Fishing at Tepee Lake, Houghton County, Michigan

• Overview

  Tepee Lake stands in Houghton County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 1,594 feet. Roughly 122 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 1.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Houghton County. Iron River at 23 miles is the nearest place to stop. Stambaugh, Iron River is 24 miles away, with L'Anse at 33 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Tepee Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Houghton County records list rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco and yellow perch among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Tepee Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 64°F and January at 10°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The lid tends to go about late April and return around late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It sets the rhythm of the year at Tepee Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The nearest recorded ramp is Tepee Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Grosse Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. For Tepee Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.