Bloater
🔬 Coregonus hoyi
Bloater are a deepwater cisco species native to the Great Lakes, once commercially harvested in large numbers. They have rebounded in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and are an important forage species for Lake Trout and Burbot. Occasionally targeted through the ice.
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Bite this month
Fair
Best season
Winter
Ice fishing
Viable target
Regulations
limit No limit
Where to Catch Bloater in Michigan
Bloater Conservation Status
The daily bag limit is No limit.
Bloater Habitat & Behavior
Deep, cold waters of the Great Lakes: typically 200–600 feet. Only accessible to ice anglers near shore in winter when they move shallower. DNR records show Bloater present in 21 Michigan water bodies. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec. Bloater is a viable ice fishing target in Michigan.
Best Bloater Techniques
Small jigging spoons fished at depth near the thermocline; most commonly caught incidentally
Best Bloater Baits
Small jigging spoons, minnows, ice flies near bottom
Bloater Fishing Regulations in Michigan
No limit
Daily limit
No limit
Possession limit
Year-round
Season
Bloater (Coregonus hoyi) is not individually listed in DNR Table 1 regulations and falls under the "all others. No possession limit" category. A deepwater Great Lakes species rarely targeted by sport anglers.
⚠️ 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.
Best Times to Fish Bloater
❄️ Bloater is a popular ice fishing target in Michigan.
Angler Tips for Bloater
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