Great Lakes Trout & Salmon Regulations

The regulations in this table apply to fishing on the Great Lakes for the following species: Atlantic salmon, brook trout (Note 2), brown trout, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, lake trout (Note 4), pink salmon, rainbow trout (steelhead), and splake (Note 4). For regulations that pertain to fishing for trout and salmon on inland waters, see Inland Trout & Salmon Regulations and Inland Trout & Salmon Regulations: By County Listing.

Note 1

All Trout and Salmon: Refer to Exceptions to General Regulations by County, for waters that have regulations that differ from those shown above (see Exceptions to General Regulations By County).

Note 2

Brook Trout: For L. Superior, the minimum size limit for brook trout is 20″ and possession limit is 1 fish. Within 4.5 miles of Isle Royale (Isle Royale National Park waters), catch-and-immediate-release; no possession.

Note 3

Drowned River Mouth Lakes: On the following inland waters trout and salmon regulations are as follows: 5 total trout and salmon in any combination; no more than 3 of any one species, except up to 5 coho or Chinook salmon; minimum size limit is 10″; fishing season is open all year and the possession season for lake trout is Jan. 1 – Oct 31; except that the possession season for lake trout shall be Jan. 1 – Sep. 30 on Betsie L. For all other species of trout and salmon, the possession season is open all year. Allegan: Kalamazoo and Silver Lks. Benzie: Betsie L. Manistee: Arcadia, Manistee, and Portage Lks. Mason: Pere Marquette L. Muskegon: Duck, Mona, Muskegon, and White Lks. Oceana: Pentwater, Silver, and Stony Lks. Ottawa: Macatawa and Pigeon Lks.

Note 4

Lake Trout and Splake Regulations: Lake Trout and splake regulations for the Great Lakes are listed by Lake Trout Management Unit (see Table 4, Great Lakes Trout & Splake Regulations). To help identify Management Unit boundaries, a few major ports are listed for each. The map under Great Lakes Trout & Splake Regulations provides a graphic to further define the boundaries. For a complete description of Management Unit boundaries, ask for Fisheries Order 200 at any DNR Customer Service Center or check online at michigan.gov/dnr.