ask locally about Sandy Lake if anything is unclear.