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Grass Pickerel Native

🔬 Esox americanus vermiculatus

Michigan's smallest member of the pike family, rarely exceeding 12 inches. Dark olive with a chain-like or wavy lateral pattern. Short snout compared to northern pike. Found in dense, weedy shallows and slow streams. Not a target sport fish due to small size but interesting to encounter.

Under 0.5 lb, 8-12 inches
Typical size
1 lb 2 oz
Michigan record
Summer
Best season
8
Listed lakes

Full stocking history & restocking forecasts with Fishing+

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🏆 Michigan record 1 lb 2 oz ·Ron Mikulski ·Lac La Belle ·Keweenaw County ·1990 All records →

📅 Best Times to Fish Grass Pickerel

Jan
None
Feb
Fair
Mar
Good
Apr
Excellent
May
Good
Jun
Good
Jul
Fair
Aug
Fair
Sep
Good
Oct
Good
Nov
Good
Dec
Fair

🛡 Grass Pickerel Conservation Status

Native Grass Pickerel is native to Michigan waters. Native Michigan species but with a limited range in the state -- primarily in southern Michigan's slow, weedy streams and lake margins. No current conservation concern. Michigan requires a minimum length of 15" to keep. The daily bag limit is 5.

🌿 Grass Pickerel Habitat & Behavior

Dense vegetation in slow-moving streams, weedy lake margins, and backwaters in southern Michigan. Much less common than northern pike -- limited to the lower portion of the Lower Peninsula. DNR records show Grass Pickerel present in 8 Michigan water bodies. Bite activity rates Good or better in Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct and Nov.

🎣 Best Grass Pickerel Techniques

Small spinners, jigs, and live bait. Rarely targeted deliberately but caught incidentally in weedy bass habitat.

🪱 Best Grass Pickerel Baits

Small minnows, night crawlers, small spinners, tiny jigs

📋 Grass Pickerel Fishing Regulations in Michigan

15"
Minimum size
5
Daily limit
10
Possession limit
Year-round on most waters
Season

Smallest member of the pike family. Rarely exceeds 14 inches. Primarily caught while targeting other species.

⚠️ 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.

🌊 Where to Catch Grass Pickerel in Michigan

Lake County Population
Baseline Lake
377 acres
 Livingston Fair
Cass Lake
1,280 acres
 Oakland Fair
Lake Columbia
821 acres
 Jackson Fair
Magician Lake
755 acres
 Cass Fair
Ore Lake
233 acres
 Livingston Fair
Paw Paw Lake
1,000 acres
 Van Buren Fair
Portage Lake
800 acres
 Washtenaw Fair
Walled Lake
640 acres
 Oakland Fair
Most valuable for Grass Pickerel anglers
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Full stocking history across all 8 lakes, plus a forecast of which waters are due for restocking this season.
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📋 Quick Grass Pickerel Facts

🔗 Resources

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

💡 Angler Tips for Grass Pickerel

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