Torch Lake is two different Michigan fisheries. Torch Lake in Antrim County is documented for lake trout, lake whitefish, Atlantic salmon, rock bass and smallmouth bass. Torch Lake in Houghton County, part of the Portage-Torch Lakes system, has a broader recent survey record that includes walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, several bass and panfish, suckers, bullhead, alewife and other species. Check the county before relying on any species list.
Which Torch Lake do you mean?
Michigan has a Torch Lake in Antrim County and another in Houghton County. They are separate waters with different fish communities and different evidence behind the commonly published lists.
| Lake | Water-system details | Evidence used |
|---|---|---|
| Torch Lake, Antrim County | Inland lake; the Michigan DNR destination-fishing table identifies principal angling opportunities. | Current DNR Better Fishing Waters table, plus a 1975 DNR gill-net survey reported in 1976. |
| Torch Lake, Houghton County | About 2,700 acres, maximum depth 115 feet, connected through the Portage-Torch system to Lake Superior. | Intensive Michigan DNR Fisheries Division surveys conducted in 2024 and reported in 2025. |
Fish documented in Torch Lake, Antrim County
Michigan DNR’s Better Fishing Waters table lists these as good fishing opportunities:
- Atlantic salmon
- Lake trout
- Lake whitefish
- Rock bass
- Smallmouth bass
This is a destination-fishing list, not a complete biological inventory. A separate DNR gill-net survey in 1975 found lake trout, cisco and whitefish were the most abundant fish collected. Lake trout made up 66 percent of the catch by weight, and the measured lake-trout catch rate was 20.3 fish per 1,000 feet of gill net (Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 1976).
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Does Antrim County Torch Lake have lake trout?
Yes. Lake trout appear in the current DNR fishing-opportunity list and dominated the 1975 gill-net catch by weight. DNR notes that Torch Lake is one of the better-known inland lake-trout waters; anglers commonly target them with spoons or jigs. Water temperature, depth, season and regulations determine which presentation is legal and effective, so check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Fish documented in Torch Lake, Houghton County
The Houghton County lake was surveyed intensively in 2024. The summer community survey’s dominant catches were:
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- Redhorse
- White sucker
- Brown bullhead
- Alewife
- Pumpkinseed
- Rock bass
That survey also captured:
- Yellow perch
- Bluegill
- Black crappie
- Walleye
- Northern pike
- Smallmouth bass
- Ruffe
- White perch
- Spottail shiner
- Round whitefish
The Michigan DNR’s 2025 status report, based on 2024 sampling, additionally records largemouth bass, rainbow smelt, sea lamprey, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, slimy sculpin and one splake, along with alewife, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, rock bass, ruffe, white sucker and yellow perch.
Is there walleye in Houghton County Torch Lake?
Yes. A 2024 mark-recapture survey estimated 995 spawning walleye. The DNR cautions that cold water may have caused the survey to miss part of the spawning run, so the estimate is not a census of every walleye in the lake.
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What can you catch in each lake?
| Category | Antrim County Torch Lake | Houghton County Torch Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Documented game fish | Lake trout, Atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass and rock bass; lake whitefish is also listed as a fishing opportunity. | Walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, yellow perch and black crappie; one splake was recorded. |
| Forage, panfish and rough fish | Cisco and whitefish were prominent in the 1975 gill-net survey. | Redhorse, white sucker, brown bullhead, alewife, pumpkinseed, bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, white perch, spottail shiner, rainbow smelt and round whitefish, plus ruffe. |
| Other species recorded | Not stated in the cited destination list and 1975 summary. | Sea lamprey and slimy sculpin; shorthead and silver redhorse were specifically identified in the 2025 report. |
| How to interpret the list | Current destination guidance supplemented by an older, gear-specific survey. | Recent catches from structured 2024 surveys; results vary with gear, location and season. |
Why fish lists do not equal a complete inventory
Every survey samples particular habitats, depths, seasons and gears. A fish not caught in one survey may still occur in the lake, while a single recorded fish does not establish a large, stable population. The Antrim evidence combines a current angler-opportunity table with a 1975 gill-net survey; the Houghton evidence comes mainly from 2024 community and mark-recapture work reported in 2025. Treat the lists as documented records and fishing guidance, not guarantees of what you will catch.
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Before you fish
- Confirm whether your destination is in Antrim County or Houghton County.
- Check the current Michigan DNR fishing regulations for seasons, size and possession limits, permitted methods and any lake-specific rules.
- Review current Michigan fish-consumption advisories before keeping fish. Regulations and advisories can change after the surveys cited here.
- Match your approach to the target: lake-trout anglers commonly use spoons or jigs, while bass, pike, walleye and panfish require different seasonal locations and presentations.
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