New trout rules for many of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula lakes

Houghton, Mich. — The Michigan Natural Resources Commission enacted regulation changes on several inland trout lakes in the Upper Peninsula, effective Oct. 10, 2025.

Four lakes have changed regulation types and four others have been removed from the list of designated trout lakes and no longer have a type designation. These changes will expand fishing opportunities for other species and better reflect the fish communities present in those waters.

Modifications

High Banks Lake in Chippewa County was changed from Type A to Type B trout fishing regulations. This will extend the season to the entire year and allow the use of all tackle and bait.

Per a 2023 survey of the fishery in High Banks Lake, panfish are present in the lake, which has primarily been managed for rainbow trout. Changing the regulations to Type B will expand fishing opportunities here to allow anglers to use live bait to target panfish, including allowing ice fishing.

Moon Lake in Luce County has been changed from Type D to Type A trout fishing regulations to match trout growth potential with harvest opportunities.

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Recent survey information indicated a decline in the average size of brook trout collected. Type A trout lakes have a lower minimum size limit (10 inches) and a higher daily possession limit (up to five fish), which should result in more angler opportunities.

South Kidney Lake in Marquette County has been modified from Type D to Type A trout fishing regulations. A fishery survey conducted in 2024 showed that stocked brook trout were not reaching the 15-inch minimum size limit, limiting angler harvest there. The change will result in a lower minimum size limit and an increase in the daily possession limit for brook trout. In addition, it will also allow use of bait in South Kidney Lake (except for minnows, which are not allowed in Type A lakes).

Strawberry Lake in Marquette County was modified from Type D to Type A trout fishing regulations to better align trout growth potential with harvest opportunities. A survey conducted in 2024 indicated that stocked brook trout in the lake are slow-growing, with few reaching the 15-inch minimum size limit. The change means a lower minimum size limit, an increase in the daily possession limit and removal of an artificial-only gear restriction for brook trout fishing.

Removals

The following waterbodies have been evaluated and found to lack adequate habitat to support stocked or naturally reproducing trout populations. Therefore, the previous trout fishing regulation types were no longer appropriate. Management in these lakes will focus on warmwater species better suited to the current conditions and general fishing regulations will now apply.

Trout fishing regulations have been removed from Brians Pond in Alger County, Section 13 Lake and Cedar Lake in Marquette County, and Sawaski Pond in Alger County.

These regulation changes are not reflected in the printed version of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations. Anglers are reminded to check the digital version of the regulations online or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app for the most current regulatory information.