Top 10 Freshwater Fish to Catch in Michigan
Top 10 Species
These are the fish that get noticed by FishyAF anglers. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.
1
Yellow Walleye
Verified
World Record
25 lb 0 oz
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact
Those glassy eyes pack a mirror-layered retina that lets them hunt in near-darkness-and glow under headlamps.
2
Northern Pike
Verified
World Record
55 lb 1 oz
Lothar Louis / 1986
Lake of Grefeern, Germany
Lothar Louis / 1986
Lake of Grefeern, Germany
Signature Fact
Unlike most fish, they launch with an S-start burst-arrow-straight acceleration that nails prey with sniper precision.
3
Smallmouth Bass
Verified
World Record
11 lb 15 oz
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact
In winter, they huddle in massive "sleep piles"-hundreds nose-to-current, barely twitching for weeks.
4
Largemouth Bass
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
22 lb 4 oz
Manabu Kurita / 2009
Lake Biwa, Japan
Manabu Kurita / 2009
Lake Biwa, Japan
Signature Fact
High-speed videos show they snap their mouth fully open in about 30 milliseconds, vacuuming prey from 3 inches.
5
Yellow Perch
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
4 lb 3 oz
William D. Schafer / 1865
Bordentown, New Jersey
William D. Schafer / 1865
Bordentown, New Jersey
Signature Fact
Females extrude a translucent, accordion-like egg ribbon up to 2 meters long, draping over weeds like party streamers.
6
Muskellunge
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
67 lb 8 oz
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Signature Fact
A shocking number of hookups explode inches from the net during boatside figure‑eights-pure cardiac fishing.
7
Tiger Trout
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
20 lb 13 oz
Lloyd Tanner / 2003
Scofield Reservoir, Utah
Lloyd Tanner / 2003
Scofield Reservoir, Utah
Signature Fact
Born sterile, tiger trout skip spawning entirely and channel that energy into freakish growth and unapologetic aggression.
8
Landlocked Salmon
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
50 lb 0 oz
Niels Jørgensen / 1987
Norway
Niels Jørgensen / 1987
Norway
Signature Fact
Even trapped in lakes, they keep an ocean compass-orienting to Earth's magnetic field they'll never use.
9
Flathead
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
123 lb 0 oz
Ken Paulie / 1998
Elk City Reservoir, Kansas
Ken Paulie / 1998
Elk City Reservoir, Kansas
Signature Fact
The IGFA all-tackle record flathead weighed 123 lb 9 oz-basically a kindergarten kid with whiskers.
10
Lake Trout
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
72 lb 0 oz
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Signature Fact
A deepwater "siscowet" morph packs ~35% body fat-so oily 1800s fishermen rendered it for lamp oil.
FAQs
What fish can you catch in Michigan?
You can catch yellow walleye, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, muskellunge, and more in Michigan’s freshwater.
What is the best time of year to fish in Michigan?
Spring and fall bring strong action for most freshwater species in Michigan.
Where are the best places to fish in Michigan?
Michigan’s freshwater lakes and rivers deliver, with top action for walleye, bass, and trout across the state.
What gear do you need for fishing in Michigan?
Bring sturdy spinning or baitcasting setups for bass and pike, plus light tackle for perch and trout. Adjust your gear based on your target species.
What are the easiest fish to catch in Michigan?
Yellow perch, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass are some of the most accessible catches in Michigan’s freshwater.
