Smith Lake Fishing near L'Anse, Michigan

• Overview

  Smith Lake is one of the Baraga County waters in Michigan. The land about it is pine and birch. The water covers some 87 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 2.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It is high ground by Michigan standards. L'Anse lies 13 miles from the water. For a city, Thunder Bay is 129 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Baraga County names yellow perch, pink salmon, white sucker and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Smith Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 63°F at the top of summer and 10°F at the bottom of winter. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Smith Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Diana Lake, 0.7 miles away. The position on Smith Lake is worth confirming on the day.