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Walleye Native

🔬 Sander vitreus

Prized table fish. Most active at dawn, dusk, and on overcast days.

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🏆 Michigan record 17 lbs 3 oz ·Earl Anderson ·Pine Lake ·Benzie County ·1951 All records →
Bite this month
Excellent
📅
Best season
Spring, Fall
📏
Keeper size
15" at ~4 yrs
🧊
Ice fishing
Viable target
📋
Regulations
15" min · limit 5

🌊 Where to Catch Walleye in Michigan

Lake County Population
Brevoort Lake
4,179 acres
 Mackinac Excellent
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
 Cheboygan Excellent
Coldwater Lake
1,561 acres
 Branch Excellent
Croton Pond
1,605 acres
 Newaygo Excellent
Fletcher Pond
8,600 acres
 Montmorency Excellent
Fremont Lake
1,700 acres
 Newaygo Excellent
Hardy Pond
4,025 acres
 Newaygo Excellent
Houghton Lake
20,044 acres
 Roscommon Excellent
Indian Lake
8,689 acres
 Schoolcraft Excellent
Lake Gogebic
13,380 acres
 Gogebic Excellent
Lake Michigamme
4,149 acres
 Marquette Excellent
Lake Mitchell
2,580 acres
 Wexford Excellent
Lake St. Clair
260,000 acres
 Macomb Excellent
Onaway Lake
2,500 acres
 Presque Isle Excellent
Pickerel Lake
840 acres
 Newaygo Excellent
Alcona Dam Pond Good
Alcona Pond Alcona Good
Algonquin Lake Good
Allen Lake Good
Amber Lake Pit Good

🛡 Walleye Conservation Status

Native Walleye is native to Michigan waters. Michigan's most sought-after sport fish. Healthy statewide populations supported by MDNR stocking. Michigan requires a minimum length of 15" to keep. The daily bag limit is 5.
Walleye

🌿 Walleye Habitat & Behavior

Found statewide in lakes and rivers. Prefers moderate depths with sandy or gravel bottoms. Active at low light. DNR records show Walleye present in 782 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Allegan, Antrim and Iron counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec. Walleye is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.

🎣 Best Walleye Techniques

Jigs with minnows, crawler harnesses, trolling crankbaits

🪱 Best Walleye Baits

Minnows, night crawlers, leeches, jigging spoons, blade baits

📋 Walleye Fishing Regulations in Michigan

15"
Minimum size
5
Daily limit
10
Possession limit
Last Saturday in April – March 15
Season

Minimum size and bag limits vary significantly by water body. Some lakes have 18" or 20" minimums. Always check the DNR guide for your specific lake.

⚠️ 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 Walleye Stocking Records

📋 Walleye Stocking Events by Lake

Date Lake County Quantity Size
Oct 14, 2026 Lake Mary Menominee County Menominee 2,263 6.3"
Jul 9, 2026 Lake Charlevoix Charlevoix County Charlevoix 91,939 total 1.7"
Jul 9, 2026 Pontiac Lake Oakland County Oakland 41,131 total 1.7"
Jul 8, 2026 Ore Lake Livingston County Livingston 37,954 1.7"
Jul 8, 2026 Portage Lake Washtenaw County Washtenaw 42,857 1.7"
Jul 7, 2026 Indian Lake Schoolcraft County Schoolcraft 10,252 total 1.5"–1.6"
Jul 2, 2026 Caribou Lake Chippewa County Chippewa 29,950 1.5"
Jul 2, 2026 Lake Michigan Allegan County Allegan 218,334 total 1.5"–1.8"
Jul 1, 2026 West Lake (Grov. Mine Pd. 2A) 11,948 total 2.7"
Jun 30, 2026 Bear Lake Manistee County Manistee 84,870 2.1"
Jun 29, 2026 Lake Margrethe 62,470 2.1"
Jun 29, 2026 Lake Missaukee Missaukee County Missaukee 101,570 2.1"
Jun 26, 2026 Stager Lake Iron County Iron 6,265 1.7"
Jun 26, 2026 Chicagon Lake Iron County Iron 2,853 1.7"
Jun 26, 2026 Island Lake Ogemaw County Ogemaw 8,241 1.7"
Jun 26, 2026 Lake Cadillac Wexford County Wexford 65,155 2"
Jun 25, 2026 Sixmile Lake Charlevoix County Charlevoix 9,665 2"
Jun 25, 2026 Manistee Lake Manistee County Manistee 45,775 2"

Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Walleye, across 18 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.

📦 Walleye DNR Stocking History

Total stocked: 1,132,504,091
Stocking events: 12,565
Peak year: 1982 (48,961,108)
12,565
Historical stocking events
642
Lakes stocked
Jun
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
Jun Jul Oct
Top Stocked Lakes
Lake Michigan Allegan Co.
Lake Michigan Antrim Co.
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron Cheboygan Co.
Grand River Ottawa Co.
Saint Joseph River

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

🎯 Estimated Mature Walleye, October

Based on DNR stocking records from 2021–2023 (3–5 years ago), these 15 lakes likely hold mature Walleye at or near 15" keeper size today.

1
Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo County  ·  Stocked Apr 2023  ·  8,703,195 fish stocked
~696,300 est. mature
→
2
Kalamazoo River
Allegan County  ·  Stocked Apr 2023  ·  8,703,195 fish stocked
~696,300 est. mature
→
3
Escanaba River
Delta County  ·  Stocked May 2023  ·  5,604,920 fish stocked
~448,400 est. mature
→
4
Grand River
Clinton County  ·  Stocked Jun 2022  ·  3,307,320 fish stocked
~264,600 est. mature
→
5
Grand River
Ottawa County  ·  Stocked Jun 2022  ·  3,307,320 fish stocked
~264,600 est. mature
→
6
Lake Geneserath
Charlevoix County  ·  Stocked Apr 2023  ·  1,954,000 fish stocked
~156,300 est. mature
→
7
Lake Michigan
Allegan County  ·  Stocked Sep 2023  ·  1,523,319 fish stocked
~122,300 est. mature
→
8
Lake Michigan
Antrim County  ·  Stocked Sep 2023  ·  1,523,319 fish stocked
~122,300 est. mature
→
9
Saint Joseph River
Michigan  ·  Stocked May 2023  ·  1,490,658 fish stocked
~119,300 est. mature
→
10
The Cut
Michigan  ·  Stocked May 2022  ·  1,139,667 fish stocked
~91,200 est. mature
→
11
Tahquamenon River
Chippewa County  ·  Stocked May 2023  ·  1,024,946 fish stocked
~82,000 est. mature
→
12
Millecoquins Lake
Mackinac County  ·  Stocked May 2023  ·  1,000,000 fish stocked
~80,000 est. mature
→
13
Black Lake
Cheboygan County  ·  Stocked Jun 2023  ·  949,231 fish stocked
~75,900 est. mature
→
14
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron
Cheboygan County  ·  Stocked Jun 2023  ·  831,805 fish stocked
~66,500 est. mature
→
15
East Branch Ontonagon River
Iron County  ·  Stocked Jun 2023  ·  731,123 fish stocked
~58,500 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 Walleye

❄️ Walleye is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.

💡 Angler Tips for Walleye

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📋 Quick Walleye Facts

📈 Growth Timeline

🔗 Resources

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