Burns Lake Fishing Guide, Houghton County, Michigan

• Overview

  Burns Lake is one of the Houghton County waters in Michigan. It sits at 1,286 feet above sea level. At roughly 20 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. L'Anse sits 23 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Baraga lies 23 miles off, Iron River another 29 miles. Other water nearby: Crystal Lake (0.4 miles), High Lake near enough 1.4 miles, Saint George Lake (1.7 miles), McLellan Lake near enough 2.1 miles and Elginor Lake (2.1 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Burns Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Houghton County include rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Work Burns Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 11°F in January and 65°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Burns Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is a slipway at Crystal Lake Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Crystal Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Treat Burns Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.