Fishing at McLellan Lake, Houghton County, Michigan

• Overview

  Houghton County in Michigan is where McLellan Lake sits. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Michigan listings. You are 24 miles from L'Anse. Baraga follows at 24 miles, then Iron River at 27 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on McLellan Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, bloater and cisco. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On McLellan Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 64°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to McLellan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Lake Thirteen is 0.9 miles off. Treat McLellan Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.