Fishing Sleeping Bear: Lakes, Fish, and the Rules That Matter

If fishing is part of why you’re drawn to Leelanau County, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a genuine bonus. Those park waters — lakes, streams, and shoreline — are home to more than 90 native fish species. That’s a lot of variety waiting for you.

Before you wet a line, there are two things to know. You’ll need a valid Michigan fishing license. (Kids under 17 don’t need one.) And if you’re fishing one of the park’s inland lakes, you’ll also need a National Park Pass — that’s on top of the fishing license.

A few spots worth knowing: Bass Lake sits right along M-22, about six miles north of Glen Arbor — easy to find, sandy shore, and you can run an electric motor there any time of year. The Crystal River winds from Glen Lake into Lake Michigan just north of Glen Arbor. It’s shallow with a sandy bottom, and it holds bass, sunfish, and pike. Federal, state, and local groups are working together to restore the watershed — something to know if the river’s long-term health matters to you.

If you take the ferry out to North Manitou Island, bring your bass gear. Lake Manitou is known for excellent smallmouth bass, but it plays by its own rules: artificial lures only, and any fish you keep must be at least 18 inches.