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Fishing is one of the top family fun activities in Iron County, and its lakes and streams provide excellent sport fishing. Whether you prefer fishing from shore, in a boat on a lake, or donning hip-boots or waders for stream-fishing, Iron County's got a place for you.
A fishing license is required for all persons who have reached their 17th birthday. Licenses are valid from March 1 of one year to March 31 of the following year. Resident licenses are good for all species except trout or salmon; cost is $13 for residents and $26 for non-residents. An all-species license is available to residents for $26 and non-residents for $39. Resident seniors may purchase licenses at a reduced rate. Michigan also offers a 24-hour license good for all species to residents and non-residents alike for $6.00.
Fish For Free in June During Michigan's Free Fishing Weekend!
It's a great opportunity for families to enjoy one of Michigan's most popular activities. All fishing license fees will be waived these two days for residents and non-residents. All fishing regulations still apply. For more information, contact Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, ATTN: Free Fishing Weekend Family Fun, PO Box 30446, Lansing, MI 48909.
Check out seasons, rules, and regulations for particular waters and fish types by visiting www.dnr.state.mi.us, calling the FISHING HOTLINE at 1-800-ASKFISH, or writing to: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit, 1420 W U.S. 2, Crystal Falls MI 49920, (906) 875-6622. Iron County's Chamber of Commerce has plenty of information on fishing in Iron County; call 1-800-TRY-IRON.
Fishing - Ice Fishing
Over 1 million anglers fish through the ice each winter in Michigan. Ice fishing offers a good winter recreational opportunity for all ages, whether setting out tip-ups for the day or putting out a shanty for the season. (Please consider safety precautions before venturing out onto the ice.)
For information on ice fishing in Iron County or ice fishing and ice shanty rules and regulations, visit www.dnr.state.mi.us, call the FISHING HOTLINE at 1-800-ASKFISH, or write to: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit, 1420 W U.S. 2, Crystal Falls MI 49920, (906) 875-6622. Iron County's Chamber of Commerce has plenty of information on fishing in Iron County; call 1-800-TRY-IRON.
Trout Fishing
Michigan is blessed with an abundance of cold, quality trout waters offering 38,000 plus miles of classified trout streams. Remarkably, 868 miles are considered premier top-quality streams, which Michigan classifies as its Blue Ribbon Trout Streams.
Blue Ribbon Trout Stream must meet certain standards or criteria. It must be one of Michigan's best trout streams, be able to support excellent stocks of wild resident trout, have the physical characteristics to permit fly casting but be shallow enough to wade, produce a diverse insect life and good fly hatches, and have earned a reputation for providing an excellent trout fishing experience and have excellent water quality. 
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Fishing - Fish Types
Walleye
The walleye is a close relative to the perch and shares a few of the same characteristics. The walleye is a medium-sized fish, 13 to 20 inches long and weighing 1 to 3 pounds. The largest walleye caught on hook and line in Michigan weighed 17lbs., 3 oz.
Northern Pike
A small northern pike can reach lengths of over 30 inches long and can weigh up to 40 pounds. The northern pike's body is shaped long and straight for its fast movement in the water. The general color pattern of the northern pike is light, with bean shaped spots (seven to nine rows) on a dark background. The fins are orange-yellow color.
Muskellunge
The muskellunge is a very big, combative and much sought after game fish. Muskies can reach up to 60 inches in length and weigh up to 70 pounds, although they usually range from 30 to 46 inches long and weigh 8 to 36 pounds. A few muskies have lived to be 21 years old; however, most live between 3 and 15 years. The color of the muskellunge varies widely, but it always has dark shaded markings on a lighter back ground. The adult muskie's back, head and upper sides are rainbow like and green gold to light brown. The belly is white with small brown to gray spots. The fins are green to red brown with dark spots on them. The muskie is very similar in appearance to the northern pike. Unlike the muskie, however, on the pike each cheek is completely scaled. Also, the northern pike has light markings on a dark background.
Smallmouth Bass
The smallmouth bass is a common sport fish reaching lengths of 9 to 14 inches and weighing about 3 pounds, although avid bass anglers seek record-sized fish of 8 to 10 pounds or even larger. The smallmouth has a narrow, round shaped body. The front dorsal fin on its back is spiny, while the other is soft-rayed. The smallmouth's color varies with their habitat. Usually this fish has golden green sides with a faint olive-colored vertical blotch.
Yellow Perch
The yellow perch is the most frequently caught of the perch family. It is found in both inland and Great Lakes waters. It differs from the walleye because it does not have sharp canine teeth. The color is generally olive on the back; it blends well with the golden yellow sides and white belly. Six to eight dark bands stretch out from the back down the sides to below the lateral line.
Blue Gill and Sunfish
Most young and beginning anglers fondly recall the first fish that they ever caught. Chances are that the fish was a member of the sunfish family. Bluegills are one of the most ordinary sunfish. The common size of adult bluegills varies from 5 to 7 inches, and some have been known to reach 10 to 12 inches. The most distinctive marks on the sunfish are found on their opercular fins (soft ear like flaps on the back of the hard, scaled gill covers).
Black Crappie
Black crappie have a flattened body, large mouth and very loose scales which distinguish it from bass and sunfish. They are found in most of the lakes that are in Iron County.
Bullhead
Bullhead are a species of the trout family. They are generally 7-15 inches long, and weigh 1-2 pounds.
Brook Trout
The brook trout is one trout which has always been present in the Great Lakes area. They generally weigh 2 to 3 pounds, measure 7 to 9 inches long, and are short lived. During the breeding season their colors turn very bright; the male bright orange-red with black on either side. |
Fishing - River Fishing
There are 902 miles of rivers and streams in Iron County. Most of them provide excellent trout fishing. There are thirteen blue ribbon trout streams in the Upper Peninsula, five of them are in Iron County. For a map of Iron County, showing the location of rivers, contact the Iron County Chamber of Commerce at 1-888 TRY-IRON.
Smallmouth Bass |
| Paint River |
Blockhouse Campground & down |
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Brook Trout |
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| Brule River |
Below M-73 |
| Cooks Run |
Entire |
| Deer River |
Early Season |
| Fence River |
Early Season |
| Hemlock River |
Above Amasa |
| Iron River |
Entire |
| Michigan River |
T45N R31W |
| Paint River, N Branch |
Early Season |
| Paint River, S Branch |
Entire |
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Brown Trout |
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| Brule River |
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| Cooks Run |
Below USFS Hwy 16 |
| Paint River |
Above Net River |
| Paint River, S Branch |
Below Cooks Run |
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Rainbow Trout (Steelhead) |
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| Big Cedar River and Tributaries |
Below Powers |
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Walleye |
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| Michigamme River |
Above and Below Michigamme Reservoir |
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Locations of Fish by Species
Northern Pike |
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| Bass Lake |
T42-43 R36W Sec 14 |
| Brule Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 8 |
| Buck Lake |
T42N R33W Sec 22 |
| Chicaugon Lake |
T42-43N R33-34W Many |
| Lake Emily |
T43N R34W Sec 24 |
| Hagerman Lake |
T42-43N R36W Many |
| Michigamme Reservoir |
T44N R31W Many |
| Lake Ottawa |
T43N R36N Many |
| Paint Pond |
T41N R32N Sec 2 |
| Peavy Pond |
T42N R31W Sec 19 |
| Runkle Lake |
T43N R32W Sec 22 |
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Muskellunge |
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| Lake Emily |
T43N R34W Sec 24 |
| Paint Pond |
T41N R32W Sec 2 |
| Stanley Lake |
T42N R35W Sec 5 |
| Smokey Lake |
T43N R37W Many |
| Iron Lake |
T43N R35W Sec 2,10,11 |
| Chicaugon Lake |
T42-43N R33-34W Many |
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Largemouth Bass |
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| Fire Lake |
T44N R33W Many |
| Fortune Lakes |
T43 R33W Sec 28 |
| Indian Lake |
T42N R34W Sec 13 |
| Runkle Lake |
T43N R32W Sec 22 |
| Lake Ste. Kathryn |
T46N R35W Sec 18 |
| Silver Lake |
T43N R33W Sec 5 |
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Smallmouth Bass |
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| Chicaugon Lake |
T42N R34W Sec 13 |
| Fortune (1 & 2) Lakes |
T43N R33W Sec 34 |
| Hagerman Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 11 |
| Ice Lake |
T43N R34-35W Many |
| Michigamme Reservoir |
T44N R31W Many |
| Paint Pond |
T41N R32W Sec 2 |
| Peavy Pond |
T42N R31W Sec 22 |
| Smoky Lake |
T43N R37W Sec 33 |
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Yellow Perch |
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| Chicaugon Lake |
T42-43N R33-34W Many |
| Lake Emily |
T43N R34W Sec 24 |
| Ice Lake |
T43N R35W Sec 25 |
| Menominee Falls Reservoir |
T44N R31W Many |
| Peavy Pond |
T42N R31W Sec 19 |
| Perch Lake |
T46N R35W Sec 22 |
| Swan Lake |
T44N R33W Sec 35 |
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Bluegill and Sunfish |
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| Brule Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 7 |
| Lake Emily |
T43N R34W Sec 24 |
| Fortune Lakes |
T43N R33W Sec 27 |
| Glidden Lake |
T42-43N R31-32W Sec 6 |
| Indian Lake |
T42N R34W Sec 13 |
| Runkle Lake |
T43N R32W Many |
| Lake Ste. Kathryn |
T46N R35W Sec 18 |
| Silver Lake |
T43N R36W Sec 5 |
| Winslow Lake |
T46N R36W Many |
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Black Crappie |
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| Bass Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 14 |
| Brule Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 7 |
| Lake Ste. Kathryn |
T46N R35W Sec 18 |
| Winslow Lake |
T46N R36W Sec 36 |
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Bullhead |
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| Marten Lake |
T46N R35W Sec 9 |
| Perch Lake |
T46N R35W Sec 22 |
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Brook Trout |
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| Deadman's Lake |
T41N R32W Sec 8 |
| Killdeer Lake |
T46N R37W Sec 29 |
| Madelyn Lake |
T46N R37W Sec 28 |
| Skyline Lake |
T46N R37W Sec 28 |
| Spree Lake |
T46N R37W Sec 28 |
| Timber Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 9 |
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Splake |
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| Lake Ellen |
T44N R31W Sec 35 |
| Golden Lake |
T44N R37W Sec 36 |
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Rainbow Trout (Steelhead) |
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| Caspian Pit |
T42N R35W Sec 1 |
| Fire Lake |
T44N R33W Sec 19 |
| Fortune Pond |
T43N R33W Sec25 |
| Golden Lake |
T44N R37W Many |
| Hannah Webb |
T46N R35W Sec 29,30 |
| Long Lake |
T43N R33W Sec 16 |
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Lake Trout |
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| Chicaugon Lake |
T42N R34W Sec 13 |
| Golden Lake |
T44N R 37W Sec 36 |
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Walleye |
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| Brule Lake |
T42N R36W Sec 7 |
| Cable Lake |
T46N R34W Many |
| Chicaugon Lake |
T42N R34W Sec 13 |
| Lake Emily |
T43N R34W Sec 24 |
| Hagerman Lake |
T42-43N R36W Sec 11 |
| Iron Lake |
T43N R35W Sec 2, 10, 11 |
| Michigamme Reservoir |
T44N R31W |
| Michigamme River |
Above and Below Michigamme Reservoir |
| Lake Ottawa |
T43N R36W Many |
| Peavy Pond |
T42N R31W Sec 19 |
| Perch Lake |
T46N R35W Sec 27 |
| Stanley Lake |
T42-43N R35W Sec 5 |
| Lake Ste. Kathryn |
T46N R35W Sec 18 |
| Sunset Lake |
T43N R34W Sec 17 |
| Swan Lake |
T44N R33W Sec 35 |
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Fishing - Bait & Tackle and Sporting Goods
Luckey's Bait Shop
209 Ninteenth Street
Stambaugh, MI 49964
906-256-5339
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The Outpost
4159 W. U.S. 2
Iron River, MI 49935
906-256-5805 |
Luckey's 2
U.S. 2 East
Iron River, MI 49935
906-256-5339
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Crystal Bait
520 Crystal Ave
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
906-875-4434
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Pete's Bait Shop
117 W. Genesee
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-5658
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The Sport Shop
123 M-73
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-3851
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US 2 Rental
US 2 West
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
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D J's Sport Shop & Marine
31 Superior Ave
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
906-875-3113 |
The Sports Shop
117 W Genessee
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-3851 |
For information Contact
Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
1420 W. US 2
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
906-875-6622
Iron County Chamber of Commerce
50 E. Genesee Street
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-3822 or 1-888-TRY-IRON |
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