Brook Trout ⚠ Special Concern
🔬 Salvelinus fontinalis
Michigan's only native trout: a true gem of the north. Prefer pristine, cold headwater streams in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan.
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Bite this month
Excellent
Best season
Spring, Fall
Keeper size
8" at ~2 yrs
Regulations
8" min · limit 5
Where to Catch Brook Trout in Michigan
Brook Trout Conservation Status
⚠ Special Concern Brook Trout is listed as a species of special concern in Michigan. Michigan's only native trout. Requires cold, clean headwater streams: the clearest indicator of watershed health. Populations in southern Michigan have declined due to warming waters and sedimentation. UP and northern Lower Michigan populations remain strong. Michigan requires a minimum length of 8" to keep. The daily bag limit is 5.
Brook Trout Habitat & Behavior
Cold, clean headwater streams and spring seeps. Stocked in select inland lakes. Sensitive to warm water: gone when temps hit 68°F. DNR records show Brook Trout present in 616 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Marquette, Delta and Schoolcraft counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec.
Best Brook Trout Techniques
Small spinners, dry flies, wet flies, small worms. Match the hatch in clear streams
Best Brook Trout Baits
Night crawlers, small spinners, flies, wax worms, small minnows
Brook Trout Fishing Regulations in Michigan
8"
Minimum size
5
Daily limit
10
Possession limit
Last Saturday in April – September 30 (most streams)
Season
Cold, clean streams of the Upper Peninsula are prime habitat. Some UP waters allow fishing year-round.
⚠️ 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 Brook Trout Stocking Records
Brook Trout Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2026 | Escanaba River Delta County | Delta | 12,303 total | 8.5" |
| May 26, 2026 | stocking event | 8,066 | 8.5" | |
| May 26, 2026 | stocking event | 4,237 | 8.5" | |
| May 21, 2026 | No Name Pond Keweenaw County | Keweenaw | 300 | 8.7" |
| May 20, 2026 | Lost Lake Presque Isle County | Presque Isle | 605 | 8.7" |
| May 20, 2026 | Sitka Lake | 748 | 8.7" | |
| May 20, 2026 | West Johns Lake | 594 | 8.7" | |
| May 20, 2026 | Teaspoon Creek | 385 total | 8.7" | |
| May 20, 2026 | stocking event | 220 | 8.7" | |
| May 20, 2026 | stocking event | 165 | 8.7" | |
| May 19, 2026 | Addis Lakes (Ponds) | 198 | 8.7" | |
| May 19, 2026 | Warner Creek | 329 | 8.7" | |
| May 19, 2026 | Dead River Marquette County | Marquette | 655 | 8.7" |
| May 19, 2026 | Bryan Creek Marquette County | Marquette | 1,100 | 8.7" |
| May 19, 2026 | Whitefish River Delta County | Delta | 1,650 | 8.7" |
| May 19, 2026 | Haymeadow Creek Delta County | Delta | 1,280 total | 8.6"–8.7" |
| May 19, 2026 | stocking event | 550 | 8.7" | |
| May 14, 2026 | stocking event | 730 | 8.6" | |
| May 18, 2026 | Holland Lake Luce County | Luce | 165 | 8.7" |
| May 18, 2026 | Moon Lake Gogebic County | Gogebic | 725 | 8.7" |
| May 18, 2026 | Syphon Lake Luce County | Luce | 247 | 8.7" |
| May 18, 2026 | Hayward Lake Menominee County | Menominee | 154 | 8.7" |
| May 18, 2026 | Driggs River Schoolcraft County | Schoolcraft | 4,069 total | 8.4" |
| May 18, 2026 | stocking event | 1,320 | 8.4" | |
| May 18, 2026 | stocking event | 2,749 | 8.4" | |
| May 15, 2026 | Carp River Marquette County | Marquette | 1,459 total | 8.6" |
| May 15, 2026 | stocking event | 730 | 8.6" | |
| May 15, 2026 | stocking event | 729 | 8.6" | |
| May 15, 2026 | Strawberry Lake Marquette County | Marquette | 787 | 8.6" |
| May 15, 2026 | Yellow Dog River Marquette County | Marquette | 1,900 | 8.6" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Brook Trout, across 20 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Brook Trout DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 13,478,916
Stocking events: 8,185
Peak year: 1987 (841,093)
8,188
Historical stocking events
460
Lakes stocked
Apr
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May
Oct
Apr
Top Stocked Lakes
Whitefish River
Delta Co.
Driggs River
Schoolcraft Co.
Clear Lake
Houghton Co.
Escanaba River
Delta Co.
Clear Lake
Schoolcraft Co.
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Estimated Mature Brook Trout, October
Based on DNR stocking records from 2023–2025 (1–3 years ago), these 15 lakes likely hold mature Brook Trout at or near 8" keeper size today.
1
Escanaba River
~11,700
est. mature
→
2
Whitefish River
~9,600
est. mature
→
3
Waiska Bay, Lake Superior
~3800
est. mature
→
4
Driggs River
~3050
est. mature
→
5
Yellow Dog River
~2550
est. mature
→
6
East Branch Ontonagon River
~2350
est. mature
→
7
Timber Lake
~2350
est. mature
→
8
Otter River
~1950
est. mature
→
9
Castle Lake
~1850
est. mature
→
10
Haymeadow Creek
~1650
est. mature
→
11
Days River
~1650
est. mature
→
12
Roland Lake
~1650
est. mature
→
13
Lake Perrault
~1600
est. mature
→
14
Clear Lake
~1550
est. mature
→
15
Clear Lake
~1550
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 Brook Trout
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