House Lake in Clare County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Michigan holds House Lake, in Clare County. It lies 1,053 feet above sea level. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Clare County. For a base, Prudenville sits 12 miles out. For a city, Lansing is 98 miles off. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on House Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Clare County include bluegill, largemouth bass and pink salmon. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On House Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 68°F; the cold one sits at 18°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Anyone fishing House Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. House Lake Boat Launch provides a boat ramp about 50 yards away. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Facilities include toilets around 130 yards from here. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Hoister Lake is 0.3 miles distant. For House Lake in particular, ask before you travel.