Wild brook trout in cold Northwoods creeks, browns that top twenty inches, and deep lakes stocked with lake trout and splake. Here's where to fish for trout in Iron County, and the rules to know before you wet a line.
It depends on how you like to fish. If you like to wade, the creeks and rivers hold wild brook trout and browns, and a few of them are among the best trout water in the Upper Peninsula. If you've got kids along, Fortune Pond near Crystal Falls is stocked with rainbows every spring and has a floating pier.
If you'd rather sit in a boat, or on a bucket on the ice, four deep lakes hold lake trout and splake and stay open all year.
One thing you won't find here is steelhead. Our rivers run south to Lake Michigan, and the dams down on the Menominee keep lake-run fish from ever reaching Iron County. The rainbows here are stream and pond fish.
Iron County's trout streams are wild, cold and clear, and five of them are Blue Ribbon trout streams. Hover or tap a card for more.
Wild brookies and big browns, with a flies-only winter season.
MoreThe county's best-known brook trout stream, with brookies to a foot long and browns over twenty inches. From Forest Highway 16 down to the South Branch Paint it carries special rules, and it stays open for flies-only catch and release from October 1 to the opener.
Wild brook and brown trout under the same special rules.
MoreWild brook and brown trout, with browns often over twenty inches. From the mouth of Cooks Run down to the North Branch it follows the same rules as Cooks Run, including the flies-only winter season.
Big wild browns on the Wisconsin line, and a classic float.
MoreThis is Michigan's Brule, the river that forms the Wisconsin line, not Wisconsin's Bois Brule up north. Brook trout of 14 to 18 inches and browns of 20 to 24, most of them born in the river. It's a classic float from M-73 down to M-189, about 15 miles. Border-water rules apply.
Bank, wade or float where the two branches meet.
MoreWhere the North and South Branches meet, the Paint is good water to fish from the bank, wade or float. There's a national forest pull-off on Forest Highway 16, and Golden Creek brings brook trout in from the north.
Brook trout water right through town.
MoreBrook trout water that runs right through the town it's named for. If you keep a few, the state suggests eating its brook trout no more than twelve times a month, or more often if you trim and cook them the recommended way.
Cold little creeks for anglers who like to explore.
MoreThe Fence River in the county's northeast corner, plus the Hemlock, the Deer and many small, cold creeks, all brook trout water for anglers who like to explore with a map.
Stocked rainbows and a floating pier, made for kids.
MoreAn old mine pit near Crystal Falls, stocked with about a thousand rainbows every spring and brook trout most falls, with trout up to 18 inches. The state site has paved parking and an accessible floating fishing pier. Open from the last Saturday in April to October 31.
Big stocked lake trout, mostly through the ice.
MoreThe county's big, deep, clear lake, stocked with adult lake trout that run from 15 to more than 30 inches. Most are caught through the ice, and summer anglers troll deep. The county launch is at Pentoga Park.
Lake trout in a cold, clear national forest lake.
MoreA cold, clear national forest lake southwest of Iron River, stocked with lake trout. The ramp and an accessible fishing platform are in the recreation area, $5 a car in season.
Splake and lake trout, with a free ramp.
MoreA deep lake out west off US-2, stocked with about 7,000 splake every other year, plus lake trout. Splake take small spinners, spoons and live bait. The national forest ramp is concrete and free.
Splake stocked every year, plowed for ice fishing.
MoreA clear lake on the county's east side, stocked with splake every single year. The state launch has an accessible pier and is plowed in winter for ice anglers.
Walk-in lakes with nothing but brook trout.
MoreTwo quiet, undeveloped lakes you walk in to reach, holding nothing but brook trout, some over 18 inches. They're stocked every year and kept special: one fish a day, 15 inches or longer, and no bait.
The short version: streams open the last Saturday in April and close September 30, and the big lakes never close. A regular Michigan fishing license covers trout.
Guided walk-in wade trips for brook, brown and rainbow trout, for up to four anglers, plus multi-day trips and a full fly shop. You'll find it inside Contrast Coffee on Genesee Street.
Visit Dark Waters →
Live bait, tackle and fishing licenses on Crystal Avenue, plus kayak and canoe rentals.
See the listing →Beaches, paddling and the best walleye, trout and musky lakes in the county, lake by lake.
Best Lakes GuideChicaugon, Golden and Lake Ellen stay open all winter. Our ice fishing guide has the lakes and how to stay safe on the ice.
Ice Fishing GuideOn the last Saturday in April, which is April 24, 2027. Streams close September 30. Lake trout and splake lakes such as Chicaugon, Ottawa, Golden and Ellen are open all year.
Cooks Run, the South Branch Paint, the Brule, the Iron River and the Fence River all hold wild brook trout. For brook trout in a lake, walk in to Timber or Forest Lake.
No. Iron County's rivers flow to Lake Michigan, and dams on the Menominee keep lake-run steelhead from reaching the county. You'll find wild brook and brown trout in the streams and stocked rainbows in Fortune Pond.
Yes. Cooks Run and the South Branch Paint stay open from October 1 to the opener for flies-only catch and release, and Chicaugon, Lake Ottawa, Golden and Lake Ellen are open all year, including through the ice.
Fortune Pond. It's stocked with rainbow trout every spring and has paved parking and an accessible floating fishing pier.
Chicaugon Lake and Lake Ottawa are stocked with lake trout, and Golden Lake and Lake Ellen with splake. All four are open all year.
No. A regular Michigan fishing license covers trout. Check the state's fishing rules for size limits and seasons before you go.
Come for the opener in late April, when the creeks run cold and high, or come back in early fall, when the brook trout color up as orange as the maples. Then find a room close to the river.
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906-214-2308
906-265-9100
40 E Adams St
Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-9244
1700 County Road 424
Gaastra, MI 49917
906-265-3611
1257 W Ice Lake Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
800-362-7853
373 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
800-DO-BRULE
906-265-4957
397 Brule Mountain Rd
Iron River, MI 49935
906-822-7713
1968 US 141 Highway
Amasa, MI 49903
Iron County is one of the Upper Peninsula’s best kept secrets. From camping to fishing, hunting to canoeing, mountain biking to forest bathing – no matter your interests, the great outdoors and clear crisp air await you here.
