Porcupine Lake near Iron River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Within Iron County, Michigan, you have Porcupine Lake. This is mixed forest ground. Surface area runs to about 20 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by Michigan standards. The closest town, Iron River, is 14 miles away. The big place round here is Green Bay, 118 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Porcupine Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Iron County include brown trout, yellow perch, northern pike, walleye and white sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Porcupine Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 9°F to 65°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Porcupine Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Smoky Lake, 0.6 miles out. Treat access at Porcupine Lake as something to verify.