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Largemouth Bass
Photo: Robert Pos, CC BY 2.0 
Bluegill
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Flathead Catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain 
White Bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Michigan counties
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Fishing in Leelanau County, Michigan
Seat: Suttons Bay. Lower Peninsula, Central Lake Michigan unit.
- 9lake pages
- 16launches
- 28trout streams
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Leelanau County, Michigan
Leelanau County fishing in brief
The Lower Peninsula county of Leelanau County is administered from Suttons Bay. Its 2020 population was 22,301, spread over 347 land square miles, and the Census books 2,185 square miles as water. Fisheries biologists of the Central Lake Michigan management unit cover its waters. On the Great Lakes side it borders Lake Michigan and counts 5 harbors.
There are 9 lake pages for the county, totaling 16,533 acres, led in size by Lake Leelanau. The MDNR boat access inventory lists 16 public launches here with 24 launch lanes and 165 trailer spaces between them. Of the 28 streams with a trout Type here, 0 are Blue Ribbon water. The MDNR maps 2 fishing sites in the county for bank and pier anglers.
9lake pages
16public launches
28trout streams
3bait shops and marinas
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Where to find water in Leelanau County, by pin
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, EGLE lake points and DNR harbors, checked October 2026.
Lakes
Fishing lakes inside Leelanau County
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Satellite clarity | Trout Type | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Leelanau | 5,698 | 3 | 11.1 ft (2023) | lake whitefish, lake herring | |
| Glen Lake | 4,875 | 0 | 25.2 ft (2023) | Type E | lake whitefish, lake herring |
| Leelanau, Lake North | 2,917 | 2 | 13.6 ft (2023) | Type E | |
| Glen Lake, Little | 1,416 | 1 | 8.9 ft (2023) | ||
| Lime Lake, Leelanau County | 662 | 1 | 9.5 ft (2023) | smallmouth bass | |
| Little Traverse Lake | 646 | 0 | 10.5 ft (2023) | lake herring | |
| Cedar Lake, Leelanau County | 246 | 1 | 13.5 ft (2023) | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass | |
| Armstrong Lake, Leelanau County | 41 | 1 | 13.4 ft (2023) | ||
| Davis Lake, Leelanau County | 32 | 1 | 14.8 ft (2023) |
EGLE Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (acres, Landsat Secchi depth), MDNR trout lake regulation Types, MDNR Fish Atlas (species recorded 1970 or later) and MDNR boat access sites.
More lakes
Lesser-known lakes of Leelanau County
A further 17 named lakes in Leelanau County stay on this list, each with acreage and its MDNR id.
| Lake | Acres | MDNR lake id | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Manitou | 256 | L45430 | Leland |
| Mud Lake, Leelanau County | 176 | L12145 | Northport |
| School Lake, Leelanau County | 175 | L41059 | Maple City |
| Shell Lake | 102 | L38963 | Glen Arbor |
| Bass Lake near Maple City, Leelanau County | 93 | L41631 | Maple City |
| Bass Lake near Omena, Leelanau County | 82 | L42268 | Omena |
| Florence Lake, Leelanau County | 78 | L44757 | Glen Arbor |
| South Bar Lake | 78 | L42021 | Empire |
| Fisher Lake, Leelanau County | 58 | L42961 | Glen Arbor |
| Duck Lake, Leelanau County | 36 | L42776 | Leland |
| Leg Lake, Leelanau County | 32 | L6989 | Northport |
| North Bar Lake | 30 | L42559 | Empire |
| Mougeys Lake | 29 | L37713 | Omena |
| Polack Lake, Leelanau County | 26 | L39366 | Lake Ann |
| Bright Lake | 22 | L37579 | Maple City |
| Tucker Lake, Leelanau County | 18 | L39510 | Glen Arbor |
| Narada Lake | 16 | L37068 | Glen Arbor |
EGLE Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer and Michigan Geographic Framework hydrography names, checked October 2026.
Streams
The rivers of Leelanau County
- Victoria Creekstream, Type 1, 1 launch
- Leland Riverriver, Type 3
- Cedar Runstream, Type 1
Trout creeks inside Leelanau County
MDNR trout Types on streams in the county: Type 1 on 26 streams, Type 3 on 3 streams and Type 4 on 1 stream.
Season and size rules follow the Type: Type 1 runs from late April to September 30, Type 3 never closes.
- Crystal River9.9 trout mi, Type 1, Type 3, near Empire
- Belangers Creek4.9 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Merbert Creek3.8 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Lee Creek3.8 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Mann Creek3.6 trout mi, Type 1, near Traverse City
- Hatlem's Creek3.3 trout mi, Type 1, Type 3, near Empire
- Weisler Creek3.3 trout mi, Type 1, near Traverse City
- Weaver Creek3.1 trout mi, Type 1, near Northport
- Clearbrook Creek2.9 trout mi, Type 1, near Lake Ann
- Shalda Creek2.9 trout mi, Type 4, near Suttons Bay
- Cedar Creek2.8 trout mi, Type 1, near Traverse City
- Rice Creek2.7 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Houdek Creek2.5 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Ennis Creek2.5 trout mi, Type 1, near Northport
- Belnap Creek2.4 trout mi, Type 1, near Traverse City
- Leo Creek2.3 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Lime Creek2.2 trout mi, Type 1, near Lake Ann
- Roaring Brook2.1 trout mi, Type 1, near Northport
- Greilick Creek2 trout mi, Type 1, near Traverse City
- Northport Creek1.2 trout mi, Type 1, near Northport
- Hatlem's Creek1.2 trout mi, Type 1, near Empire
- Gills Creek1 trout mi, Type 1, near Northport
- Good Harbor Creek0.7 trout mi, Type 1, near Suttons Bay
- Hatlem's Creek0.6 trout mi, Type 1, near Empire
- Hatlem's Creek0.3 trout mi, Type 1, near Empire
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Stream Regulation Types layer and Blue Ribbon and Natural River layers (stream miles are whole-stream totals), checked October 2026.
Launches
Ramps inside Leelanau County
The MDNR marks 12 of 16 launches here as Recreation Passport sites.
- Armstrong Lake Boat AccessArmstrong Lake, 1 lane, 2 trailer spaces, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Carp River Boat AccessCarp River, 1 lane, 5 trailer spaces, Recreation Passport
- Cedar Lake Boat Access near GreilickvilleCedar Lake, 1 lane, 16 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Elmwood Township MarinaLake Michigan, 7 lanes, courtesy pier, fish cleaning station, Recreation Passport
- Glen Lake Boat AccessGlen Lake, 2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Lake Leelanau East Boat AccessLake Leelanau, 2 lanes, 18 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Lake Leelanau West Boat AccessLake Leelanau, 1 lane, 5 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Leland Township MarinaLake Michigan, 2 lanes, 19 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Lime Lake Boat Access near Maple CityLime Lake, 1 lane, 6 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Northport G. Marsten Dame MarinaLake Michigan, 2 lanes, 12 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, Recreation Passport
- The Narrows Boat AccessLake Leelanau, 2 lanes, 29 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- West Arm Boat Access on Lake MichiganLake Michigan, 2 lanes, 33 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport
- Lake Leelanau North Boat AccessLake Leelanau, boat ramp
- Lake Leelanau South Boat AccessLake Leelanau, boat ramp
- Solon Township ParkVictoria Creek, boat ramp
- Suttons Bay MarinaLake Michigan, boat ramp
Fishing without a boat in Leelanau County (2)
- Veronica Valley Pond fishing site, Lake Leelanaubank fishing area, Veronica Valley Pond
- West Grand Traverse Bay fishing site, Elmwoodfishing pier, West Grand Traverse Bay
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites (Family Friendly Fishing).
Great Lakes
Harbors and bays along Leelanau County
- Northport G. Marsten Dame Marinaharbor on Lake Michigan
- Suttons Bay Marinaharbor on Lake Michigan
- South Manitou Island Harbor of Refugeharbor on Lake Michigan
- Leland Township Marinaharbor on Lake Michigan
- Greilickville Elmwood Twp. Marinaharbor on Lake Michigan
- Elmwoodpier fishing on Lake Michigan
- Suttons Baybay of Lake Michigan
- Belangers Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Cedar Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Crystal Rivermouth on Lake Michigan
- Ennis Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Lee Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Leland Rivermouth on Lake Michigan
- Leo Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Northport Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Roaring Brookmouth on Lake Michigan
- Shalda Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
- Weaver Creekmouth on Lake Michigan
DNR harbors layer, USGS GNIS bays and stream mouths, MDNR Family Friendly Fishing piers, checked October 2026.
Stocking and records
What the MDNR plants in Leelanau County, and the records
MDNR crews made 39 plants here from 2024 to 2026; lake trout numbered 664,241.
Hatchery trucks that visited Leelanau County
| Water | Species | Number | Avg length in | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigan | Lake trout | 66,833 | 14.8 | 2026-05-07 |
| Lake Michigan | Lake trout | 33,589 | 15.4 | 2026-05-07 |
| Lake Michigan | Lake trout | 49,872 | 15.7 | 2026-05-02 |
| Lake Michigan – Grand Traverse Bay | Lake trout | 49,868 | 15.4 | 2026-05-02 |
| Glen Lake | Lake trout | 15,100 | 14.3 | 2026-04-15 |
| North Lake Leelanau | Lake trout | 9,397 | 14.3 | 2026-04-15 |
| Lake Michigan | Brown trout | 9,400 | 18.56 | 2026-04-13 |
| Lake Michigan | Brown trout | 9,397 | 18.56 | 2026-04-13 |
| Glen Lake | Rainbow trout | 20,684 | 19.43 | 2026-04-07 |
| Lake Michigan | Brown trout | 18,690 | 19.28 | 2026-04-06 |
| Lake Michigan | Brown trout | 9,000 | 19.64 | 2026-04-06 |
| Lake Michigan | Brown trout | 8,999 | 19.28 | 2026-04-06 |
| Glen Lake | Rainbow trout | 24,520 | 11.27 | 2025-11-24 |
| Lake Michigan | Walleye | 98,624 | 5 | 2025-06-25 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report (FSIS), January 2024 to October 2026, and the DNR State Record Fish table.
Regulations
Rule exceptions inside Leelanau County
Here the Lower Peninsula rules apply, so walleye and pike open Last Sat. in April.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
Leelanau County waters with their own rules (3)
| Water | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| North Manitou L. | North Manitou L. bass minimum size limit is 18", the possession limit is 1; fishing restricted to artificial lures only; live bait, dead or prepared bait or organic or processed food may not be possessed on the water or the shore. |
| Florence L. (S. Manitou Is.) fishing | Florence L. (S. Manitou Is.) fishing restricted to artificial lures only; live bait, dead or prepared bait or organic or processed food may not be possessed on the water or the shore. |
| Hatlem's Cr. | Hatlem's Cr., it is unlawful to take or attempt to take minnows for personal use. |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR, April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027): statewide tables and the county listing, pp. 28-31.
Tournaments
Tournament registrations for Leelanau County
Public registrations for the county number 6, with 0 dates still to come.
| Date | Event | Water | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-04 | Tc Bass Hawg Hunt | Glen Lake | Bass |
| 2026-10-03 | Tc Bass Hawg Hunt | Glen Lake | Bass |
| 2026-08-15 | 2026 Lake Leelanau Narrows Resort Summer Walleye Tournament | South Lake Leelanau | Walleye |
| 2026-07-18 | Wmb – Saturday – Up North | South Lake Leelanau | Bass |
| 2026-06-21 | Good Intensions | South Lake Leelanau | Bass |
| 2026-05-30 | Wmb Hair of the Dog – Weekend Series | Lake Michigan | Bass |
MDNR Fishing Tournament Information System, public registrations, checked October 2026.
Local help
Help on the water in Leelanau County
Bait runs inside Leelanau County
- The Fish Hookbait and tackle shop, Leland
- Elmwood Township, 13051 S West Bay Shore Drmarina, Traverse City
- Elmwood Township, 10090 E Lincoln Rdmarina, Traverse City
Guide services across Leelanau County
- Central Coast Anglingcharter, Traverse City, (231) 709-0990
- Fishtown Charter Servicecharter, Leland, (231) 256-9639
- Fishwish Inccharter, Cedar, (231) 228-4746
- Mariah and Pier Pressure Charter Fishingcharter, Leland, (231) 883-2146
- Miles Charter Fishingcharter, Traverse City, (231) 645-0102
- Showtime Xtreme Charterscharter, Traverse City, (231) 794-1033
- Watta Bite Charter Fishingcharter, Cedar, (231) 228-7417
- Watta Bite Charter Fishingcharter, Glen Arbor, (231) 409-0963
Nearby
What sits close to Leelanau County
Town pages for Leelanau County
- Greilickvillepop. 1,634
- Suttons Baypop. 613
- Northportpop. 496
- Lelandpop. 410
- Empirepop. 362
- Omenapop. 295
- Glen Arborpop. 261
- Lake Leelanaupop. 229
- Maple Citypop. 209
- Cedarpop. 102
Counties bordering Leelanau County
- Benzie County36 miles south
- Grand Traverse County38 miles southeast
- Charlevoix County41 miles northeast
- Antrim County44 miles east
- Kalkaska County57 miles southeast
Piscifun
Piscifun spinning and baitcasting picks for Leelanau County
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Fish ID
Identifying the fish of Leelanau County
Photo: Robert Pos, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Answers
Leelanau County fishing questions, settled
Is it easy to find a ramp in Leelanau County?
The MDNR inventory shows 16 public launches with 24 lanes; each one is listed above.
What lake should a first trip to Leelanau County include?
Lake Leelanau, at 5,698 acres on the EGLE layer.
Can I fish for trout in Leelanau County?
There are 28, and 0 carry the Blue Ribbon label.
Which peninsula rules apply in Leelanau County?
The Lower Peninsula season applies: Last Sat. in April.
Which Leelanau County stores keep minnows and crawlers?
Start with The Fish Hook; 3 are listed.
Are there fishing charters in Leelanau County?
Our listings show 8 charters and guides here.
Which management unit includes Leelanau County?
The Central Lake Michigan management unit.
Where does Leelanau County keep its offices?
Suttons Bay serves as seat.
Do I need a trout stamp in Leelanau County?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day. Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them. One Michigan all-species license covers the Great Lakes and connecting waters too: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents or $10 for a single day.
Which events are registered in Leelanau County?
6 public registrations on file, none still ahead this season.
Are some lakes in Leelanau County under special limits?
The 2026 digest prints 3 exceptions for the county, starting with North Manitou L.; all are in the table above.
Line up a trip in Leelanau County
Directions are one tap away on each launch.