Tibbets Lake near West Ishpeming: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Tibbets Lake lies in Marquette County, Michigan. This is mixed forest ground. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. Compared with other Michigan water on our list, it sits high. West Ishpeming at 14 miles is the nearest place to stop. Green Bay sits 124 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Tibbets Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Marquette County names white sucker, yellow perch, rainbow smelt and smallmouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Tibbets Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 64°F and January near 12°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Tibbets Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Round Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Check the position on Tibbets Lake before loading the car.