Fishing Smith Slough in Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Schoolcraft County entry here is Smith Slough, in Michigan. It sits at 604 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It lies lower than most water we list in Michigan. Manistique sits 5.5 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Green Bay is 133 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Smith Slough

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Schoolcraft County records list rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Smith Slough the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 15°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Smith Slough the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Woodruff Lake, 1.9 miles away. Rules at Smith Slough are worth checking on the day.