Golden Shiner
🔬 Notemigonus crysoleucas
Golden Shiners are the most commonly sold baitfish in Michigan bait shops and a critical forage species for nearly every predator in the state. They thrive in warm, weedy lakes and are extremely hardy on the hook.
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Bite this month
Fair
Best season
Year-round as bait
Regulations
limit No limit
Where to Catch Golden Shiner in Michigan
Golden Shiner Conservation Status
The daily bag limit is No limit.
Golden Shiner Habitat & Behavior
Warm, weedy lakes, ponds, and slow rivers. Highly tolerant of low oxygen and warm water. Found in most Michigan inland lakes. Travel in schools near vegetation. DNR records show Golden Shiner present in 851 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Oakland, Luce and Montcalm counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep.
Best Golden Shiner Techniques
Primarily used as live bait under a bobber or on a hook for Walleye, Bass, Pike, and Muskie. Rarely targeted directly
Best Golden Shiner Baits
Small hooks with tiny bits of worm, bread, or dough bait if targeting directly; most commonly purchased at bait shops
Golden Shiner Fishing Regulations in Michigan
No limit
Daily limit
No limit
Possession limit
Year-round
Season
May be used as bait on most Michigan waters. Check local regulations before transporting live baitfish between water bodies.
⚠️ 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 Golden Shiner Stocking Records
Golden Shiner Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2022 | Lake Ogemaw | 20,500 total | 2.5"–3.1" | |
| May 13, 2022 | stocking event | 8,000 | 2.5" | |
| May 17, 2019 | stocking event | 12,500 | 3.1" | |
| May 14, 2019 | Manistee Lake Manistee County | Manistee | 150,000 | 2.5" |
| Nov 7, 2018 | Lake Loch Erin | 320,900 total | 2.5"–7" | |
| Nov 7, 2018 | stocking event | 111,000 | 2.5" | |
| Sep 26, 2016 | stocking event | 138,000 | 2.5" | |
| Oct 8, 2013 | stocking event | 11,000 | 2.5" | |
| Sep 26, 2011 | stocking event | 2,900 | 7" | |
| Oct 21, 2010 | stocking event | 58,000 | 3" | |
| Oct 18, 2018 | Wolverine Lake Oakland County | Oakland | 60,675 total | 2.5"–3" |
| Oct 18, 2018 | stocking event | 17,800 | 2.5" | |
| Oct 2, 2015 | stocking event | 33,000 | 2.5" | |
| Oct 10, 2011 | stocking event | 2,375 | 3" | |
| Sep 12, 2007 | stocking event | 7,500 | 2.5" | |
| Oct 18, 2018 | Wolverine Lake Luce County | Luce | 53,175 total | 2.5"–3" |
| Oct 18, 2018 | stocking event | 17,800 | 2.5" | |
| Oct 2, 2015 | stocking event | 33,000 | 2.5" | |
| Oct 10, 2011 | stocking event | 2,375 | 3" | |
| Sep 30, 2015 | Matteson Lake Branch County | Branch | 44,000 | 0.2" |
| May 13, 2015 | Black Creek Chippewa County | Chippewa | 600 | 3" |
| May 13, 2015 | Black Creek Delta County | Delta | 600 | 3" |
| Nov 1, 2014 | Commerce Lake | 33,333 | 2.5" | |
| May 23, 2013 | Paxton Quarry | 15,970 total | 1.5"–4" | |
| May 23, 2013 | stocking event | 9,600 | 1.5" | |
| Nov 6, 2007 | stocking event | 2,100 | 2" | |
| Oct 13, 2006 | stocking event | 1,095 | 4" | |
| Oct 21, 2005 | stocking event | 3,175 | 3" | |
| Nov 17, 2011 | Devils Lake Lenawee County | Lenawee | 5,555 | 3.5" |
| Oct 30, 2008 | Lake Oakland Oakland County | Oakland | 4,800 | 3.5" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Golden Shiner, across 12 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Golden Shiner DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 744,707
Stocking events: 35
Peak year: 2019 (162,500)
35
Historical stocking events
21
Lakes stocked
May
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
Oct
May
Nov
Top Stocked Lakes
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Best Times to Fish Golden Shiner
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