Seneca Lake Fishing Guide, Keweenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Seneca Lake lies in Keweenaw County, Michigan. The surface lies 935 feet up. It covers about 15 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest town is Laurium, 6.3 miles away. Dollar Bay is 15 miles and Houghton 16 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Seneca Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Keweenaw County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker and cisco. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Seneca Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 64°F in July and bottom out at 15°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Seneca Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is somewhere to leave the car, 140 yards off. A jetty or pier is mapped about 120 yards from here. A campsite lies 0.9 miles away for anyone staying over. A picnic area is mapped about 140 yards away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Turtle Lake, 3.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Seneca Lake.