Green Lake Fishing
A 1,996-acre Michigan lake in Grand Traverse County, trout lake Type B.
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A first look at Green Lake
Green Lake spreads across 1,996 acres in Grand Traverse County, by the EGLE inland lake layer. About 3 miles separates Green Lake from Interlochen. On the Lower Peninsula, it belongs to the Central Lake Michigan Management Unit. Ecoregion North Central Hardwood Forests; basin Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan.
Species found since 1970 include cisco, lake trout and trout. The shore holds 2 public launches. EGLE satellite clarity: about 15.3 feet (2023).
For the lake trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species anglers find in Green Lake
MDNR sources behind the Green Lake list: Fish Atlas surveys since 1970, stocking events and access site lists.
Survey history for Green Lake
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lake herring | 2 | 1950 to 1989 |
| Bluntnose minnow | 1 | 1950 |
| Brook silverside | 1 | 1950 |
| Common shiner | 1 | 1950 |
| Hornyhead chub | 1 | 1950 |
| Johnny darter | 1 | 1950 |
| Mimic shiner | 1 | 1950 |
| Northern logperch | 1 | 1950 |
| Rock bass | 1 | 1950 |
| Spottail shiner | 1 | 1950 |
| White sucker | 1 | 1950 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Trout rules by Type at Green Lake
| Rule | Value for Green Lake |
|---|---|
| Regulation | Type B Non Designated |
| Fishing season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Possession season | January 1st to December 31st |
| Daily possession | 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. |
| Tackle | All types of natural bait and artificial lures may be used. |
| Minimum sizes | brook 10", brown 12", rainbow 12", splake 12", lake trout 15", Chinook 10", coho 10", pink 10", Atlantic 15" |
For trout, Green Lake is a Type B lake; the table repeats the MDNR entry.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Lake Regulation Types layer and 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 42-65.
Public launches on Green Lake
- Green Lake Boat Access near Interlochen (MDNR A-28-020)2 lanes, 28 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Interlochen State Park
- Green Lake Boat Access near Interlochen (MDNR A-28-031)1 lane, 5 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Interlochen State Park
Launch sites a short tow from Green Lake
- Bass Lake South Boat AccessBass Lake, 1 mile west
- Interlochen State Park – South CampgoundDuck Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Interlochen State Park – Duck LakeDuck Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Grass Lake State Forest Campground Boat AccessBetsie River, 3 miles southwest
- Cedar Hedge Lake Boat AccessCedar Hedge Lake, 4 miles north
- Ellis Lake Boat AccessEllis Lake, 4 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
How clear Green Lake runs
The Green Lake clarity bars are EGLE July to September satellite averages, shown in feet.
The 2023 chlorophyll a estimate is 2.95 micrograms per liter.
EGLE Michigan Inland Lakes Water Clarity layer (Landsat, July to September), checked October 2026. Depth is not published here: the layer depth fields are unreliable.
Harvest rules on Green Lake
| 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 and salmon (lake Type B) | 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15 inches or greater; minimum brook 10", brown/rainbow/splake 12", lake trout 15", Chinook/coho/pink 10", Atlantic 15" | Open all year |
These are the Lower Peninsula inland rows that cover Green Lake.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Recent fish plants in Green Lake
From 2024 to 2026 the table shows 3 plants and 29,208 fish for Green Lake, mainly lake trout.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2026 | Lake trout | Lake Superior | 14.8 in | 12,527 |
| April 21, 2025 | Lake trout | Lake Superior | 14.5 in | 7,683 |
| April 8, 2024 | Lake trout | Lake Superior | 14.5 in | 8,998 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026. Michigan stocking.
Sizing up Green Lake against its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Lake | 1,996 | 2 | 15.3 | 3 | |
| Bass Lake near Bendon, Grand Traverse County | 1 mile west | 92 | 1 | 10.7 | 0 |
| Duck Lake, Grand Traverse County | 2 miles northeast | 1,946 | 2 | 11.4 | 1 |
| Ellis Lake | 4 miles northeast | 40 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Cedar Hedge Lake | 4 miles north | 192 | 1 | 12.8 | 7 |
| Lake Dubonnet | 5 miles north | 503 | 1 | 12.4 | 7 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Close by Green Lake
Neighboring lakes to Green Lake
- Bass Lake near Bendon, Grand Traverse County1 mile west
- Duck Lake, Grand Traverse County2 miles northeast
- Ellis Lake4 miles northeast
- Cedar Hedge Lake4 miles north
- Lake Dubonnet5 miles north
Live bait and lures near Green Lake
- Green Lake Marine Servicemarina, Interlochen, 2 miles
- Reel Peoplebait and tackle shop, Interlochen, 3 miles
- Traverse Bay Tacklebait and tackle shop, Traverse City, 6 miles
- Perfect Wheel Marine Prop Repairmarina, Lake Ann, 8 miles
- John's Marine Servicemarina, Traverse City, 9 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3500 Market Place Circle Drivebait and tackle shop, Traverse City, 13 miles
Guided trips on Green Lake
- Fishwish Inccharter, Cedar, (231) 228-4746
- Hawg-Tide Sportfishing Charterscharter, Traverse City, (231) 218-2379
- Talon Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Beulah, (248) 542-1563
- The Northern Anglerercharter, Traverse City, (231) 933-4730
Overnight stops close to Green Lake
- Interlochen3 miles
- Bendon4 miles
- Grawn6 miles
Where Green Lake sits by county
- Grand Traverse Countyseat: Traverse City
A Piscifun setup for a day on Green Lake
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Fish an angler meets at Green Lake
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Green Lake questions Michigan anglers ask
In which Michigan county is Green Lake?
Find it in Grand Traverse County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 3 miles from Interlochen.
How many acres does the EGLE layer credit to Green Lake?
About 1,996 acres.
How many public launches reach Green Lake?
2 public launches; Green Lake Boat Access near Interlochen (MDNR A-28-020) is the biggest.
Which fish has the MDNR found in Green Lake?
Records show cisco, lake trout and trout.
Which limits apply on Green Lake?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a license cost to fish Green Lake?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
How deep does sunlight reach in Green Lake?
EGLE estimated 15.3 feet in 2023.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to Green Lake?
Try Green Lake Marine Service, roughly 2 miles off.
Does the MDNR plant fish in Green Lake?
The latest MDNR plants on file (2026): 12,527 lake trout.
Which trout lake Type is Green Lake?
Type B (type b non designated): 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season january 1st to december 31st.
Haul the boat to Green Lake
Check the limits above, then choose a launch.