Chicken Lake in Houghton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Chicken Lake in Houghton County, Michigan. It sits at 1,522 feet above sea level. At 2 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Houghton County. Iron River sits 22 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 135 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Chicken Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Houghton County records list rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Chicken Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 64°F; by January the average is down near 10°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Chicken Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is LaCrosse Lake, 0.4 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Chicken Lake.