Michigan regulations
Lake Trout Regulations in Michigan 2026
Michigan lake trout 2026 open seasons vary by 41 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 5/day and 15″ min. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
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Rules (86)
Banks
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Clark
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Corey
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Cub
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Deer Island
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Dorothy
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
East Bear
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Elsie
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Fisher
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Florence
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Germain
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Glimmerglass
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Golden Silence
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Hay
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Helen
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
High
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Honey
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Jay
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Johnston Springs
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Katherine
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Kerr
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Liluis
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Lois
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Loon
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Louise
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Marsh
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Mh 1: Detour, Cedarville, St. Ignace, Mackinaw City, Cheboygan, Rogers CityIn season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Possession
- 3 fish
Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit
Mh 3-6: Harrisville, Tawas, Grindstone, Harbor Beach, LexingtonOpen
- Status
- Open
- Possession
- 3 fish
Open All Year (lake trout and splake) Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit
Mh-2: Presque Isle, Rockport, Alpena, Black R.In season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Possession
- 3 fish
Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit
Mi 1-3: Windigo, Ontonagon, Copper HarborOpen
- Status
- Open
- Possession
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 34"
Open All Year Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit daily possession limit shall not include more than 1 lake trout 34" or greater
Mi 4-8: Big Bay, Marquette, Au Train, Munising, Grand Marais, Pendills Bay, Brimley State Park
- Possession
- 5 fish
Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit
Mm 1-5: Menominee, Escanaba, Manistique, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Elk Rapids, Traverse City, Northport, Leland, Frankfort, Platte BayIn season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Possession
- 2 fish
Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit
Mm 6-8: Arcadia, Manistee, Ludington, Grand Haven, Holland, New BuffaloOpen
- Status
- Open
- Possession
- 3 fish
Open All Year (lake trout and splake) Lake Trout and Splake Combined Possession Limit
Moss
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Mountain
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Snap Jack
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Trapper
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
West Bear
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Whitefish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 30"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Other Michigan fish regulations
Other regulated species in Michigan with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)117 rules
- Walleye82 rules
- Northern Pike79 rules
- Lake Sturgeon28 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)11 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)9 rules
- Smallmouth Bass8 rules
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Pink)7 rules
- Largemouth Bass7 rules
- Channel Catfish4 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)2 rules
- Yellow Perch2 rules
Also known as
Lake Trout is also called lakers. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Michigan.
Frequently asked questions
When is Lake Trout season in Michigan?
Lake Trout season in Michigan runs from Jan 1 to Sep 30 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Lake Trout in Michigan?
Minimum size for Lake Trout in Michigan is 30 inches in Banks, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Michigan?
Daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Michigan is 5 fish/day, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/michigan-wisconsin-boundary-water-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/lake-trout-splake-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/inland-trout-salmon-regulations
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.