Lake Leelanau is special for many reasons, but did you know that part of what makes it special is the diversity of its fishery? Due to the previous separation of North Lake Leelanau (NLL) and South Lake Leelanau (SLL), there is a wide variety of fish habitat in Lake Leelanau, providing habitat for many different fish species not found in other inland lakes. Learn more about Lake Leelanau's fishery in this week's blog article.
Since NLL and SLL used to be different lakes, they have quite different characteristics. NLL has less surface area (2,914 acres) but is deeper, with a maximum depth of about 120 feet. On the other hand, SLL has more surface area (5,693 acres) but is shallower, with a maximum depth of about 62 feet.
These differences in depth impact the characteristics of the lake. The shallower waters of SLL support more vegetation in the wider littoral zone, the area between the shoreline and where light no longer penetrates to the bottom. That vegetation creates habitat for fish of varying species and ages. The deeper waters of NLL retain colder water in the depths, which support coldwater fish species that would not thrive in the shallower and warmer waters of SLL. Some of these fish are not commonly found in other inland lakes, but because NLL used to be freely connected to Lake Michigan, those fish species are also native to Lake Leelanau.
Fishes of Lake Leelanau
Yes, fishes. We know the plural of fish is fish, but a little known fact is that the plural of different fish species is actually fishes! Just a fun fish fact for you.
Based on surveys from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in 2002, fishes are listed in order of abundance.
| North Lake Leelanau | South Lake Leelanau |
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*Lake whitefish have been caught in other surveys, but not in recent years.
Both lakes also have a variety of smaller minnows and shiners, otherwise known as bait fish. Examples include bluntnose minnow, creek chub, Johnny Darter, log perch, etc.
Stocking History
Over the years, Lake Leelanau has been stocked with a variety of fish, with equally variable levels of success. Currently, there are no fish being stocked in Lake Leelanau, but you can read about the history of stocking fish in Lake Leelanau below.
- The first fish to be stocked in the lake were lake trout, which were not continued due to low growth and survival.
- Rainbow trout were stocked in 1950, 1951, 1965 and 1970, but the program was discontinued because few fish returned to the fishery (i.e., they didn’t survive long enough to be caught) and observations of fish escaping into Lake Michigan over the Leland Dam.
- Lake whitefish were stocked in 1995 in North Lake Leelanau only.
- Brown trout were stocked annually from 1955-1964 and from 1968-1991 and were then discontinued due to poor survival likely because of competition with walleye.
- Bluegill were stocked in South Lake Leelanau in 1996, 1999, and 2001.
- The most stocked fish in Lake Leelanau are walleye, because in 1991 the MDNR set an objective to establish a self-sustaining walleye population in South Leelanau by stocking 1,000 fry per acre every three years. Walleye were stocked in 1975, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, and 2001, when the population was determined to be self-sustaining and the stocking program discontinued.
Current Status
Most recent surveys from MDNR (2002 in NLL, 2015 in SLL) summarize that Lake Leelanau sustains a healthy walleye population. In addition, the surveys indicated good populations of smallmouth bass, longnose gar, yellow perch, northern pike, and rock bass. However, the larger predators like northern pike, longnose gar, and walleye all compete for the same food and habitat, which may result in slower growth rates for those fishes.
Protecting our Fish
Fish populations have a high capacity to fluctuate based on a variety of factors, but the most common impacts to fish populations include habitat loss, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Here are some ways in which you can help protect the native fish of Lake Leelanau.
- Don’t release your bait in Lake Leelanau unless it was caught in Lake Leelanau and never dump fish or plants from aquariums to protect from accidental spread of invasive species.
- Always “Clean, Drain, Dry” your boat when launching into Lake Leelanau if it has been in the water in less than two weeks. Learn more about boat washing here.
- If you live on the lake, help to improve shoreline habitat that juvenile fish rely on for nursery grounds. You can read more about how to do so in the following articles:
- Prevent pollutants from entering the lake by following these shoreline best management practices, managing stormwater, minimizing impervious surfaces, creating a no mow zone or vegetative buffer, and only using lake friendly products.
And remember, if you are fishing in Lake Leelanau to ensure you are up to date on the latest fishing regulations and that you follow Michigan’s Eat Safe Fish Guidelines when consuming fish you’ve caught.
Further Resources
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lake Leelanau Fish Community Report (surveyed in 2002)