Houghton Lake
Michigan's largest inland lake, shallow and weedy. It's known for walleye, pike and bluegill, and for its big winter ice-fishing festival, Tip-Up Town.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Northern Pike | ||||||||||||
| Bluegill | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- 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 Houghton 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
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Dunham's SportsAt lake3451 West Houghton Lake Drive, Houghton Lake(989) 366-0504Directions ↗
- Lyman's on the LakeNearby6560 West Houghton Lake Drive, Houghton Lake(989) 422-3231Directions ↗
Local tips
- Tip-Up Town USA runs each January.
- Weeds are thick by midsummer. Fish the outside edges.
- Shallow water warms quickly in spring.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Houghton Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.