Fishing Report For Houghton Lake, MI

AKA: Lake Houghton

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

Popular Fish Species Reports
Houghton Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Boat Launch Ramps
Marinas
Fishing License
Map
Contact Info

Fishing Report Houghton Lake, MI

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Houghton Lake, MI

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Poor
Outlook: Good

At this time, ice is still covering Houghton Lake, and only occasional largemouth bass are caught through the ice. Once the ice thaws, and the water warms, bass will start migrating to shallow water as it warms up first. This will be followed by the spawn which starts once the water temperature reaches the mid 60's. Lures imitating small fish, like crankbaits and jerkbaits, are reported to work well here. Jigs, worms and drop shots work well once the bass move back out to deeper water. Stick worms, rigged wacky style, often temps the most wary bass to strike.

Smallmouth Bass

Current Report: Poor
Outlook: Good To Very Good

At this time, ice fishing is the only option, and smallmouth bass are not the main target when fishing through the ice. Once the water warms, smallmouth will start moving to shallow water. This will be followed by the spawn which also starts once the water temperature reaches the mid 60's. Lures imitating crayfish or small fish, like tube baits, crankbaits and jerkbaits, are getting good reports here. Jigs, worms and drop shots work well once the smallmouth move back out to deeper water. Stick worms, rigged wacky style, often temps the most wary bass to strike. Spoons and drop shots are great for working areas away from the bank. Smallmouth fishing is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

Walleye

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Local anglers have been catching plenty of walleye through the ice for several months. Spring and Fall are the best seasons for catching walleye here. In Summer and Winter, they like to school up in deeper water where they slow-cruise around flats and structure close to deep water. Early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye, as they move shallow to feed. Locals report catching walleye on jigs tipped with minnows, worms or leeches. Spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are also catching walleye while trolling.

Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, bowfin and northern pike at Houghton Lake in Michigan.

Houghton Lake is a 20,000-acre lake with 30 miles of shoreline surrounding this fishing paradise. The lake maintains healthy populations of walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and panfish. Shoreline fishing from the bank in warm weather, and ice fishing is an option in winter.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Click here for fishing boat rentals available at this lake.

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

Marinas

Click here for marinas available at this lake.

Fishing License

Click here for a Michigan Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".