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
Good
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 868 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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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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| Oct 8, 2013 | Lake Loch Erin | 11,000 | 2.5" | |
| May 23, 2013 | Paxton Quarry | 9,600 | 1.5" | |
| Nov 17, 2011 | Devils Lake | Lenawee | 5,555 | 3.5" |
| Oct 10, 2011 | Wolverine Lake | Oakland | 2,375 | 3.0" |
| Oct 10, 2011 | Wolverine Lake | Luce | 2,375 | 3.0" |
| Sep 26, 2011 | Lake Loch Erin | 2,900 | 7.0" | |
| Oct 21, 2010 | Lake Loch Erin | 58,000 | 3.0" | |
| Oct 30, 2008 | Lake Oakland | Oakland | 4,800 | 3.5" |
| Nov 6, 2007 | Paxton Quarry | 2,100 | 2.0" | |
| Sep 12, 2007 | Wolverine Lake | Oakland | 7,500 | 2.5" |
| Oct 13, 2006 | Paxton Quarry | 1,095 | 4.0" | |
| Oct 21, 2005 | Paxton Quarry | 3,175 | 3.0" | |
Most valuable for Golden Shiner anglers
See where Golden Shiner will be stocked next
Full stocking history across all 21 lakes, plus a forecast of which waters are due for restocking this season.
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Historical stocking events
21
Lakes stocked
Oct
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
Oct
May
Nov
Top Stocked Lakes
See the top 5 lakes most likely to be stocked with Golden Shiner next season.
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Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Best Times to Fish Golden Shiner
Angler Tips for Golden Shiner
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