Fishing is a revered pastime on all of the Great Lakes which has the distinction of being the largest freshwater fisheries in the world feeding the populations and growing the economies! Follow along my photo essay about the fishing industry of the Great Lakes and Lake Michigan for interesting facts, history, species, problems and solutions everyone can help solve.

Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes Fish Interesting Facts

• About 136 fish species appear in Lake Michigan’s watershed, but only approximately 68 species are found in the lake itself.
• Lake sturgeons are the largest fish found in all of the Great Lakes; these ancient fish dating back from 150 million years ago can weigh up to 300 pounds and grow up to 6 feet long.
• Lake Michigan’s fishing industry has been a major economic force for over 100 years.
• Some of the most popular Lake Michigan fish include yellow perch, walleye, lake trout, lake whitefish, large and smallmouth bass, coho and Atlantic salmon, herring and muskellunge.
• Lake Whitefish is the main commercial fishing species, along with Yellow Perch and Burbot.
• Charter fishing is a major coastal tourism driver, with economic impacts estimated at over $14 million annually.
• Charter fishing targeted species include chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout, and brown trout.

The Great Lakes’ history of fishing can be separated into three general periods:

1. Archaeology offers evidence of robust fishing from indigenous tribal communities on Lake Michigan as early as 2,000 to 3,000 B.C.
2. European settlers commercialization of fish harvesting on a massive scale began as early as 1830.
3. Current modest commercial fishing combined with extensive recreational angling including charter fishing are major economic drivers today.

Causes of Major Fluctuations in Lake Michigan’s Fish Populations Since the 1930’s

1. Overfishing utilizing modern techniques such as netting was recognized as early as the 1880’s.
2. The industrial boom with its factories and refineries has created oxygen poor polluted waters in some locations.
3. Invasive predatory species including alewives that enter the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence seaway. Alewives feed on the larvae of yellow perch, walleye and lake whitefish. Other predatory species include common carp that uproot vegetation, zebra mussels that over feed on phytoplankton which young fish need to consume and sea lamprey that feed on larger fish eventually killing them.
4. Habitat loss from over population of major cities which swelled exponentially by 1900 steadily continuing today into the 2020’s.
5. Sewage from cities and intense timber and agriculture activities also have taken their toll on the water quality of all the Great Lakes.

Solutions to Replenish the Great Lakes and Lake Michigan’s Fish Populations

Since 2010, the NOAA “National Oceanic Atmospheric Association” has supported 96 projects through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a collaborative effort on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 15 other federal agencies.

Habitat Restoration A number of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects have restored more than 4,900 acres of habitat and opened more than 520 miles of stream for fish to once again have access to spawning habitat, boosting spawning numbers. Efforts by taking down dams and culverts has created six additional spawning locations for the endangered lake sturgeon alone, as well as hundreds more examples for other species.

Water Quality Restoration TheClean Water Act, was enacted in 1972 regulating water pollution and discharge, and gave the Environmental Protection Agency broader pollution control powers. In addition, the United States and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Act in 1972 to restore and protect the waters of the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects have been implemented to address the looming threat of emerging contaminants like hand sanitizers, pharmaceuticals, insect repellents and other personal care products as well as industrial and agricultural chemicals.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects have been implemented to reduce environmental impacts from contaminated storm water runoff in urban areas. For one example, in 2013, government agencies plans were employed for Kids Creek, part of the Grand Traverse Watershed in Michigan, to fix the problem of sediment and storm water runoff which led to a loss of habitat for macroinvertebrates. These small aquatic animals such as snails, worms, and insect larvae are vital for brook trout and other fish species to feed.

• ELPC “Environmental Law Policy Center” is working with a regional coalition to remove the pipeline or hold Enbridge accountable for spills.
• ELPC is fighting to save the Midwest’s precious waterways and protect the taxpayers from funding polluters’ cleanup.
• ELPC is also advocating for toxic cleanup and green infrastructure working to shift the Midwest to cleaner transportation and energy solutions.
• ELPC is working to amplify the science, putting together a comprehensive science based report to assess climate risks around the Great Lakes.

Solutions to Replenish Lake Michigan’s Fish Populations Cont. . .

Controlling Invasive Species – In coordination with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, state governments, nonprofits and federal agencies, as well as tribal and international governments have made focused efforts to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. For one example, in 2010, a berm extending almost two miles-long was designed to stop the Asian carp infested Wabash River from mixing with the St. Mary’s River and potentially into Lake Erie which would eventually reach Lake Michigan, as well as all the Great Lakes.

Since 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has implemented a comprehensive Great Lakes Early Detection and Monitoring Program under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to conduct sustained, basin-wide surveillance for high risk non-native species and management.

Replenishing Solutions Continue…

Fish Restocking The DNR state fish hatcheries, in partnership with local clubs that help maintain fish holding pens at sites along Lake Michigan, stock millions of fish every year. In 2023 these include restocking of chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, brook trout and steelhead for example. In addition to the state-raised fish, 45,000 lake trout will be reared and stocked in 2023 in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Some years, other fish such as lake sturgeon populations get a boost with the help of hatchery stocking programs. The restocking of native prey species is another example of fish restocking programs to help maintain fish populations.

Reducing Catch Rates Limiting fish catches on Lake Michigan is another way to prevent overfishing. Guidelines are set by the Department of Natural Resources every year. For 2023, a daily bag limit for salmon and trout is a total of 5 allowed and not more than 3 can be lake trout! Also, 15 total is the daily bag limit for yellow perch and 12 total is the limit for lake whitefish. There can also be Lake Michigan tributary limits as well.

How can regular people support the Great Lakes fish population?

Key actions for all people include:

• Use non-toxic cleaning products and reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and fertilizers on lawns to prevent nutrient runoff that causes algae blooms.
• Use chemical free hair and body products.
• Never flush medication or pour it down the drain; use take-back programs.
• Plant native vegetation along shorelines to prevent erosion and filter runoff.
• Support organizations working on habitat restoration and the removal of barriers like dams to improve fish passage. 
• Properly dispose of household waste.
• Participate in local beach cleanups.

Key actions for fisherman include cleaning boats to stop invasive species transfer, never empty fish bait into the lake or abide by catch limits and regulations to allow fish populations to recover, and use fish-finder technology to help researchers map habitats. 

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