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Illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Here is information about the different types of salmon found in Michigan. Click on the images above to go to more information about that particular type of salmon.
Species Minimum Size Possession Limit Possession Season Lake Whitefish
Cisco (Lake Herring)
Round WhitefishNo size limit 10 in any combination on Gr. Lakes, connecting waters and Type F lakes, 5 in any combination on other inland waters Open All Year
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).
Great Lakes Trout & Salmon Regulations (Note 1) Seasons by Water Type Minimum Size Daily Possession Limit (Notes 2, 3, 4) Open All 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 and Great Lakes Trout & Splake Regulations)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 – Sep. 30.
The streams, rivers and lakes in the maps below are color-coded as follow:
- Type 1: GREEN
- Type 2: YELLOW
- Type 3: ORANGE
- Type 4: BLUE
- Gear restricted: RED (note- some gear restricted streams have split regulations, maps are color coded accordingly)
- Research areas under special regulations: GREY
- Brook Trout Restoration Areas: PURPLE
- 10 Brook Trout Possession Limit Waters: PINK
- Lakes regulated by Type (A-F) are labeled in RED TEXT and the lake appears shaded in dark blue or appears as a blue dot on map
Please see pages 38-39 of the Fishing Guide for a full explanation of each color-coded stream, river and lake type.
See all Inland Trout and Salmon Lake & Stream Regulations in the 2020 Fishing Guide.
The maps below will assist you in locating inland waters that contain trout and salmon and the regulations that apply. See pages 38-39 of the Fishing Guide for a description of regulations concerning streams, gear restricted streams, and inland trout lakes.
These maps are to be used as a general reference only. For exact boundaries of regulations on stream Types 1-4, Gear Restricted Streams and lakes managed for trout, refer to the county listings found on pages 40-58 of the Fishing Guide. NOTE: Type 1 streams are not listed in the text, but they do appear in green on the maps. For a complete listing of all designated trout streams and designated trout lakes, refer to FO-200 and FO-210.
General trout and salmon regulations for streams not classified by Type or Gear Restricted (listed on pages 40-43 of the Michigan Fishing Guide): Except for streams in the Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters, any other inland stream not classified by Type is open for the entire year with an 8-inch minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily possession limit, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater, except up to 5 salmon (Chinook or coho) 15 inches or greater may be retained in the daily possession limit on these waters. Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used. Please see pages 24-25 of the Fishing Guide for Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters regulations.
General regulations for lakes not classified by Type:
Except for lakes in the Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters and Sylvania Wilderness Area, any other inland lake not classified by Type is open for the entire year to the taking of trout with an 8-inch minimum size limit and 5 fish daily possession limit, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater. Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used. See pages 24-25 of the Fishing Guide for Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters and page 26 for Sylvania Wilderness Area regulations.- 2020 Inland Trout and Salmon Regulation Maps
