Common Carp in Michigan
Seasons, records and stocking for common carp.
- No possession limitlimit
- 61.5 lbrecord
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How common carp fit Michigan fishing
Listed as other species by the Michigan DNR, Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) inhabits great lakes and inland. Michigan allows No possession limit on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered, open open all year.
A 61.5 lb fish from Wolf Lake (1974) stands as the bow or spear record. 41 lake pages here carry it on their MDNR Fish Atlas list.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered) | No possession limit | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR; rules run April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Michigan common carp record entries
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bow or spear | 61.5 lb | 47.5 in | Wolf Lake, Jackson County | Jackson | 1974 |
MDNR State Record Fish table, retrieved October 22, 2026; the table prints the year only and no angler names.
Lakes with recent common carp collections
| Lake | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Higgins Lake | Roscommon | 10,193 |
| Sanford Lake | Midland | 1,403 |
| Belleville Lake | Wayne | 1,254 |
| Cass Lake | Oakland | 1,248 |
| Holloway Reservoir, Genesee County | Genesee | 1,174 |
| Kent Lake | Oakland | 1,015 |
| Ford Lake, Washtenaw County | Washtenaw | 958 |
| Paw Paw Lake, Berrien County | Berrien | 923 |
| Fremont Lake | Newaygo | 825 |
| Wamplers Lake | Jackson | 797 |
| Marble Lake | Branch | 742 |
| Mio Dam Pond | Oscoda | 670 |
| Pontiac Lake | Oakland | 613 |
| Corey Lake, St. Joseph County | St. Joseph | 599 |
| Lake Orion | Oakland | 482 |
| Baw Beese Lake | Hillsdale | 448 |
MDNR Fish Atlas collection records from 1970 on and Family Friendly Fishing lists; largest lakes first.
Where common carp turn up in Michigan
Lakes to try for common carp
- Higgins Lake10,193 acres
- Sanford Lake1,403 acres
- Belleville Lake1,254 acres
- Cass Lake1,248 acres
- Holloway Reservoir, Genesee County1,174 acres
- Kent Lake1,015 acres
- Ford Lake, Washtenaw County958 acres
- Paw Paw Lake, Berrien County923 acres
- Fremont Lake825 acres
- Wamplers Lake797 acres
- Marble Lake742 acres
- Mio Dam Pond670 acres
- Pontiac Lake613 acres
- Corey Lake, St. Joseph County599 acres
- Lake Orion482 acres
- Baw Beese Lake448 acres
- Jordan Lake418 acres
- Wolf Lake, Jackson County398 acres
- Portage Lake, Jackson County398 acres
- Ninth Street Pond366 acres
- Reeds Lake270 acres
- Ross Lake, Gladwin County250 acres
- Walnut Lake236 acres
- Silver Lake near Pinckney, Washtenaw County222 acres
Rivers to try for common carp
- Grand RiverIonia
- Kalamazoo RiverAllegan
- Cheboygan RiverCheboygan
- Au Gres RiverIosco
- Galien RiverBerrien
- River RaisinLenawee
- Flint RiverGenesee
- Mill Creek, Washtenaw CountyWashtenaw
- Pine River, Arenac CountyArenac
- Crooked RiverEmmet
- Pinnebog RiverHuron
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, fishing site lists, trout stream layer, stocking and records; largest waters first.
More Michigan fish grouped with common carp
- Black Bullheadother species
- Brown Bullheadother species
- Yellow Bullheadother species
- Freshwater Drumother species
- Bowfinother species
- Longnose Garother species
- White Perchother species
- Bigmouth Buffaloother species
- Black Buffaloother species
- American Eelother species
- Quillbackother species
- White Suckerother species
Photographed water a drive from Common Carp
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
Photo: gabe popa, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: NPS, Public domain
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Photo: ksblack99, Public domain
The usual questions on Michigan common carp
What does the daily bag allow for common carp?
No possession limit on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered; season open all year. Other waters carry their own rows.
How much did the record Michigan common carp weigh?
61.5 lb from Wolf Lake, Jackson County, in 1974 (bow or spear).
Which lakes list common carp?
53 water pages on this site name it, starting with Higgins Lake, Sanford Lake and Belleville Lake.
Are common carp stocked in Michigan?
No plants are listed for it.
Which scientific name do biologists use for common carp?
Cyprinus carpio; other species in great lakes and inland.
What season dates cover common carp?
Open all year on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered.
Must out-of-state anglers buy a license for common carp?
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 there a guide for common carp?
No operator lists it by name.