Waters · United States
Houghton Lake fishing report
Updated Sunday, October 25, 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
Michigan's largest inland lake is broad, shallow and weedy, only about 6 m at its deepest. Walleye and pike roam its weed flats, and in winter it hosts Tip-Up Town, one of the state's oldest ice-fishing festivals.
Today's report: excellent (93/100)
Yellow Perch is the most promising species on Houghton Lake today. Water temperature is around 57°F (13.8°C) and barometric pressure is falling.
Best time to fish today
- 1:00 PM–3:00 PM local time — score 89/100
- 5:00 PM–7:00 PM local time — score 89/100
- 1:00 AM–3:00 AM local time — score 96/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Sunday, Oct 25 | Monday, Oct 26 | Tuesday, Oct 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 90 — excellent | 94 — excellent | 80 — good |
| Northern Pike | 87 — excellent | 76 — good | 71 — good |
| Yellow Perch | 93 — excellent | 76 — good | 74 — good |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Houghton Lake rating:
- pressure trend: helping (+1)
- solunar period: helping (+1)
- season: helping (+1)
- cloud cover: helping (+0.85)
- precipitation: helping (+0.8)
- wind: helping (+0.7)
Forecast computed Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:45:36 GMT · data: Open-Meteo · refreshed automatically through the day · see our published accuracy
Winter fishing on Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake is a winter destination: it is shallow, so it freezes early and widely, and walleye, pike and perch are fished through the ice on its weed flats. Tip-Up Town brings crowds and vehicles onto the ice every winter. Even on a shallow lake, pressure cracks and thin ice around the inlets and outlet are a real hazard.
Seasons, closed sections and permits are set by the state and change. Check the current regulations before a winter trip, and never trust shelf ice or a forecast for your safety.
Wondering how this stacks up against the apps you already know? Cast & Scan vs Fishbrain vs BassForecast — an honest comparison, including where they beat us.
Read before you go
- When pike bite: the pressure, light and temperature windows
- The best time to fish for bass
- Barometric pressure and fishing, explained
More walleye waters
- Lake Erie (Western Basin) — Ohio, USA
- Lake St. Clair — Michigan, USA
- Au Gres River — Michigan, USA
- Burt Lake — Michigan, USA
- Devils Lake — North Dakota, USA
Nearby waters
- Higgins Lake — Michigan, USA (11 mi away)
- Au Sable River (Mio) — Michigan, USA (39 mi away)
- Rifle River (Sterling) — Michigan, USA (40 mi away)
- Torch Lake — Michigan, USA (55 mi away)
- Au Gres River — Michigan, USA (56 mi away)
- Manistee River (Tippy Dam) — Michigan, USA (58 mi away)