James Lake
James Lake is in Iron County in the western Upper Peninsula, about 1.5 miles south of Elmwood. It is a shallow lake known for bass, walleye and perch.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- James Lake access siteRampElmwood area. Listed by the Michigan DNR as a public boat ramp.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the Michigan DNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in James Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near James Lake ↗Local tips
- The lake is shallow, so watch for stumps and weeds when running a motor.
- Fish weed edges for bass early and late in the day.
- Try perch and walleye along the deeper spots of the basin.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Michigan lakes
Torch Lake (Antrim County) Lake Charlevoix Burt Lake Mullett Lake Lake Gogebic Manistique Lake Black Lake Crystal Lake All Michigan lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.