Schoolcraft County has an abundance of pristine lakes, rivers and bays teeming with fish just waiting for you to drop a line and catch the lunker you have been dreaming about. Every type of lake you can imagine From the Greatest of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan to the 4th largest inland lake in the U.P. to the wonderfully remote wilderness lakes provided by the Hiawatha National forest. All are beautiful and await your arrival.
On the following sections, you will find the names of some of the Upper Peninsula’s best fishing spots. Bodies of water marked with an asterisk are subject to wilderness regulations. Check a current Michigan Department of Natural Resources fishing guide for more information.
Warm Water Fishing
Big Bass Lake
293 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch
Beaton Lake
46 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, small mouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish
Big Island Lake
130 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill
Blue Joe Lake
30 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Small mouth bass, bluegill
Boot Lake
121 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Walleye, northern pike, large mouth bass, bluegill
Byers Lake
149 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Northern pike, large mouth bass, bluegill, brown bullhead
Clear Lake
109 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, small mouth bass, yellow perch
Coattail Lake*
53 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Northern pike, large mouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, brown bullhead
Colwell Lake
158 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: Developed. Water and toilets provided. Daily fee
Large mouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill
Cookson Lake
35 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill
Crooked Lake
190 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish
East Lake
54 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, brown bullhead
Grassy Lake
176 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill
Herman Lake
85 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish
Hutt Lake
18 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch
Indian Lake
8,400 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: Developed. Water and toilets provided. Daily fee
Yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, rock bass, small mouth bass, bluegill
Ironjaw Lake
51 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill
Klondike Lake*
39 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch
Leg Lake
40 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish
Lily Lake
144 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Northern pike
Little Bass Lake
81 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: Developed. Water and toilets provided. Daily fee
Northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch
McKeever Lake
132 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Muskellunge, northern pike, small mouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed sunfish
Minerva Lake
45 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, yellow perch
Muleshoe Lake
21 Acres
Boating Access: (North Basin) Carry-in less than 100 feet, (South Basin) Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass
Big Murphy Lake
131 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, brown bullhead
Petes Lake
190 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: Developed. Water and toilets provided. Daily fee
Accessible fishing pier and paved launch. Small mouth bass, walleye, rock bass, yellow perch
Rumble Lake
22 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill
Sand Lake
106 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Small mouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch
Steuben Lake
150 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Walleye, large mouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch
Swan Lake
51 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Small mouth bass, bluegill
Three Island Lake
31 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish
Thunder Lake
361 Acres
Boating Access: back-in improved with gravel or paving
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Walleye, large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, brown bullhead
Toms Lake
23 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, bluegill
Townline Lake
82 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill
Triangle Lake
169 Acres
Boating Access: Back-in, unimproved. May require 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle.
Camping: Primitive sites. No water or toilets, may require a permit
Large mouth bass, small mouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish
Vance Lake
25 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch
Verdant Lake
25 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in more than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill
Wedge Lake
25 Acres
Boating Access: Carry-in less than 100 feet
Camping: None, but camping is allowed at least 50 feet from water
Large mouth bass, bluegill
