Fishing Tenderfoot Lake in Gogebic County, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Tenderfoot Lake in Gogebic County, Michigan. It lies 1,647 feet above sea level. Roughly 461 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The shoreline runs about 5.3 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Gogebic County listings. Lac du Flambeau is the closest town at 25 miles. Then Eagle River, 25 miles, and Wakefield, 26 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Tenderfoot Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Gogebic County records list bluegill, yellow perch and walleye among the fish reported. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work Tenderfoot Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 9°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan around that when you fish Tenderfoot Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Plum Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Rules at Tenderfoot Lake are worth checking on the day.