Shared with Canada. World-renowned muskie and smallmouth bass fishery. Also excellent walleye, perch, and pike. Connected to Lake Huron and Lake Erie.
| Species | Population | Best technique |
|---|---|---|
|
Lepomis macrochirus
Perch and bluegill abundant near docks.
|
Worms, crickets, small spinners near docks and weeds | |
|
Micropterus dolomieu
Trophy smallmouth ÔÇö national record potential
|
Tubes, drop shot, jigs near rocky points | |
|
Sander vitreus
Top walleye destination in Michigan. Spring opener draws thousands.
|
Jigs with minnows, crawler harnesses, trolling crankbaits | |
|
Perca flavescens
World-class fishery
|
Small jigs tipped with minnow or waxworm, small spinners, ice fishing with teardrops and waxworms | |
|
Alosa pseudoharengus
Invasive forage base for salmon and lake trout
|
— | |
|
Amia calva
Called "dogfish" locally
|
Live or cut bait (suckers, chubs), large spinners, swimbaits, and topwater lures near thick weed edges. Use wire leader -- bowfin have sharp teeth. | |
|
Ictalurus punctatus
|
Chicken liver, stink bait, night crawlers on bottom | |
|
Cyprinus carpio
Invasive — widespread in warm, shallow bays
|
Corn, boilies, and dough balls on bottom hair rigs ÔÇö or spot-and-stalk with bow fishing gear | |
|
Aplodinotus grunniens
Called "sheepshead" in Michigan
|
Bottom fishing with nightcrawlers, crayfish, or cut bait; also jigging crayfish imitations and blade baits near gravel points and rocky structure | |
|
Coregonus clupeaformis
Great Lakes access
|
Jigging small spoons, Swedish Pimples, or jigging Rapalas in deep water; small bait flies and nymphs; ice fishing with tiny tube jigs tipped with wax worm near bottom | |
|
Micropterus salmoides
Largemouth bass thrive in the shallow weedy areas.
|
Plastic worms, crankbaits, topwater frogs near lily pads | |
|
Lepisosteus osseus
|
Specialized rope or nylon-mesh lures (gar teeth tangle in fibers rather than missing a hook-point); also live baitfish on a wire leader. Standard hooks rarely penetrate the bony jaw. | |
|
Esox masquinongy
World-class muskellunge fishery
|
Large bucktails, jerkbaits, topwater gliders, sucker minnows ÔÇö always finish with a figure-8 boatside | |
|
Osmerus mordax
Spring dip-netting in tributaries
|
Spring dip-netting in creek mouths and tributaries during spawning runs (check local regulations for net size/limits). Ice fishing with tiny teardrops and wax worms -- smelt move in massive schools un | |
|
Neogobius melanostomus
Invasive -- must be killed, cannot be used as live bait
|
Small tube jigs and drop-shot rigs on bottom in Great Lakes and river habitats. Illegal to use as live bait in Michigan. Any round goby caught must be killed -- do not return to water. | |
|
Petromyzon marinus
Invasive parasite -- not a sport fish. Present in streams flowing to Great Lakes.
|
— | |
|
Morone chrysops
Active in spring channels
|
Small white jigs, tube jigs, spinners, small crankbaits ÔÇö follow surface activity and work fast | |
|
Morone americana
Invasive -- do not transport live
|
Small jigs, spinners, and live minnows under a float. Aggressive and easy to catch. Do NOT transport live white perch -- this aids their spread. | |
|
Coregonus artedi
Michigan Threatened -- handle carefully, report catches to MDNR
|
Ice fishing with small spoons and jigging lures at thermocline depth; fall trolling near river mouths with small spoons | |
|
Acipenser fulvescens
Threatened — catch-and-release only. DNR monitoring program active.
|
Catch-and-release only in most Michigan waters — check current regulations. Bottom fishing with nightcrawlers or spawn in legal areas only. | |
|
Sander canadensis
Michigan Threatened -- extremely rare. Report catches to MDNR.
|
Same presentations as walleye -- jigs, live bait rigs, crankbaits drifted in river current. Report any catches to MDNR as sightings are tracked. |
* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.