Lake Herring
🔬 Coregonus artedi
Lake Herring (also called Cisco or Tullibee) are a native Great Lakes species and important forage fish. Distinct from the inland Cisco, Lake Herring are primarily found in the open waters of the Great Lakes and are prized as a table fish and ice fishing target.
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Bite this month
Excellent
Best season
Late fall and winter
Ice fishing
Viable target
Regulations
limit 5 inland / 10 Great Lakes (combined with Lake & Ro
Where to Catch Lake Herring in Michigan
| Lake | County | Population |
|---|---|---|
|
Arbutus Lake
510 acres
|
Grand Traverse | |
|
Bear Lake
3,350 acres
|
Manistee | |
|
Big Twin Lake
210 acres
|
Wexford | |
|
Black Lake
10,130 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Charlevoix Lake
17,260 acres
|
Charlevoix | |
| Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron | Cheboygan | |
|
Crooked Lake
650 acres
|
Emmet | |
|
Croton Pond
1,605 acres
|
Newaygo | |
|
Crystal Lake
9,854 acres
|
Benzie | |
|
Douglas Lake
3,400 acres
|
Cheboygan | |
|
Elk Lake
7,793 acres
|
Antrim | |
|
Fremont Lake
1,700 acres
|
Newaygo | |
|
Glen Lake
4,944 acres
|
Leelanau | |
|
Hamlin Lake
5,000 acres
|
Mason | |
|
Hardy Pond
4,025 acres
|
Newaygo | |
|
Higgins Lake
9,600 acres
|
Roscommon | |
|
Intermediate Lake
682 acres
|
Antrim | |
|
Lake Ann
176 acres
|
Benzie | |
| Lake Erie | Monroe |
Lake Herring Conservation Status
The daily bag limit is 5 inland / 10 Great Lakes (combined with Lake & Ro.
Lake Herring Habitat & Behavior
Open, cold, deep waters of the Great Lakes and a few large, deep inland lakes. Schooling fish that follow forage and temperature gradients. Most accessible from shore during late fall and winter spawning congregations. DNR records show Lake Herring present in 59 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Antrim, Allegan and Cheboygan counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Sep, Oct, Nov and Dec. Lake Herring is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.
Best Lake Herring Techniques
Small jigging spoons or live minnows fished at depth. Concentrate near spawning areas in late November and December
Best Lake Herring Baits
Small jigging spoons, emerald shiners, small minnows, ice flies
Lake Herring Fishing Regulations in Michigan
5 inland / 10 Great Lakes (combined with Lake & Ro
Daily limit
10 inland / 20 Great Lakes
Possession limit
Year-round
Season
Cisco (Lake Herring) are counted within a combined limit with Lake Whitefish and Round Whitefish. 5/day on inland waters, 10/day on Great Lakes and connecting waters. Exception: Indiana Lake in Cass County prohibits possession of cisco.
⚠️ 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 Lake Herring Stocking Records
Lake Herring Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2021 | Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron Cheboygan County | Cheboygan | 1,056,271 total | 2.4"–5.8" |
| Oct 7, 2021 | stocking event | 5,000 | 5.8" | |
| Oct 7, 2021 | stocking event | 49,508 | 3.5" | |
| Oct 7, 2021 | stocking event | 49,579 | 3.4" | |
| Oct 7, 2021 | stocking event | 49,581 | 3.4" | |
| Oct 7, 2021 | stocking event | 49,625 | 3.3" | |
| Oct 7, 2021 | stocking event | 15,000 | 5.8" | |
| Oct 6, 2021 | stocking event | 51,998 | 3.4" | |
| Oct 6, 2021 | stocking event | 51,473 | 3.3" | |
| Oct 6, 2021 | stocking event | 50,415 | 3.3" | |
| Oct 5, 2021 | stocking event | 49,057 | 3.9" | |
| Oct 5, 2021 | stocking event | 21,113 | 3.4" | |
| Oct 5, 2021 | stocking event | 20,905 | 3.3" | |
| Oct 5, 2021 | stocking event | 20,449 | 3.3" | |
| Oct 5, 2021 | stocking event | 15,101 | 3.9" | |
| Oct 5, 2021 | stocking event | 12,371 | 3.5" | |
| Jun 28, 2021 | stocking event | 77,202 | 3.2" | |
| Jun 23, 2021 | stocking event | 152,419 | 2.4" | |
| Jun 21, 2021 | stocking event | 75,021 | 2.9" | |
| Jun 18, 2021 | stocking event | 153,008 | 2.7" | |
| Jun 14, 2021 | stocking event | 87,446 | 3" | |
| May 4, 2020 | Lake Michigan Antrim County | Antrim | 9,647 total | 6.2" |
| May 4, 2020 | stocking event | 3,191 | 6.2" | |
| May 1, 2020 | stocking event | 6,456 | 6.2" | |
| May 4, 2020 | Lake Michigan Allegan County | Allegan | 16,101 total | 6.2" |
| May 4, 2020 | stocking event | 3,191 | 6.2" | |
| May 1, 2020 | stocking event | 6,456 | 6.2" | |
| Apr 30, 2020 | stocking event | 6,454 | 6.2" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Lake Herring, across 3 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Lake Herring DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 2,070,103
Stocking events: 130
Peak year: 2021 (1,056,271)
130
Historical stocking events
7
Lakes stocked
Nov
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
Nov
Oct
Jun
Top Stocked Lakes
Lake Michigan
Antrim Co.
Lake Michigan
Allegan Co.
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron
Cheboygan Co.
Chicagon Lake
Iron Co.
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Best Times to Fish Lake Herring
❄️ Lake Herring is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.
Angler Tips for Lake Herring
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