Chicagon Lake Fishing
A 1,083-acre Michigan lake in Iron County, trout lake Type B.
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Meet Chicagon Lake
Plan on 1,083 acres of open lake at Chicagon Lake in Iron County. Gaastra is the closest town on the Census list, around 5 miles away. The MDNR handles it from the Western Lake Superior unit; it is a Upper Peninsula water. The lake lies in the Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion and the Northwestern Lake Michigan basin.
Recent MDNR records show muskellunge, walleye and trout. MDNR access data map 1 public launch. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 12.5 feet in 2023.
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The species chips for Chicagon Lake draw on the MDNR Fish Atlas, its fishing site lists and stocking logs.
Fish Atlas collections at Chicagon Lake by species
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lake whitefish | 3 | 1928 to 1943 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
How the MDNR classes Chicagon Lake for trout
| Rule | Value for Chicagon Lake |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Type B Non Designated |
| Fishing season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Possession season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Daily possession | 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. |
| Tackle | All types of natural bait and artificial lures may be used. |
| Minimum sizes | brook 10", brown 12", rainbow 12", splake 12", lake trout 15", Chinook 10", coho 10", pink 10", Atlantic 15" |
Trout and salmon in Chicagon Lake follow the Type B lake rules shown.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Lake Regulation Types layer and 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 42-65.
Ramps serving Chicagon Lake
- Pentoga County Parkboat ramp; Iron County
More launches around Chicagon Lake
- Indian Lake Boat Access near GaastraIndian Lake, 2 miles south
- Lake Emily Boat AccessLake Emily, 3 miles north
- Bewabic State ParkFirst Fortune Lake, 4 miles northeast
- Long Lake Boat Access near AlphaLong Lake, 5 miles northeast
- Fortune Pond Boat AccessFortune Pond, 6 miles northeast
- Erickson's LandingPaint River, 7 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Water clarity at Chicagon Lake
Satellite Secchi depth for Chicagon Lake comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 3.23 micrograms per liter in 2023.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
Keeper rules posted for Chicagon Lake
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Upper Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | May 15 – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Upper Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | May 15 – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout and salmon (lake Type B) | 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15 inches or greater; minimum brook 10", brown/rainbow/splake 12", lake trout 15", Chinook/coho/pink 10", Atlantic 15" | Open all year |
Chicagon Lake follows the statewide inland table for the Upper Peninsula, plus any county exception below.
Muskellunge kept from Chicagon Lake must reach 50 inches under the digest list.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
The plant history of Chicagon Lake
MDNR crews planted Chicagon Lake 6 times (2024 to 2026), 57,467 fish, chiefly walleye.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2026 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 25.8 in | 545 |
| June 24, 2026 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 4.1 in | 24,778 |
| June 26, 2026 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 4.2 in | 2,853 |
| October 31, 2024 | Muskellunge | Great Lakes | 21.2 in | 1,596 |
| June 21, 2024 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 4.1 in | 15,856 |
| June 19, 2024 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 4.1 in | 11,839 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Chicagon Lake next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicagon Lake | 1,083 | 1 | 12.5 | 3 | |
| Indian Lake, Iron County | 1 mile south | 197 | 1 | 12.1 | 0 |
| Lake Emily | 4 miles north | 326 | 1 | 8.1 | 0 |
| First Fortune Lake | 4 miles northeast | 184 | 1 | 13.4 | 7 |
| Long Lake near Alpha, Iron County | 5 miles northeast | 60 | 1 | 13.6 | 0 |
| Sunset Lake, Iron County | 6 miles northwest | 531 | 1 | 9.3 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Near Chicagon Lake
Nearby inland lakes for a Chicagon Lake trip
- Indian Lake, Iron County1 mile south
- Lake Emily4 miles north
- First Fortune Lake4 miles northeast
- Long Lake near Alpha, Iron County5 miles northeast
- Sunset Lake, Iron County6 miles northwest
Tackle stores within a drive of Chicagon Lake
- The Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Iron River, 7 miles
- Laughing Loon Emporiumbait and tackle shop, Iron River, 7 miles
- Crystal Baitbait and tackle shop, Crystal Falls, 8 miles
- Timberland Supply Bait Directbait and tackle shop, Channing, 21 miles
Places to stay around Chicagon Lake
- Gaastra5 miles
- Caspian6 miles
- Alpha6 miles
County fishing pages for Chicagon Lake
- Iron Countyseat: Crystal Falls
Piscifun reels worth packing for Chicagon Lake
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Lakes and streams near Chicagon Lake, pictured
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
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Photo: Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
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Photo: James Conkis, CC BY-SA 4.0
The usual questions about Chicagon Lake
How far is Chicagon Lake from a Michigan town?
It lies in Iron County, Western Lake Superior Management Unit, about 5 miles from Gaastra.
How large is Chicagon Lake?
1,083 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Chicagon Lake?
There are 1 public launch; Pentoga County Park has the most lanes.
Which species are in Chicagon Lake?
The MDNR names muskellunge, walleye and trout.
What are the keeper rules for Chicagon Lake?
Walleye (Upper Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season May 15 – March 15. Muskellunge here carry a 50-inch minimum.
Which Michigan license covers Chicagon Lake?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
Is Chicagon Lake a clear lake?
Roughly 12.5 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Chicagon Lake anglers pick up worms?
The Sport Shop, about 7 miles away.
Which fish are planted in Chicagon Lake?
Latest year on file, 2026: 545 muskellunge, 24,778 walleye and 2,853 walleye.
Can I use bait for trout on Chicagon Lake?
Type B (type b non designated): 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season january 1st to december 31st.
Put Chicagon Lake on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.