Redear Sunfish in Michigan
Where redear sunfish swim in Michigan, with the rules.
- 25 in any combinatiolimit
- 2.36 lbrecord
Pick for redear sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not of a Michigan water: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Michigan redear sunfish, briefly
In great lakes and inland, anglers meet Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus), which the MDNR classes as game fish. On statewide the 2026 digest lists 25 in any combination of the listed species and a season of open all year.
In 2010, the hook and line record of 2.36 lb came out of Lyon Lake. The Fish Atlas puts it in 12 of the lakes covered on this site. Between 2024 and October 2026 the MDNR planted 200 of them over 1 event.
For the redear sunfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 redear sunfish rows in the 2026 digest
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR; rules run April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
redear sunfish on the state record table
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 2.36 lb | 12.6 in | Lyon Lake | Calhoun | 2010 |
MDNR State Record Fish table, retrieved October 22, 2026; the table prints the year only and no angler names.
Where MDNR surveys found redear sunfish
| Lake | County | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| George lake, Branch County | Branch | 535 |
| Portage Lake, Jackson County | Jackson | 398 |
| Lake Ovid | Clinton | 362 |
| Gilletts Lake | Jackson | 334 |
| Baldwins Lake | Cass | 262 |
| Fourmile Lake | Washtenaw | 258 |
| Tipsico Lake | Oakland | 245 |
| Long Lake near White Pigeon, Cass County | Cass | 241 |
| Long Lake near Montgomery, Hillsdale County | Hillsdale | 155 |
| Mill Lake, Washtenaw County | Washtenaw | 131 |
| East Long Lake | Branch | 123 |
| Girard Lake | Branch | 16 |
MDNR Fish Atlas collection records from 1970 on and Family Friendly Fishing lists; largest lakes first.
Recent redear sunfish stocking in Michigan
MDNR Fish Stocking Report (FSIS), events January 2024 to October 14, 2026.
Lakes and rivers that hold redear sunfish
redear sunfish lakes with pages
- George lake, Branch County535 acres
- Portage Lake, Jackson County398 acres
- Lake Ovid362 acres
- Gilletts Lake334 acres
- Baldwins Lake262 acres
- Fourmile Lake258 acres
- Tipsico Lake245 acres
- Long Lake near White Pigeon, Cass County241 acres
- Long Lake near Montgomery, Hillsdale County155 acres
- Mill Lake, Washtenaw County131 acres
- East Long Lake123 acres
- Lake Thirteen, Clare County92 acres
- Girard Lake16 acres
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, fishing site lists, trout stream layer, stocking and records; largest waters first.
Species listed alongside redear sunfish
- Bluegillgame fish
- Pumpkinseedgame fish
- Green Sunfishgame fish
- Longear Sunfishgame fish
- Warmouthgame fish
- Hybrid Sunfishgame fish
- Black Crappiegame fish
- White Crappiegame fish
- Rock Bassgame fish
- Largemouth Bassgame fish
- Smallmouth Bassgame fish
- Walleyegame fish
Lakes and streams near Redear Sunfish, pictured
Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jamesdisher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
Photo: Gpwitteveen, CC BY-SA 3.0
What anglers ask about redear sunfish here
Can Michigan anglers keep redear sunfish?
25 in any combination of the listed species on statewide; season open all year. Other waters carry their own rows.
When was the Michigan redear sunfish record set?
2.36 lb from Lyon Lake, Calhoun County, in 2010 (hook and line).
Which Michigan water is a good bet for redear sunfish?
13 water pages on this site name it, starting with George lake, Branch County, Portage Lake, Jackson County and Lake Ovid.
How many redear sunfish did the MDNR plant?
Yes; 200 fish in 1 event from January 2024 to October 2026, the most in Lake Thirteen.
What Latin name goes with redear sunfish?
Lepomis microlophus; game fish in great lakes and inland.
When is redear sunfish season open in Michigan?
Open all year on statewide.
Is a trout stamp needed for redear sunfish in Michigan?
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.
Who guides for redear sunfish in Michigan?
No listing names it; the guides page has every captain.
Chase redear sunfish this season
Every lake listed above has its own page with launches and the limits.