Lake Leelanau Fishing
A 5,698-acre Michigan lake in Leelanau County.
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Glen Lake: Jamesdisher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Meet Lake Leelanau
Plan on 5,698 acres of open lake at Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County. Suttons Bay is the closest town on the Census list, around 6 miles away. The MDNR handles it from the Central Lake Michigan unit; it is a Lower Peninsula water. The lake lies in the North Central Hardwood Forests ecoregion and the Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan basin.
Recent MDNR records show lake whitefish and cisco. MDNR access data map 3 public launches. Landsat-based Secchi depth averaged about 11.1 feet in 2023.
Fish the MDNR has found in Lake Leelanau
The species chips for Lake Leelanau draw on the MDNR Fish Atlas, its fishing site lists and stocking logs.
Fish Atlas collections at Lake Leelanau by species
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lake whitefish | 1 | 2000 |
| Lake herring | 2 | 1967 to 1988 |
| Johnny darter | 1 | 1949 |
| Longnose gar | 1 | 1949 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Ramps serving Lake Leelanau
- Lake Leelanau East Boat Access2 lanes, 18 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Traverse City State Park
- The Narrows Boat Access2 lanes, 29 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Traverse City State Park
- Lake Leelanau West Boat Access1 lane, 5 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Traverse City State Park
More launches around Lake Leelanau
- Lime Lake Boat Access near Maple CityLime Lake, 7 miles west
- Carp River Boat AccessCarp River, 8 miles north
- Cedar Lake Boat Access near GreilickvilleCedar Lake, 9 miles southeast
- Boardman River Boat AccessBoardman River, 11 miles southeast
- Davis Lake Boat AccessDavis Lake, 12 miles southwest
- Cedar Lake Boat Access near Lake AnnCedar Lake, 12 miles south
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Water clarity at Lake Leelanau
Satellite Secchi depth for Lake Leelanau comes from EGLE summer averages (meters in the source, feet here).
Chlorophyll a was estimated at 3.63 micrograms per liter in 2023.
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.
Keeper rules posted for Lake Leelanau
| 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 |
Lake Leelanau follows the statewide inland table for the Lower Peninsula, plus any county exception below.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Lake Leelanau next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Leelanau | 5,698 | 3 | 11.1 | 2 | |
| Lime Lake, Leelanau County | 6 miles west | 662 | 1 | 9.5 | 1 |
| Little Traverse Lake | 7 miles west | 646 | 0 | 10.5 | 1 |
| Leelanau, Lake North | 8 miles north | 2,917 | 2 | 13.6 | 0 |
| Cedar Lake, Leelanau County | 8 miles southeast | 246 | 1 | 13.5 | 8 |
| Davis Lake, Leelanau County | 12 miles southwest | 32 | 1 | 14.8 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Near Lake Leelanau
Nearby inland lakes for a Lake Leelanau trip
- Lime Lake, Leelanau County6 miles west
- Little Traverse Lake7 miles west
- Leelanau, Lake North8 miles north
- Cedar Lake, Leelanau County8 miles southeast
- Davis Lake, Leelanau County12 miles southwest
Tackle stores within a drive of Lake Leelanau
- Elmwood Township, 10090 E Lincoln Rdmarina, Traverse City, 8 miles
- The Fish Hookbait and tackle shop, Leland, 8 miles
- Elmwood Township, 13051 S West Bay Shore Drmarina, Traverse City, 9 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3500 Market Place Circle Drivebait and tackle shop, Traverse City, 10 miles
- Hawkins Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Traverse City, 10 miles
- Duncan L Clinch Marinamarina, Traverse City, 11 miles
Hiring a guide for Lake Leelanau
- Fishtown Charter Servicecharter, Leland, (231) 256-9639
- Mariah and Pier Pressure Charter Fishingcharter, Leland, (231) 883-2146
- Miles Charter Fishingcharter, Traverse City, (231) 645-0102
- Watta Bite Charter Fishingcharter, Cedar, (231) 228-7417
Places to stay around Lake Leelanau
- Lake Leelanau5 miles
- Suttons Bay6 miles
- Cedar6 miles
County fishing pages for Lake Leelanau
- Leelanau Countyseat: Suttons Bay
Piscifun reels worth packing for Lake Leelanau
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Lakes and streams near Lake Leelanau, pictured
Photo: starscream1211, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: gabe popa, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Andrew Lin, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
The usual questions about Lake Leelanau
How far is Lake Leelanau from a Michigan town?
It lies in Leelanau County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 6 miles from Suttons Bay.
How large is Lake Leelanau?
5,698 acres, by EGLE mapping.
Which launch serves Lake Leelanau?
There are 3 public launches; Lake Leelanau East Boat Access has the most lanes.
Which species are in Lake Leelanau?
The MDNR names lake whitefish and cisco.
What are the keeper rules for Lake Leelanau?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
Which Michigan license covers Lake Leelanau?
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.
Is Lake Leelanau a clear lake?
Roughly 11.1 feet (2023 satellite estimate).
Where do Lake Leelanau anglers pick up worms?
Elmwood Township, about 8 miles away.
Put Lake Leelanau on the Michigan trip list
Fees, seasons and every statewide table are on the license page.