Ice Fishing in Michigan
211 Michigan lakes hold species targeted through the ice. Where EPA and state agency sampling exists, the clarity and nutrient readings are a planning signal for what is under the ice: not a thickness reading, and not a reading for every lake. Below: what swims where, winter depths and techniques by species, and the lakes that rank highest on water quality.
Updated 2026-08-26T11:20:36.830Z · Ice thickness guidelines →
Typical freeze-up timing is not published for Michigan on LakeQuality yet. Use local reports and agency ice guidance; we do not measure ice thickness.
What to Target Through the Ice in Michigan
Winter holding depth and technique by species, with how many Michigan lakes hold each.
| Species | Lakes | Winter depth | Where they hold | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 181 | 15–35 ft | deep flats and basin | tungsten jigs and small spoons — a top ice target |
| Bluegill | 160 | 8–20 ft | basin holes and deep weed edges | tungsten ice jigs with waxworms/plastics |
| Pumpkinseed | 127 | 6–15 ft | weed edges and holes | ice jigs with grubs |
| Northern Pike | 89 | 6–20 ft | weed edges and flats | tip-ups with large shiners/suckers |
| Black Crappie | 55 | 10–25 ft | basin and deep brush — suspend and roam | tungsten jigs & minnows; dusk bite |
| Walleye | 38 | 8–25 ft | first breaks off structure, dusk feeding windows | jigging spoons and rattle baits, deadstick minnows |
| Rainbow Trout | 14 | 5–25 ft | clear lakes / stocked ice fishery | small jigs, spoons, PowerBait |
| Lake Whitefish | 10 | 25–60 ft | deep bottom | tiny jigs tipped with larvae — a delicate ice bite |
| Brook Trout | 7 | 5–20 ft | stocked-lake ice fishery | small jigs, spoons, waxworms |
| Sauger | 3 | 20–40 ft | deep channels | jigging spoons |
| Lake Trout | 3 | 30–80 ft | deep basin | jigging tubes and spoons through the ice |
| Brown Trout | 2 | 5–25 ft | deep clear lakes / stocked ice fishery | jigging spoons, minnows |
Michigan Ice-Fishing Lakes by Water Quality
Ranked on nutrient and algae readings, then by how many ice-target species the lake holds. The best ice-fishing lakes in Michigan list also ranks on the readings first, but only admits lakes with public access and at least 10 feet of depth, so its top lake can differ from this one.
| # | Lake | County | Ice species | Max depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otter Lake | Benzie | 6 | — |
| 2 | Emerald Lake | Kent | 5 | — |
| 3 | Crooked Lake | Emmet | 4 | 50 ft |
| 4 | Round Lake | Benzie | 4 | — |
| 5 | Houghton Lake | Roscommon | 3 | 21 ft |
| 6 | Crystal Lake | Hillsdale | 3 | — |
| 7 | Lime Lake | Benzie | 3 | 25 ft |
| 8 | Crystal Lake | Washtenaw | 3 | — |
| 9 | Twin Lakes | Oakland | 2 | — |
| 10 | Spring Lake | Emmet | 2 | — |
| 11 | Perch Lake | Otsego | 1 | — |
| 12 | Walloon Lake | Emmet | 4 | — |
| 13 | Lake Richie | Keweenaw | 3 | — |
| 14 | Bass Lake | Leelanau | 3 | — |
| 15 | Beaver Lake | Alger | 2 | 39 ft |
| 16 | Feldtmann Lake | Keweenaw | 2 | — |
| 17 | Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | 2 | — |
| 18 | Lake Ahmik | Keweenaw | 2 | — |
| 19 | Lake George | Keweenaw | 2 | — |
| 20 | Lake Harvey | Keweenaw | 1 | — |
| 21 | Whitewood Lake | Livingston | 1 | 50 ft |
| 22 | North Pond | Chippewa | 2 | — |
| 23 | Round Lake | Shiawassee | 4 | — |
| 24 | Lower Herring Lake | Benzie | 6 | 50 ft |
| 25 | Otter Lake | Oakland | 6 | 70 ft |
Michigan Fishing Licence
Ice fishing uses the same licence as open water in Michigan. A resident annual licence is $26, non-resident $76. Fish-house tagging and shelter-removal deadlines are separate rules — check Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
We do not measure ice
Nothing on this page tells you whether the ice is safe. We hold no thickness data for any lake and never estimate it. Agency guidance is that no ice is ever completely safe, and that thickness varies widely across a single lake. Read the ice thickness guidelines, measure as you go, and call a local bait shop for current conditions.
Where to stay for ice fishing in Michigan
Cabins, lodges, and rentals near Michigan's hard-water lakes — live availability and prices for your ice-fishing trip.
Top-rated places to stay near Michigan ice-fishing lakes
Prices for Sep 18–20, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Sources: state DNR fish surveys; EPA Water Quality Portal for water-quality readings.