Skip Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Skip Lake in the Houghton County part of Michigan. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Houghton County are larger. Baraga sits 21 miles from the bank. Thunder Bay sits 129 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Skip Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Houghton County cover rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Skip Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 65°F and January at 11°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Skip Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Estes Lake Boat Launch provides a boat ramp about half a mile away. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Hop Lake is 0.3 miles distant. What applies at Skip Lake may have changed since it was mapped.