Torch Lake near Dollar Bay: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Torch Lake is set in Houghton County, Michigan. The surface lies 587 feet up. About 3.8 sq miles, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. On our Houghton County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest town is Dollar Bay, 5.2 miles away. Thunder Bay sits 93 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Torch Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Houghton County: rainbow smelt, bloater, cisco, yellow perch and lake whitefish. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Torch Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 15°F in January up to 65°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Torch Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Boston Lake, 5 miles out. Treat access at Torch Lake as something to verify.