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Yellow Perch
Photo: Fizzishin, CC BY 4.0 
Flathead Catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain 
White Bass
Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Brown Trout
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Michigan inland lakes
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Lime Lake, Leelanau County Fishing
A 662-acre Michigan lake in Leelanau County.
Pick for smallmouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Glen Lake: starscream1211, CC BY-SA 3.0
Leelanau County
Lime Lake, Leelanau County in brief
The state lake layer measures Lime Lake, Leelanau County at 662 acres; it lies in Leelanau County. For fuel and groceries, Maple City is about 3 miles off. It sits on the Lower Peninsula inside the Central Lake Michigan Management Unit of the MDNR. It drains to the Northeastern Lake Michigan-Lake Michigan watershed in the North Central Hardwood Forests ecoregion.
The MDNR lists smallmouth bass here. Trailers launch at 1 public launch. Summer satellite readings put clarity near 9.5 feet in 2023.
662acres
1public launches
9.5 ftsatellite clarity
1fish on record
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The fish list for Lime Lake, Leelanau County
These fish come from MDNR records for Lime Lake, Leelanau County: Fish Atlas collections from 1970 on, fishing site lists, stocking and records.
Fish Atlas tally for Lime Lake, Leelanau County
| Species | Atlas records | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bass | 1 | 1970 |
| Northern pike | 1 | 1959 |
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, MDNR stocking table, checked October 2026. Older collections are history, not a current survey.
Launches
Where to launch on Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- Lime Lake Boat Access near Maple City1 lane, 6 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport; Interlochen State Park
Boat launches by Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- Lake Leelanau West Boat AccessLake Leelanau, 6 miles east
- Lake Leelanau East Boat AccessLake Leelanau, 7 miles east
- Armstrong Lake Boat AccessArmstrong Lake, 8 miles southwest
- Glen Lake Boat AccessGlen Lake, 8 miles west
- Davis Lake Boat AccessDavis Lake, 8 miles south
- The Narrows Boat AccessLake Leelanau, 9 miles northeast
MDNR Parks and Recreation boat access sites and MDNR fishing sites, checked October 2026.
Clarity
Clarity trend at Lime Lake, Leelanau County
EGLE averages Landsat images from July to September for Lime Lake, Leelanau County; values are converted here from meters to feet.
Chlorophyll a in 2023: 2.57 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.
Regulations
Limits and seasons for Lime Lake, Leelanau County
| 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 |
Statewide rows for the Lower Peninsula are shown for Lime Lake, Leelanau County; the trout row follows its MDNR lake Type when it has one.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), statewide tables and county exceptions, checked October 2026.
Compare
Neighbor lakes of Lime Lake, Leelanau County, measured
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Clarity ft | Fish listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lime Lake, Leelanau County | 662 | 1 | 9.5 | 1 | |
| Little Traverse Lake | 2 miles north | 646 | 0 | 10.5 | 1 |
| Glen Lake | 6 miles west | 4,875 | 0 | 25.2 | 2 |
| Lake Leelanau | 6 miles east | 5,698 | 3 | 11.1 | 2 |
| Armstrong Lake, Leelanau County | 8 miles southwest | 41 | 1 | 13.4 | 0 |
| Davis Lake, Leelanau County | 8 miles south | 32 | 1 | 14.8 | 0 |
EGLE inland lake layer, MDNR access sites and Fish Atlas.
Nearby
What sits close to Lime Lake, Leelanau County
Lakes to try next to Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- Little Traverse Lake2 miles north
- Glen Lake6 miles west
- Lake Leelanau6 miles east
- Armstrong Lake, Leelanau County8 miles southwest
- Davis Lake, Leelanau County8 miles south
Where to pick up bait for Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- The Fish Hookbait and tackle shop, Leland, 10 miles
- Elmwood Township, 10090 E Lincoln Rdmarina, Traverse City, 11 miles
- Perfect Wheel Marine Prop Repairmarina, Lake Ann, 12 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3500 Market Place Circle Drivebait and tackle shop, Traverse City, 12 miles
- Elmwood Township, 13051 S West Bay Shore Drmarina, Traverse City, 12 miles
- Hawkins Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Traverse City, 12 miles
Charter captains and guides near Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- Fishtown Charter Servicecharter, Leland, (231) 256-9639
- Fishwish Inccharter, Cedar, (231) 228-4746
- Watta Bite Charter Fishingcharter, Cedar, (231) 228-7417
- Watta Bite Charter Fishingcharter, Glen Arbor, (231) 409-0963
Towns that put you close to Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- Maple City3 miles
- Cedar4 miles
- Glen Arbor7 miles
The counties around Lime Lake, Leelanau County
- Leelanau Countyseat: Suttons Bay
Piscifun
Piscifun spinning and baitcasting picks for Lime Lake, Leelanau County
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Fish ID
Identifying the fish of Lime Lake, Leelanau County
Photo: Fizzishin, CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Answers
What to know ahead of a day at Lime Lake, Leelanau County
Which MDNR unit manages Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
Leelanau County, Central Lake Michigan Management Unit, about 3 miles from Maple City.
What surface area does EGLE give Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
The state layer shows 662 acres.
Is there a ramp for trailers on Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
1 public launch, led by Lime Lake Boat Access near Maple City.
What bites in Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
Expect smallmouth bass.
What are the walleye limits on Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
Walleye (Lower Peninsula): 5; minimum 15 inches; season Last Sat. in April – March 15.
What does a visitor from out of state pay for Lime Lake, 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.
How far can you see into Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
About 9.5 feet of Secchi depth in 2023, from EGLE satellite data.
Which tackle store sits handiest to Lime Lake, Leelanau County?
The Fish Hook is the nearest, 10 miles away.
Line up a day on Lime Lake, Leelanau County
Michigan license prices and limits are one click away.