Lewis Lake Fishing Guide, Houghton County, Michigan

• Overview

  Michigan holds Lewis Lake, in Houghton County. It lies 1,558 feet above sea level. Around 27 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. It is high ground by Michigan standards. Supplies mean a trip to Iron River, 24 miles off. It is 136 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. Round about: Tepee Lake within 1.1 miles, Grosse Lake just 1.3 miles, Hehe Lake within 1.3 miles, Rabbitz Lake just 1.4 miles and Rookery Lake within 1.5 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lewis Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Houghton County include rainbow smelt, bloater and cisco. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lewis Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 64°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Lewis Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Tepee Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Lewis Lake.