Lake Michigan · Illinois · Michigan · Wisconsin · Walleye
Lake Michigan Walleye Fishing Regulations 2026
Lake Michigan Walleye regulations as of 2026-05-08: Daily bag 3 fish/day; Min size 18 inches; Daily bag 3 fish/day. Sourced across 3 state agencies.
Rules (165)
Illinois (23)
Clinton Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Clinton Lake Spillway
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Crab Orchard Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Bloomington
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Mississippi River
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Mississippi River (Between Il & Ia)
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Rock River
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Salt Creek Downstream To The Route 10 Bridge
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Spring Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Illinois statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
either singly or in the aggregate with Sauger or their Hybrid (Saugeye), Except In Those Waters Listed Under Site Specific Regulations. All Walleye, Sauger, Or Their Hybrid (Saugeye) Taken Must Be 14˝ In Total Length Or Longer, Except In The Mississippi River, Wabash River, Or As Specified Under Site Specific Regulations.
Michigan (82)
Banks
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Baptist L.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Reshaped from bag_limit=0 (closure marker)
Black R.Out of season
- Season opens
- May 15
- Season closes
- Mar 15
from Alverno Dam downstream to its confluence with the Cheboygan R.
Cheboygan R.Out of season
- Season opens
- May 15
- Season closes
- Mar 15
Clair Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Clark
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Corey
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Craig Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Crooked Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Crystal L.Closed
- Status
- Closed
Reshaped from bag_limit=0 (closure marker)
Cub
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Deer Island
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Dorothy
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
East Bear
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Elsie
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Fisher
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Florence
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Germain
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Glimmerglass
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Golden Silence
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Hay
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Helen
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
High
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Honey
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Jay
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Johnston Springs
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Katherine
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Keewaydin Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Kerr
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Lac Vieux Desert
- Possession
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 18"
Liluis
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Lois
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Loon
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Louise
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Marsh
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Moss
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Mountain
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Nelligan Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Snap Jack
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Teddy Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Thomas Lks.
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
Trapper
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
West Bear
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Whitefish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
Michigan statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Min size
- 15"
combined with Sauger
Wisconsin (60)
Amber Lake (Formerly Squaw Lake)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24” Walleye from 15” but less than 20” may be kept
Beauregard Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Bony LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
Walleye of any length may be kept only one fish over 18” may be kept fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept
Ceded Territory: Quality Opportunity
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
one fish over 24 inches
Crescent Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
walleye from 22”-28” may not be kept
Crooked Lake (Bass And Gilkey Lakes Combined)
- Min size
- 18"
Eau Claire Lake, MiddleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
Walleye of any length may be kept only one fish over 18” may be kept fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept
George Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
walleye from 22”-28” may not be kept
Lake Redstone
- Min size
- 18"
Loon Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Lyman Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Minnesuing Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Pike Lake Chain (Includes Buskey Bay, Millicent, Hart, Twin Bear, Eagle, Flynn And Mccarry Lakes Combined)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
fish from 22” to 28” may not be kept
Quality Opportunity
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Min size
- 18"
RehabilitationCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish a day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
Sand Lake (Includes Sissabagama Creek 1/2 Mile Upstream To Sand Lake Road)
- Min size
- 18"
Slow Growth
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
one fish over 24 inches
Special Opportunity Or BiomanipulationCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
West Plum Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24” Walleye from 15” but less than 20” may be kept
Wisconsin statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Frequently asked questions
When is Walleye season on Lake Michigan?
Walleye season on Lake Michigan runs from May 15 to Mar 15 (varies by state) per DNR / DNR / DNR.
What is the size limit for Walleye on Lake Michigan?
Minimum size for Walleye on Lake Michigan is 18 inches in Clinton Lake. Slot or maximum sizes may apply elsewhere on the water; see the table above.
What is the daily bag limit for Walleye on Lake Michigan?
Daily bag limit for Walleye on Lake Michigan is 3 fish/day in Clinton Lake.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch. Last verified .