Fishing in Iron
County Michigan  

Fish for a Lifetime

The lakes and rivers contain a wide variety of fish. Enjoy fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bass, Musky, Yellow Perch, Blue Gill and Sunfish, Black Crappie, Bullhead, and Brook Trout. Listed below you will find 11 of our popular lakes, there are many more to explore. Whether you prefer to fish by boat, on shore, along the river’s or lake’s edge, you will find an excellent variety of choices for you, your family and friends to enjoy!

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.

Come for the Free Fishing Weekend

For two days twice a year, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan’s premiere outdoor activities, Michigan Fishing, for FREE!

The Free Fishing Weekends are scheduled annually in February and June.

All fishing license fees will be waived for two days. Residents and out-of-state visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes’ waters for all species of fish. All fishing regulations will still apply.

For many, the annual Free Fishing Weekend has become a tradition – a time to get together and have some fishing fun. While some may find time to reflect while fishing, there are no limits to variations on a great theme! Experienced anglers who offer a child or young adult the chance to take their first fishing trip can provide a rewarding experience for all. People who fish tend to understand the natural aquatic network of plants and animals that help to sustain fish as well as the regulations that govern fishing in Michigan.

Research shows that young people today do not have access to fishing opportunities that were enjoyed by generations before them. Some of the reasons: living in urban or suburban areas where fishing access is not readily available, competition for time by an ever-increasing schedule of special activities, and too little time for unstructured leisure.

Michigan offers some of the finest freshwater fishing in the world, with more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, more than 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams.

So grab a rod and your family and friends, and let’s go fishing!

Featured Iron County Lakes For Upper Michigan Fishing

• Lake Michigamme: Crystal Falls –  northern pike, crappie, bass, and walleye.
• Lake Chicagon: Iron River & Crystal Falls – bass, lake trout, muskie, northern pike, and walleye.
• Cable Lake: Amasa – bluegill, crappie,northern pike, bass, and walleye.
• Lake Emily: Crystal Falls – bass, muskie, walleye, crappie, pike, and bluegill.
• Golden Lake: Beechwood – lake trout, pike, crappie, bluegill.
• Indian Lake: Crystal Falls – bass, pike, and bluegill.
• Ice Lake: Iron River – small mouth, large mouth, northern, perch and crappie
• Iron Lake: Beechwood – bluegill walleye, pike, bass, crappie
• Lake Ottawa: Iron River – pike, bluegill, walleye, crappie, and trout
• Paint Lake: Kenton – crappie, pike, bass, muskie
• Peavy Reservoir: Crystal Falls – walleye, pike, bluegill, crappie, and bass
• Porter Lake: Amasa – bluegill, bass, pike, and walleye

Blue Ribbon Trout Fishing

There are 5 Blue Ribbon Trout Streams in Iron County – the Brule River, Cooks Run, Fence River, Iron River, and Paint River. To be classified as a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream the waterway must:

• be able to support excellent stocks of wild resident trout
• have the physical characteristics to permit fly casting but shallow enough to wade
• produce diverse insect life and good fly hatches
• have earned a good reputation for excellent trout fishing experience
• have excellent water quality

Iron County is home of 5 of Michigan’s best.

• Brule River, Iron County (M-73 to M-189)
• Cooks Run, Iron County (US-2 to Paint River)
• Fence River, Iron County (Junct. with East Branch to downstream edge of Section 35, T45N, R31W – See Plat Book)
• Iron River, Iron County (Raft Lake (T43N, R36W, Section 12) to City of Iron River
• Paint River (South Branch), Iron County (Forest Road 3270 to Gibbs City

Select photos contributions by Kevin Zini