Lake Trout — Michigan Fishing
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Lake Trout ⚠ Special Concern

🔬 Salvelinus namaycush

Deep, cold-water species. Excellent in the Great Lakes and deep inland lakes.

2-8 lbs, 18-28 inches
Typical size
61 lbs 8 oz
Michigan record
Winter, Spring
Best season
57
Listed lakes

🛡 Conservation Status

⚠ Special Concern Native to Michigan and all Great Lakes. Not listed as Threatened in the current DNR fish list, reflecting significant recovery from near-extirpation caused by sea lamprey predation in the 1950s-60s. Ongoing sea lamprey control and MDNR stocking programs have rebuilt inland and Great Lakes populations. Still carefully managed with size and bag limits.

🌿 Habitat & Behavior

Deep, cold inland lakes and the Great Lakes. Requires 55┬░F or colder water. Found in depths of 60ÔÇô200 feet in summer.

🎣 Best Techniques

Jigging spoons deep, vertical jigging

🌊 Where to Catch in Michigan

Lake County Population Notes
Charlevoix Lake
17,260 acres
Charlevoix Excellent Deep lake ÔÇö trophy fish
Crooked Lake
650 acres
Emmet Excellent Deep, cold, clear ÔÇö trophy fish
Crystal Lake
9,854 acres
Benzie Excellent Trophy lake trout ÔÇö deep, clear, cold
Elk Lake
7,793 acres
Antrim Excellent Deep, cold ÔÇö exceptional clarity
Glen Lake
4,944 acres
Leelanau Excellent Deep cold water
Higgins Lake
9,600 acres
Roscommon Excellent Trophy lake trout in deep water
Lake Michigamme
4,149 acres
Marquette Excellent Remote UP trophy fishery
Otsego Lake
1,989 acres
Otsego Excellent Deep cold water. State records have been caught here.
Pickerel Lake
830 acres
Cheboygan Excellent Clear, cold, deep
Portage Lake
800 acres
Washtenaw Excellent Deep cold water supports large lake trout population.
AuGres Arenac Good
Barber Creek Allegan Good
Beatons Lake Gogebic Good
Big Glen Lake Leelanau Good
Black Lake
10,130 acres
Cheboygan Good Deep cold water supports lake trout year-round.
Caseville Huron Good
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron Cheboygan Good
Courtney Lake Ontonagon Good
Deer Lake Alger Good
Douglas Lake
3,400 acres
Cheboygan Good

📦 DNR Stocking History

Total stocked: 142,736,651
Stocking events: 3,132
Peak year: 1989 (5,356,801)


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