Ice fishing in Michigan: 10 lakes and how to stay safe

Ice first

Those figures are for clear, solid new ice. White or snow ice is about half as strong, so double them. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake: check it with a spud or auger every few steps, stay away from inlets, outlets, springs and pressure ridges, and follow your state agency's advice.

1. Lake St. Clair

Lake St. Clair spreads over 275,000 acres of water. It holds walleye, yellow perch, muskie and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 27 ft. Its bed shows two point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Lake St. Clair today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake covers 20,100 acres of water. It holds walleye, northern pike, bluegill and largemouth bass. The deepest water is around 22 ft. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Houghton Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Torch Lake

Torch Lake spreads over 18,800 acres. The lake is about 1.8 miles south of Rapid City. It holds walleye, lake trout, trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 285 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Torch Lake is Michigan's deepest inland lake and is famous for its turquoise, Caribbean-like clear water. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Torch Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Mullett Lake

Mullett Lake spreads over some 17,400 acres. The lake is about 1.1 miles southwest of Indian River. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, trout and lake trout. At about 148 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has four steep ledges: good places to start. Mullett Lake is part of Michigan's Inland Waterway and drains to Lake Huron via the Cheboygan River; a remnant native lake sturgeon population still lives there. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Mullett Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Charlevoix

At some 17,200 acres, Lake Charlevoix is a big lake. The lake is next to Charlevoix. Expect walleye, lake trout, trout and northern pike. It goes down to about 122 ft. Lake Charlevoix is Michigan's third-largest inland lake and connects to Lake Michigan via the Pine River and Round Lake at the town of Charlevoix. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Lake Charlevoix today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Burt Lake

Burt Lake covers some 17,100 acres. It lies next to Indian River. It holds walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. The deepest water is around 73 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Burt Lake is Michigan's fourth-largest inland lake and is part of the Inland Waterway chain of lakes and rivers linking Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Burt Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Gogebic

Lake Gogebic is a natural lake of 13,400 acres. The lake is about 16 miles west of Wakefield. Expect walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and crappie. It goes down to about 38 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Lake Gogebic is the largest inland lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and is best known for its walleye and yellow perch fishing. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Lake Gogebic today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Big Manistique Lake

Big Manistique Lake covers 10,100 acres of water. The lake is about 12 miles northeast of Newberry. Expect walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. The deepest water is around 20 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Big Manistique Lake is a shallow Upper Peninsula lake that is part of the Manistique Lakes chain, which drains into the Manistique River. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Big Manistique Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Black Lake

Black Lake spreads over some 10,100 acres. It lies about 7.6 miles northwest of Cheboygan. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. It goes down to about 50 ft. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and an upper arm to work. Black Lake is renowned for its native lake sturgeon population and hosts a strictly regulated winter spear-fishing season for the species. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Black Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a natural lake of some 9,850 acres. It lies next to Beulah. The fish here are lake trout, trout, northern pike and yellow perch. It goes down to about 165 ft. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Crystal Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

What to bring

• Ice picks around your neck and a throw rope
• A spud bar or auger to test as you walk
• A flotation suit or life jacket on early and late ice
• A friend, and someone on shore who knows where you went
• Small jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow or waxie