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Rock Bass Native

🔬 Ambloplites rupestris

Small but feisty. Often caught alongside smallmouth.

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🏆 Michigan record 2 lbs 1 oz ·Eugene Kotenko ·Lake Erie ·Monroe County ·1980 All records →
Bite this month
Fair
📅
Best season
Summer
📏
Keeper size
8" at ~4 yrs
📋
Regulations
limit 25

🌊 Where to Catch Rock Bass in Michigan

Lake County Population
Alcona Pond Alcona Good
Ambrose Lake Ogemaw Good
Arbutus Lake
510 acres
 Grand Traverse Good
Arnold Lake Clare Good
Au Sable Lake Ogemaw Good
Au Sable River Iosco Good
Avalon Lake Montmorency Good
Avery Lake Montmorency Good
Badwater Lake Dickinson Good
Baldy Lake Alger Good
Bar Lake Alger Good
Bass Lake Dickinson Good
Bass Lake Oscoda Good
Bass Lake (Long Lake Township) Grand Traverse Good
Bay City Lake Mackinac Good
Bear Lake
3,350 acres
 Manistee Good
Beatons Lake Gogebic Good
Beaver Lake Alpena Good
Big Bass Lake Otsego Good
Big Bear Lake Otsego Good

🛡 Rock Bass Conservation Status

Native Rock Bass is native to Michigan waters. Very common panfish in rocky-bottom lakes alongside smallmouth bass. The daily bag limit is 25.
Rock Bass

🌿 Rock Bass Habitat & Behavior

Rocky shoals, log piles, and rubble shorelines. Often found in the same water as smallmouth bass. DNR records show Rock Bass present in 267 Michigan water bodies. Bite activity rates Good or better in Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct.

🎣 Best Rock Bass Techniques

Small jigs, spinners, crayfish imitations

🪱 Best Rock Bass Baits

Crayfish, night crawlers, small jigs, spinners, minnows

📋 Rock Bass Fishing Regulations in Michigan

25
Daily limit
50
Possession limit
Year-round
Season

Counted in the combined panfish limit on most waters.

⚠️ 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 Rock Bass Stocking Records

📋 Rock Bass Stocking Events by Lake

Date Lake County Quantity Size
Oct 29, 1985 Saline Pond 12 5.5"
May 12, 1983 Shelldrake Dam Impoundment 241 —

Showing the 2 most recent stocking events for Rock Bass, across 2 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.

📦 Rock Bass DNR Stocking History

Total stocked: 253
Stocking events: 2
Peak year: 1983 (241)
2
Historical stocking events
2
Lakes stocked
May
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May Oct
Top Stocked Lakes
Shelldrake Dam Impoundment
Saline Pond

Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.

🎯 Estimated Mature Rock Bass, November

Based on DNR stocking records from 2021–2023 (3–5 years ago), these 0 lakes likely hold mature Rock Bass at or near 8" keeper size today.

🗓

No DNR stocking records found for Rock Bass between 2021 and 2023.

This species may not have been stocked in Michigan during that window.

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 Rock Bass

💡 Angler Tips for Rock Bass

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📋 Quick Rock Bass Facts

📈 Growth Timeline

🔗 Resources

🐟 All Fish Species 🎣 MDNR Sport Fishing 🔬 MDNR Fish ID Guide 🪪 Buy a Michigan Fishing License 🎣 Log a catch