Waters · United States
Torch Lake fishing report
Updated Sunday, October 25, 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
Michigan's longest inland lake, very deep and so clear that its shallows look tropical. The cold depths hold lake trout and the clear water makes the smallmouth on its sand-and-rock edges wary.
Today's report: excellent (86/100)
Smallmouth Bass is the most promising species on Torch Lake today. Water temperature is around 59°F (14.8°C) and barometric pressure is falling.
Best time to fish today
- 1:00 PM–3:00 PM local time — score 83/100
- 5:00 PM–7:00 PM local time — score 81/100
- 12:00 PM–2:00 PM local time — score 61/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Sunday, Oct 25 | Monday, Oct 26 | Tuesday, Oct 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 32 — poor | 34 — poor | 34 — poor |
| Smallmouth Bass | 86 — excellent | 63 — good | 61 — good |
| Rainbow Trout | 42 — fair | 41 — fair | 40 — fair |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Torch Lake rating:
- light: helping (+1)
- solunar period: helping (+1)
- wind: helping (+1)
- cloud cover: helping (+0.95)
- season: helping (+0.95)
- water temperature: helping (+0.94)
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 Torch Lake
Torch Lake is very deep and freezes late, often only partly in mild winters. When it locks up, anglers fish for lake trout and cisco over the deep water. Do not assume the ice is safe because the smaller lakes nearby are covered; a big, deep lake can stay open or thin much longer.
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
- The best time to fish for bass
- Trout stream tactics, read through the forecast
- Barometric pressure and fishing, explained
More lake trout waters
- Flaming Gorge Reservoir — Utah/Wyoming, USA
- Higgins Lake — Michigan, USA
- Lake Charlevoix — Michigan, USA
- Lake Simcoe — Ontario, Canada
Nearby waters
- Lake Charlevoix — Michigan, USA (21 mi away)
- Platte River (Honor) — Michigan, USA (42 mi away)
- Burt Lake — Michigan, USA (45 mi away)
- Higgins Lake — Michigan, USA (47 mi away)
- Houghton Lake — Michigan, USA (55 mi away)
- Manistee River (Tippy Dam) — Michigan, USA (60 mi away)