Fishing at Vance Lake, Schoolcraft County, Michigan

• Overview

  Schoolcraft County, Michigan, is where Vance Lake sits. It stands 761 feet above sea level. With some 32 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Head to Munising, 15 miles away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Green Bay, 139 miles distant. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Vance Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Schoolcraft County include rainbow smelt, alewife, bloater, yellow perch and white sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Vance Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 15°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Vance Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Klondike Lake, 0.4 miles away. For Vance Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.