Northern Pike Native
🔬 Esox lucius
Aggressive predator found in weedy bays. Can reach 40+ inches in Michigan.
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Bite this month
Good
Best season
Spring, Fall
Keeper size
24" at ~4 yrs
Ice fishing
Viable target
Regulations
24" min · limit 5
Where to Catch Northern Pike in Michigan
Northern Pike Conservation Status
Native Northern Pike is native to Michigan waters. Abundant statewide. Strong predator populations in most Michigan lakes. Michigan requires a minimum length of 24" to keep. The daily bag limit is 5.
Northern Pike Habitat & Behavior
Shallow, weedy bays and slow rivers. Ambush predator hiding in thick vegetation near shore. DNR records show Northern Pike present in 673 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Oakland, Allegan and Alpena counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec. Northern Pike is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.
Best Northern Pike Techniques
Spoons, large swimbaits, sucker minnows under a bobber
Best Northern Pike Baits
Large suckers, creek chubs, spoons, bucktail spinners, large swimbaits
Northern Pike Fishing Regulations in Michigan
24"
Minimum size
5
Daily limit
10
Possession limit
Year-round on most waters
Season
Minimum size is 24" on most inland waters. Some waters have special regulations — verify with the DNR Fishing Guide.
⚠️ 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 Northern Pike Stocking Records
Northern Pike Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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13 more recent stocking events available with Fishing Pro
See what's been stocked recently, including lake, quantity, and size.
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| Jun 30, 2017 | Big Whitefish Lake | Montcalm | 164 | 4.7" |
| Jun 30, 2017 | Cedar Lake | Leelanau | 171 | 4.7" |
| Jun 30, 2017 | Cedar Lake | Lapeer | 171 | 4.7" |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Wildwood Lake | Cheboygan | 720 | 4.7" |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Heron Lake | Oakland | 1,320 | 4.7" |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Wildwood Lake | Oakland | 720 | 4.7" |
| Jun 21, 2017 | Long Lake | Grand Traverse | 1,035 | 4.7" |
| Jun 21, 2017 | Long Lake | Alpena | 1,035 | 4.7" |
| Apr 5, 2017 | Thornapple River | Kent | 19 | 29.4" |
| Apr 3, 2017 | Thornapple River | Kent | 9 | 30.6" |
| Nov 7, 2016 | Thompson (Howell) Lake | 400 | 13.0" | |
| Oct 29, 2016 | Lake Metamora | 34 | 13.0" | |
Most valuable for Northern Pike anglers
See where Northern Pike will be stocked next
Full stocking history across all 235 lakes, plus a forecast of which waters are due for restocking this season.
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1,179
Historical stocking events
235
Lakes stocked
Apr
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May
Jun
Apr
Top Stocked Lakes
See the top 5 lakes most likely to be stocked with Northern Pike next season.
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Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
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Estimated Mature Northern Pike — September
See Which Lakes Have Mature Northern Pike Right Now
Based on DNR stocking records from 2020–2023, we estimate which Michigan lakes likely hold Northern Pike at keeper size (24") today.
Best Times to Fish Northern Pike
❄️ Northern Pike is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.
Angler Tips for Northern Pike
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