Third Lake in Iron County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Iron County, Michigan, this is Third Lake. The bank gives way to pine and birch. The water covers some 109 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 1.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Compared with other Michigan water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Crystal Falls, 5.8 miles off. Then Stambaugh, Iron River, 8.8 miles, and Iron River, 9.6 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Third Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Iron County list brown trout, yellow perch and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Third Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Third Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Second Lake, 1.2 miles away. The position on Third Lake is worth confirming on the day.