Lake Ellen
Fishing and stocking
Splake water; one stocking on the 2026 record, in April. A 140-acre lake, and one of 4 stocked waters on the Iron County record.
Iron County · Michigan · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Splake
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked Oct 14.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28 | Splake | adult | 4,300 | completed |
When to fish Lake Ellen
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:31 am-12:31 pm and 10:54 pm-12:54 am | 4:47-5:47 am and 5:01-6:01 pm |
| Tomorrow | 11:17 am-1:17 pm | 6:02-7:02 am and 5:20-6:20 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Last stocked Apr 28
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Michigan fishing forecast
Getting on the water
| Access point | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Ellen | carry-in launch | Recreation Passport required · accessible facilities |
Access points from the Michigan DNR boating access inventory. Ramps, fees, and hours change; check before towing a boat a long way.
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural.
For the trout (splake stocked 1 time here in 2026, stillwater)
| Ultralight spinning rod | 6 to 7 ft ultralight, 4 lb line; long casts from the bank |
| Dough bait rigs | floating dough bait 18 inches above a small egg sinker; hatchery fish know the smell |
| Casting spoons | 1/8 to 1/4 oz in fluorescent or metallic; count down until you find the depth |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Witch Lake | 9.9 mi | Jun 23 |
| Stager Lake | 16 mi | Jun 26 |
| Chicagon Lake | 19 mi | Jun 26 |
| Edith Lake WI | 21 mi | 2026 season |
| Twin Lake | 21 mi | Apr 28 |
Follow Iron County stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule