This spring, anglers in Michigan will have a unique opportunity: the chance to fish for Arctic grayling in Houghton County as part of a long-running restoration project aimed at reintroducing a species lost from the state nearly a century ago.
Discussions about restoring Michigan’s native Arctic grayling began in 2015, with the first implementation in 2019. To kickstart the effort, eggs were brought from Alaska to the Marquette State Fish Hatchery, where they were raised to adult breeding stock. The eggs from these fish will eventually be used to plant hatchlings across the Lower Peninsula.
Arctic grayling disappeared from Michigan due to overfishing, competition from non-native species, and logging. Historically, their range included the northern Lower Peninsula, with some presence in Copper Country along the Otter River—though it remains unclear whether the Otter River population was native or introduced. Grayling thrived in these areas from the late 1800s through the 1930s before disappearing entirely.
Previous restoration attempts in the 1980s were unsuccessful. However, methods pioneered in Montana proved effective. Jay Wesley, Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator, explained that Michigan’s early restoration efforts struggled because stocked fish survived but failed to reproduce. Montana’s approach involves planting fertilized eggs directly into streams, allowing young fish to imprint on their future home waters and return to spawn naturally.
In 2023, the DNR introduced some mature Arctic grayling, known as broodstock, into select lakes to generate public interest and gather feedback on how the fish were adapting. West Johns Lake in Alger County received 400 grayling, Pine Lake in Manistee County about 1,300, and Houghton County’s Penegor Lake 300. Penegor was chosen for its depth and limited development, offering the cold, stable conditions grayling need to survive.
Although some grayling were reportedly caught in Pine Lake shortly after stocking, there have been no confirmed reports from Penegor or other Upper Peninsula lakes. “It’s kind of unfortunate,” Wesley said. “Grayling are usually pretty easy to catch. This could mean they aren’t surviving, are harder to catch than expected, or are moving out of the system—but it’s unlikely given the isolation of these lakes.”
For anglers eager to help the DNR monitor the fish, the grayling fishing season opens on the last Saturday in April and runs through October 31. Catching techniques are similar to trout, using spoons or jigs. While it is legal to fish for stocked Arctic grayling, possessing them is prohibited. Anglers are encouraged to photograph and release any caught fish, then report the sighting to the nearest DNR office—Penegor Lake reports go to the Baraga office.
This spring also marks the official planting phase of the restoration. Fertilized eggs will be placed in the upper Manistee, Boardman, and Maple Rivers using the Montana method. If successful, the DNR may expand efforts to Upper Peninsula waters, including the Otter River, and invites the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to participate.
Michigan anglers now have a rare chance to reconnect with a fish that hasn’t swum in the state’s waters for nearly a century, contributing to a restoration effort decades in the making.
References:
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fish Stocking Reports 2024. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr
- Wesley, Jay. Interview on Arctic Grayling Restoration, Lake Michigan Basin Coordination. Michigan DNR, 2023.
- Michigan DNR. Arctic Grayling Restoration Project Overview. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing
- Behnke, R.J. Trout and Salmon of North America. The Free Press, 2002. (for historical Arctic grayling range and decline)
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Arctic Grayling Restoration Program. https://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/species/arctic-grayling