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Great Lakes Trout and 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 pages 22-37.

Seasons by water type

Minimum Size

Daily/Possession Limit (Notes 2, 3, 4)

Open for the entire year: (Note 4)L. Superior, L. Michigan, L. Erie, L. Huron, L. St. Clair, St. Marys R., St. Clair R. and Detroit R..

10" (Note 2, 4) (also see Table 4)

Great Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Marys R., St. Clair R., and Detroit R.: 5 total in any combination; no more than 3 of any one species, except up to 5 coho, Chinook, or pink salmon allowed. On the St. Marys R.: 5 additional pink salmon allowed from last Sat. in April - Sept. 30.

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 (p. 16-18).

Note 2 - Brook Trout: For L. Superior, the minimum size limit for brook trout is 20 inches and possession limit is one 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 for the entire 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 - Sept. 30 on Betsie L. For all other species of trout and salmon, the possession season is open for the entire 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, p. 11). To help identify Management Unit boundaries, a few major ports are listed for each. The map on p. 11 provides a graphic to further define the boundaries. For a complete description of Management Unit boundaries, ask for FO-200 at any DNR Operations Service Center (p. 40) or check online www.michigan.gov/dnr.


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