Golden Lake fishing

Golden Lake fishing has Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Splake, Brown Trout, and Lake Whitefish on the stocking report. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn for Lake Trout, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass, and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
May 15, 2025
· Splake
Plants on record
98
Since 1979
Species recorded
6
Surface acres
272.1

Fish at Golden Lake

6 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Around the dates Golden Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 52.7°F in May, 37.1°F in April, 59.2°F in September, 63.2°F in June. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Lake Trout Stocked · 33 plants · last May 27, 2022 Best: dawn

Last stocked May 27, 2022 · 33 plants

Best: dawn

Lake Trout species guide
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 28 plants · last April 29, 2015 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 29, 2015 · 28 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Splake Stocked · 28 plants · last May 15, 2025

Last stocked May 15, 2025 · 28 plants

Splake species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last May 12, 1989 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked May 12, 1989 · 2 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Smallmouth Bass Stocked · 1 plant · last September 3, 1982 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 3, 1982 · 1 plant

Best: dawn, dusk

Smallmouth Bass species guide

How Golden Lake is stocked

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

About 2,309 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 19 lakes in Iron County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 1979

20,000

Fish stocked in 1980

20,000

Fish stocked in 1982

27,400

Fish stocked in 1983

14,000

Fish stocked in 1984

14,000

Fish stocked in 1985

15,600

Fish stocked in 1986

11,700

Fish stocked in 1987

33,350

Fish stocked in 1988

23,980

Fish stocked in 1989

15,400

Fish stocked in 1990

17,200

Fish stocked in 1991

15,290

Fish stocked in 1992

17,500

Fish stocked in 1993

16,200

Fish stocked in 1994

22,121

Fish stocked in 1995

21,935

Fish stocked in 1996

25,286

Fish stocked in 1997

25,841

Fish stocked in 1998

22,200

Fish stocked in 1999

30,000

Fish stocked in 2000

14,500

Fish stocked in 2001

23,290

Fish stocked in 2002

13,700

Fish stocked in 2003

13,396

Fish stocked in 2004

13,222

Fish stocked in 2005

14,627

Fish stocked in 2006

3,000

Fish stocked in 2007

3,000

Fish stocked in 2008

7,920

Fish stocked in 2009

7,199

Fish stocked in 2010

7,198

Fish stocked in 2011

12,798

Fish stocked in 2012

13,013

Fish stocked in 2013

12,498

Fish stocked in 2014

12,319

Fish stocked in 2015

12,413

Fish stocked in 2017

7,119

Fish stocked in 2018

150

Fish stocked in 2019

7,111

Fish stocked in 2021

7,119

Fish stocked in 2022

150

Fish stocked in 2023

6,398

Fish stocked in 2025

7,100

Stocking history

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 15, 2025Splake7,100–report
May 5, 2023Splake6,398–report
May 27, 2022Lake Trout150–report
April 7, 2021Splake7,119–report
April 29, 2019Splake7,111–report
July 16, 2018Lake Trout150–report
April 14, 2017Splake7,119–report
April 29, 2015Rainbow Trout5,720–report
April 23, 2015Splake6,693–report
May 7, 2014Rainbow Trout5,130–report
May 7, 2014Splake7,189–report
May 13, 2013Rainbow Trout5,300–report
May 13, 2013Splake7,198–report
May 14, 2012Rainbow Trout5,614–report
April 16, 2012Splake7,399–report
May 4, 2011Rainbow Trout5,400–report
April 28, 2011Splake7,398–report
April 29, 2010Rainbow Trout7,198–report
May 5, 2009Rainbow Trout7,199–report
May 2, 2008Rainbow Trout7,920–report
April 24, 2007Rainbow Trout3,000–report
April 26, 2006Rainbow Trout3,000–report
November 7, 2005Lake Trout106–report
November 7, 2005Lake Trout106–report
May 5, 2005Lake Trout7,920–report
May 3, 2005Rainbow Trout6,495–report
June 29, 2004Lake Trout249–report
April 30, 2004Splake6,473–report
April 28, 2004Rainbow Trout6,500–report
May 12, 2003Lake Trout7,197–report
May 6, 2003Rainbow Trout6,199–report
May 3, 2002Rainbow Trout6,500–report
April 30, 2002Splake7,200–report
May 7, 2001Lake Trout8,000–report
May 7, 2001Splake7,290–report
April 26, 2001Rainbow Trout8,000–report
May 10, 2000Lake Trout7,500–report
May 2, 2000Rainbow Trout7,000–report
May 10, 1999Splake7,500–report
May 7, 1999Lake Trout7,500–report
May 6, 1999Rainbow Trout7,500–report
April 27, 1999Splake7,500–report
May 1, 1998Rainbow Trout7,300–report
April 24, 1998Splake7,500–report
April 23, 1998Lake Trout7,400–report
September 12, 1997Lake Whitefish3,151–report
June 3, 1997Splake7,500–report
June 3, 1997Lake Trout7,500–report
June 3, 1997Lake Trout190–report
May 27, 1997Rainbow Trout7,500–report
October 3, 1996Lake Whitefish1,284–report
July 1, 1996Lake Trout210–report
July 1, 1996Lake Trout100–report
July 1, 1996Lake Trout30–report
June 4, 1996Rainbow Trout7,495–report
May 28, 1996Lake Trout7,500–report
May 28, 1996Splake7,500–report
May 8, 1996Lake Whitefish1,167–report
September 29, 1995Lake Whitefish6,013–report
May 16, 1995Rainbow Trout2,000–report
May 3, 1995Splake13,000–report
May 1, 1995Lake Whitefish922–report
November 2, 1994Lake Trout100–report
September 6, 1994Lake Whitefish5,621–report
May 10, 1994Splake10,000–report
May 10, 1994Lake Trout6,400–report
May 11, 1993Splake6,200–report
May 11, 1993Lake Trout10,000–report
May 22, 1992Splake7,500–report
May 18, 1992Lake Trout10,000–report
April 30, 1991Splake7,890–report
April 30, 1991Lake Trout7,400–report
May 16, 1990Splake10,000–report
April 30, 1990Lake Trout7,200–report
May 25, 1989Rainbow Trout7,500–report
May 12, 1989Brown Trout7,500–report
April 13, 1989Lake Trout200–report
April 13, 1989Lake Trout200–report
May 23, 1988Rainbow Trout3,980–report
May 23, 1988Brown Trout4,000–report
April 29, 1988Lake Trout10,000–report
April 26, 1988Splake6,000–report
September 17, 1987Lake Trout350–report
July 31, 1987Lake Trout23,000–report
May 7, 1987Splake10,000–report
May 19, 1986Splake6,700–report
May 19, 1986Lake Trout5,000–report
November 4, 1985Lake Trout600–report
September 26, 1985Splake15,000–report
September 27, 1984Rainbow Trout14,000–report
January 13, 1983Rainbow Trout14,000–report
September 29, 1982Rainbow Trout14,000–report
September 3, 1982Smallmouth Bass7,400–report
May 21, 1982Lake Trout6,000–report
June 18, 1980Rainbow Trout14,000–report
May 9, 1980Lake Trout6,000–report
June 12, 1979Rainbow Trout14,000–report
May 17, 1979Lake Trout6,000–report

Access and facts

Nearest town
Iron River
Facilities
restrooms, camping

Boat ramp with a concrete pad and no pier inside the USFS Golden Lake Campground, 3/4 mile north of US-2 on Forest Highway 16. Launching is free; paved parking fits about 6 rigs. The campground has 22 sites, vault toilets and a small picnic area.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before you go.

Nearest lakes

Timber Lake 3.7 mi last stocked October 22, 2025 Smoky Lake 6 mi last stocked October 19, 2005 Hagerman Lake 9.5 mi last stocked June 25, 2024 Iron Lake 11.4 mi last stocked July 1, 2025 Marion Lake 11.5 mi last stocked May 17, 1991

Common questions

What fish are at Golden Lake?

Fishing Golden Lake usually means Lake Trout: Lake Trout accounts for 33 of 98 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and 4 more. Lake Trout was last stocked May 27, 2022. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 29, 2015. Splake was last stocked May 15, 2025. Lake Whitefish was last stocked September 12, 1997. 2 more species are on the stocking report.

When is Golden Lake stocked?

Last stocked May 15, 2025. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 1979, most often in April and May. About 2,309 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 19 lakes in Iron County with both a fish count and a surface area. No plants recorded in 1981, 2016, 2020, and 2024.

How do you get on Golden Lake?

The nearest town is Iron River. Facilities include restrooms and camping. Boat ramp with a concrete pad and no pier inside the USFS Golden Lake Campground, 3/4 mile north of US-2 on Forest Highway 16. Launching is free; paved parking fits about 6 rigs. The campground has 22 sites, vault toilets and a small picnic area.

Which lakes near Golden Lake were stocked more recently?

Timber Lake (3.7 mi) and Iron Lake (11.4 mi) were stocked more recently.

Sources (2) +