Fishing Lake Michigan
Grand Traverse County, Michigan · 923 ft max depth
Fish Species
Brown troutCoho salmonLake herringLake troutLake whitefishWalleye
DNR Fish Stocking
Walleye: 2,377,061 totalLake trout: 626,002 totalBrown trout: 492,159 totalLake whitefish: 336,050 totalLake herring: 98,927 totalCoho salmon: 47,300 total
| Date | Species | Strain | Number | Avg Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/9/2025 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 12,121 | 2.5" |
| 9/27/2023 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 2,250 | 3.5" |
| 8/24/2023 | Lake whitefish | — | 24,546 | 2.09" |
| 9/14/2022 | Lake whitefish | — | 1,361 | 4.07" |
| 9/13/2022 | Lake whitefish | — | 2,736 | 3.7" |
| 7/8/2022 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 3,578 | 1.8" |
| 9/26/2021 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 565 | 7.3" |
| 9/25/2021 | Walleye | Bay De Noc | 301 | 7.3" |
| 9/29/2020 | Lake whitefish | — | 4,917 | 3" |
| 9/28/2020 | Walleye | — | 5,048 | 4.8" |
Source: Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database
Ice Fishing
The open waters of Lake Michigan do not freeze over reliably — the lake's 923-foot depth and massive volume prevent full ice cover in most winters. However, the more protected Grand Traverse Bays can develop fishable ice in cold winters, supporting whitefish and perch fishing. Bay ice is highly variable year to year; always verify conditions locally and never venture onto Great Lakes ice without current, trusted reports.
Fishing Tournaments & Competitions
Check for upcoming registered bass, walleye, and muskellunge tournaments on Lake Michigan.
Michigan Fishing Resources
Data: Michigan DNR · ← Back to Lake Michigan Guide
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