Thirteenmile Lake near Atlantic Mine: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Michigan holds Thirteenmile Lake, in Houghton County. The water sits 1,237 feet up. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Some 9.1 miles away sits Atlantic Mine, the nearest settlement. Hancock is 12 miles and Houghton 12 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules. The water is easy to walk round in a long session.

• Where to Fish on Thirteenmile Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Houghton County include rainbow smelt, bloater and cisco. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Thirteenmile Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 64°F and January about 14°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Thirteenmile Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Hall Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Thirteenmile Lake before loading the car.