Largemouth Bass Native
🔬 Micropterus salmoides
Michigan's most popular sport fish. Found in weedy, warm-water lakes statewide.
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Bite this month
Good
Best season
Spring, Summer
Keeper size
14" at ~4 yrs
Regulations
14" min · limit 5
Where to Catch Largemouth Bass in Michigan
| Lake | County | Population |
|---|---|---|
|
Coldwater Lake
1,561 acres
|
Branch | |
|
Gull Lake
2,030 acres
|
Kalamazoo | |
|
Gun Lake
2,680 acres
|
Barry | |
|
Gun Lake
665 acres
|
Allegan | |
|
Lake Cadillac
1,141 acres
|
Wexford | |
|
Magician Lake
755 acres
|
Cass | |
|
Ore Lake
233 acres
|
Livingston | |
|
Paw Paw Lake
1,000 acres
|
Van Buren | |
|
Pickerel Lake
840 acres
|
Newaygo | |
| 40th Street Pond | St. Clair | |
| Alcona Pond | Alcona | |
| Algoe Lake | Lapeer | |
| Alma Impoundment | Gratiot | |
| Ambrose Lake | Ogemaw | |
| Andrus Lake | ||
| Arcadia Lake | Manistee | |
| Arnold Lake | Clare | |
| Au Sable Lake | Ogemaw | |
| Au Train Lake | ||
| AuGres | Arenac |
Largemouth Bass Conservation Status
Native Largemouth Bass is native to Michigan waters. Abundant across Michigan. One of the most popular sport fish in the state. Michigan requires a minimum length of 14" to keep. The daily bag limit is 5.
Largemouth Bass Habitat & Behavior
Warm, weedy lakes statewide. Prefers shallow bays with lily pads, submerged timber, and vegetation. DNR records show Largemouth Bass present in 681 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Mackinac, Alger and Luce counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct and Nov.
Best Largemouth Bass Techniques
Plastic worms, crankbaits, topwater frogs near lily pads
Best Largemouth Bass Baits
Plastic worms, crawfish imitations, swimbaits, topwater frogs, spinnerbaits
Largemouth Bass Fishing Regulations in Michigan
14"
Minimum size
5
Daily limit
10
Possession limit
Year-round (catch-and-release Jan 1–last Sat in April on many inland lakes)
Season
On designated Two-Story lakes, a 15" minimum size may apply. Check the DNR Fishing Guide for your specific water.
⚠️ Regulations shown are general statewide guidelines for 2025. Rules vary by water body and change annually.
Always verify current regulations in the official Michigan DNR Fishing Guide before you fish.
Michigan DNR Largemouth Bass Stocking Records
Largemouth Bass Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2026 | Michigan (Rockland) Pond | 43 total | 12" | |
| Jun 4, 2026 | stocking event | 28 | 12" | |
| Jun 1, 2026 | stocking event | 15 | 12" | |
| May 15, 2026 | Cook Lake Alger County | Alger | 650 total | 5"–7.9" |
| May 15, 2026 | stocking event | 500 | 5" | |
| May 10, 2024 | stocking event | 150 | 7.9" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Searles Lake | 250 total | 5"–7" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | stocking event | 150 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 100 | 5" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Big Clinton Lake | 750 total | 7" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | stocking event | 200 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 150 | 7" | |
| Nov 23, 2022 | stocking event | 400 | 7" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Little Clinton Lake | 200 total | 7" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | stocking event | 100 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 100 | 7" | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | Clinton Trails Lake | 200 total | 7" | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | stocking event | 100 | 7" | |
| Nov 15, 2024 | stocking event | 100 | 7" | |
| Nov 26, 2024 | Lake Bel Air | 150 total | 5" | |
| Nov 26, 2024 | stocking event | 50 | 5" | |
| Nov 29, 2022 | stocking event | 100 | 5" | |
| Nov 12, 2024 | Turk Lake | 63 | 7" | |
| Oct 30, 2023 | Hopkins Lake Shiawassee County | Shiawassee | 430 total | 3"–6.5" |
| Oct 30, 2023 | stocking event | 300 | 3" | |
| Oct 28, 2022 | stocking event | 130 | 6.5" | |
| Jun 7, 2023 | Bertha Lake | 200 | 7" | |
| Apr 29, 2023 | Thread Creek | 25 | 5.5" | |
| Nov 21, 2022 | Cedar Lake Lapeer County | Lapeer | 110 | 7" |
| Nov 21, 2022 | Cedar Lake Leelanau County | Leelanau | 110 | 7" |
| Oct 29, 2021 | Lake Ogemaw | 900 total | 6"–7" | |
| Oct 29, 2021 | stocking event | 400 | 6" | |
| Oct 15, 2020 | stocking event | 500 | 7" | |
| Nov 1, 2020 | Rainy Lake | 381 | 7" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Largemouth Bass, across 15 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Largemouth Bass DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 826,738
Stocking events: 534
Peak year: 1991 (107,308)
534
Historical stocking events
221
Lakes stocked
Jul
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
Oct
Aug
Jul
Top Stocked Lakes
Long Lake
Alpena Co.
Brevoort Lake
Mackinac Co.
Little Brevoort Lake
Mackinac Co.
Long Lake
Grand Traverse Co.
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Estimated Mature Largemouth Bass, November
Based on DNR stocking records from 2021–2023 (3–5 years ago), these 7 lakes likely hold mature Largemouth Bass at or near 14" keeper size today.
1
Lake Ogemaw
~100
est. mature
→
2
Big Clinton Lake
~100
est. mature
→
3
Hopkins Lake
~80
est. mature
→
4
Bertha Lake
~50
est. mature
→
5
Cedar Lake
~30
est. mature
→
6
Cedar Lake
~30
est. mature
→
7
Lake Bel Air
~20
est. mature
→
Estimates based on average stocking-size survival rates. Actual populations vary by habitat, fishing pressure, and lake conditions. Data sourced from Michigan DNR.
Best Times to Fish Largemouth Bass
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