Inland lakes provide habitat for fish populations that provide ecological, recreational, and subsistence values to society. In fact, 48% of all recreational fishing in Michigan is on inland lakes. Managing fish populations includes regulating fishing, managing habitat to support populations, and collaborating with the public to ensure sustainable fish populations for future generations. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish populations on inland lakes in collaboration with other agencies and with the public. This session will include presentations from Matt Diana (DNR Fisheries Biologist), Brian Gunderman (DNR Fisheries Natural Resource Manager), and Seth Herbst (DNR Fisheries Natural Resource Manager). In this session, you’ll learn about how the DNR manages fish and aquatic resources on inland lakes. DNR Fisheries staff will discuss fishing regulations, fish stocking, fish kills, fish habitat projects, the importance of water quality and natural shorelines, and emerging threats to fish and aquatic resources in Michigan. We’ll show you how the DNR assesses fish populations in lakes, how fish populations relate to key habitat features, and share information on grant resources available to benefit inland lakes. Finally, we’ll take an in-depth look at the department’s Inland Lake Walleye plan and how that affects one of the most popular fisheries in Michigan.

Find more presentations from the 2022 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention here.