Fathead Minnow
🔬 Pimephales promelas
The most widely used commercial baitfish in North America. Hardy, easy to raise, and effective bait. Found in warm, tolerant habitats statewide. Most bait shop "minnows" are Fatheads.
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Where to Catch Fathead Minnow in Michigan
Fathead Minnow Habitat & Behavior
DNR records show Fathead Minnow present in 1286 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Schoolcraft, Lake and Marquette counties.
Michigan DNR Fathead Minnow Stocking Records
Fathead Minnow Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Clifford Lake Montcalm County | Montcalm | 60,000 total | 2" |
| May 29, 2026 | stocking event | 30,000 | 2" | |
| Oct 17, 2025 | stocking event | 30,000 | 2" | |
| May 29, 2026 | Ford Lake Washtenaw County | Washtenaw | 60,000 total | 2" |
| May 29, 2026 | stocking event | 30,000 | 2" | |
| Oct 17, 2025 | stocking event | 30,000 | 2" | |
| Nov 19, 2025 | Bostwick Lake | 26 total | 1.5"–2" | |
| Nov 19, 2025 | stocking event | 13 | 1.5" | |
| Nov 1, 2024 | stocking event | 13 | 2" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Little Clinton Lake | 10 | 2" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Searles Lake | 10 | 2" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | Big Clinton Lake | 15,010 total | 2"–2.4" | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | stocking event | 10 | 2" | |
| Nov 23, 2022 | stocking event | 15,000 | 2.4" | |
| Nov 4, 2025 | Clinton Trails Lake | 10 | 2" | |
| Nov 26, 2024 | Lake Bel Air | 6,004 total | 1"–2.4" | |
| Nov 26, 2024 | stocking event | 4 | 1" | |
| Nov 29, 2022 | stocking event | 6,000 | 2.4" | |
| Oct 17, 2024 | Lake Ogemaw | 58,363 total | 2"–2.5" | |
| Oct 17, 2024 | stocking event | 7,000 | 2.5" | |
| May 21, 2024 | stocking event | 43,863 | 2" | |
| Nov 8, 2023 | stocking event | 7,500 | 2.5" | |
| May 22, 2024 | Hasler Creek | 39,600 total | 2" | |
| May 22, 2024 | stocking event | 17,600 | 2" | |
| Jun 6, 2023 | stocking event | 4,400 | 2" | |
| Jun 6, 2023 | stocking event | 17,600 | 2" | |
| May 10, 2024 | Cook Lake Alger County | Alger | 13,750 | 2" |
| Apr 29, 2023 | Thread Creek | 2,041 | 2.5" | |
| Nov 21, 2022 | Cedar Lake Lapeer County | Lapeer | 15,000 | 2.4" |
| Nov 21, 2022 | Cedar Lake Leelanau County | Leelanau | 15,000 | 2.4" |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Big Blue Lake Muskegon County | Muskegon | 1,560 | 1.5" |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Shamrock Lake Clare County | Clare | 15,000 | 2" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Fathead Minnow, across 16 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Fathead Minnow DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 18,415,281
Stocking events: 242
Peak year: 2021 (2,016,000)
242
Historical stocking events
106
Lakes stocked
May
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May
Oct
Nov
Top Stocked Lakes
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
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