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Lake Whitefish Native

🔬 Coregonus clupeaformis

One of the most important commercial and sport fish in the Great Lakes. Silver-white with a small head and subterminal (underslung) mouth. Schools in cold, open water. Prized eating fish -- the whitefish served in Great Lakes ports is almost always this species. Historically one of the most abundant Great Lakes fishes before overfishing and sea lamprey decimated populations.

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🏆 Michigan record 14 lbs 12 oz ·Darrell Myers ·Lake Michigan ·Benzie County ·1983 All records →
Bite this month
Excellent
📅
Best season
Fall, Winter
📏
Keeper size
14" at ~5 yrs
🧊
Ice fishing
Viable target
📋
Regulations
limit 25

🌊 Where to Catch Lake Whitefish in Michigan

Lake County Population
Barber Creek Allegan Good
Big Glen Lake Leelanau Good
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
 Cheboygan Good
Carp River Mackinac Good
Carp River Marquette Good
Charlevoix Lake
17,260 acres
 Charlevoix Good
Chicagon Lake Iron Good
Crystal Lake
9,854 acres
 Benzie Good
Eight Point Lake Clare Good
Glen Lake
4,944 acres
 Leelanau Good
Golden Lake Iron Good
Higgins Lake
9,600 acres
 Roscommon Good
Indian Lake
8,689 acres
 Schoolcraft Good
Jordan River Antrim Good
Lake Gogebic
13,380 acres
 Gogebic Good
Lake Huron - Cheboygan Good
Lake Huron, Harrisville Alcona Good
Lake Huron, Oscoda Iosco Good
Lake Leelanau
8,562 acres
 Leelanau Good
Lake Michigamme
4,149 acres
 Marquette Good

🛡 Lake Whitefish Conservation Status

Native Lake Whitefish is native to Michigan waters. Native Great Lakes species. Populations severely depleted by sea lamprey predation and overfishing in the mid-20th century. Now recovering under MDNR and Great Lakes Fishery Commission management. Important subsistence and charter fishing target in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior. The daily bag limit is 25.
Lake Whitefish

🌿 Lake Whitefish Habitat & Behavior

Cold, deep Great Lakes water and select cold northern Michigan inland lakes. Found at 30-200+ feet in summer. Moves shallower in fall to spawn on rocky shoals. DNR records show Lake Whitefish present in 52 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Antrim, Allegan and Iron counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec. Lake Whitefish is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.

🎣 Best Lake Whitefish Techniques

Jigging small spoons, Swedish Pimples, or jigging Rapalas in deep water; small bait flies and nymphs; ice fishing with tiny tube jigs tipped with wax worm near bottom

🪱 Best Lake Whitefish Baits

Small jigs, emerald shiners, minnows, spawn bags, ice flies

📋 Lake Whitefish Fishing Regulations in Michigan

25
Daily limit
50
Possession limit
Year-round
Season

Excellent table fish. Primarily found in Great Lakes and some deep inland lakes. Ice fishing through hard water is highly productive.

⚠️ 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 Lake Whitefish Stocking Records

📋 Lake Whitefish Stocking Events by Lake

Date Lake County Quantity Size
Feb 11, 2026 Jordan River Antrim County Antrim 148,677 total 0.5"
Jul 23, 2025 Lake Michigan Allegan County Allegan 44,813 total 2.1"–5.6"
Jul 23, 2025 Lake Huron - Cheboygan 2,701 2.5"
Jul 23, 2025 Lake Michigan Antrim County Antrim 44,813 total 2.1"–5.6"
Jul 14, 2025 St. Marys River Chippewa County Chippewa 23,452 total 2.6"–3"
Jul 14, 2025 Nunns Creek Mackinac County Mackinac 27,181 3"
Jul 8, 2025 Pine River Lake County Lake 107,072 total 1.6"–3.4"
Jul 8, 2025 Pine River Midland County Midland 107,072 total 1.6"–3.4"
Nov 26, 2022 Carp River Mackinac County Mackinac 89,498 —
Nov 26, 2022 Carp River Marquette County Marquette 89,498 —

Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Lake Whitefish, across 10 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.

📦 Lake Whitefish DNR Stocking History

Total stocked: 1,490,877
Stocking events: 66
Peak year: 2022 (499,330)
66
Historical stocking events
14
Lakes stocked
May
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May Jun Jul
Top Stocked Lakes
Lake Michigan Antrim Co.
Lake Michigan Allegan Co.
Golden Lake Iron Co.
Pine River Lake Co.
Nunns Creek Mackinac Co.

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

🎯 Estimated Mature Lake Whitefish, November

Based on DNR stocking records from 2019–2022 (4–7 years ago), these 5 lakes likely hold mature Lake Whitefish at or near 14" keeper size today.

1
Lake Michigan
Allegan County  ·  Stocked Oct 2022  ·  331,383 fish stocked
~29,500 est. mature
→
2
Lake Michigan
Antrim County  ·  Stocked Oct 2022  ·  331,383 fish stocked
~29,500 est. mature
→
3
Carp River
Marquette County  ·  Stocked Nov 2022  ·  89,498 fish stocked
~13,400 est. mature
→
4
Carp River
Mackinac County  ·  Stocked Nov 2022  ·  89,498 fish stocked
~13,400 est. mature
→
5
Nunns Creek
Mackinac County  ·  Stocked May 2022  ·  9,579 fish stocked
~2100 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 Lake Whitefish

❄️ Lake Whitefish is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.

💡 Angler Tips for Lake Whitefish

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📋 Quick Lake Whitefish Facts

📈 Growth Timeline

🔗 Resources

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