Management units support local fisheries and aquatic resources. Each management unit covers the watersheds in their area — which includes the inland lakes, rivers and streams, in addition to the part of the Great Lakes that they drain into. Each unit has fisheries biologists and technicians that do research, conduct surveys, work with hatcheries to make stocking decisions, recommend fishing regulations, and work with their area research stations. All of this contributes to making sound decisions for managing Michigan’s fisheries in the Great Lakes and inland lakes, rivers and streams.
Looking for a new fishing spot? Our fisheries management biologists have complied this list of locations that offer good fishing opportunities for the indicated species.
Status of the Fishery Resource Reports contain the results of major fisheries surveys on Michigan lakes and rivers.
The Central Lake Michigan Management Unit (CLMMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the central portion of Lake Michigan. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Clare, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Roscommon, Wexford. The CLMMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Michigan from field offices located in Cadillac, Harrietta and Traverse City.
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator: Jay Wesley, 616-490-5090
Central Lake Michigan Unit Manager: Scott Heintzelman, 231-775-9727 ext. 6070
Fisheries Biologists:
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Olen Gannon, 231-389-2551
Fisheries Technicians: Bob Kerry, 231-389-0420; Tara Miller, 231-389-0420
Traverse City Customer Service Center, 2122 South M-37, Traverse City, MI 49685
Cadillac Customer Service Center, 8015 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601
The Lake Erie Management Unit (LEMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into Lake Erie. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Hillsdale, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The LEMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Erie from a field office located in Waterford.
Lake Erie Basin Coordinator: Jim Francis, 517-242-3593
Lake Erie Management Unit Manager: Sara Thomas, 734-718-0474
Fisheries Biologists:
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Todd Somers, 248-221-8887
Fisheries Technicians: Dennis Tar; Eric Plant
Waterford Fisheries Station, 7806 Gale Road Waterford, MI 48327
Lake Superior Basin Coordinator: Dave Caroffino, (231) 350-8654
Lake Superior Unit Manager: Cory Kovacs, 906-287-0816
Encompassing all of the waters that drain into the eastern portion of Lake Superior. This work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette.
Fisheries Biologist: Audrey Baetz, 906-287-1646
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Shawn Sapp, 906-293-9402
Fisheries Technicians: Carl Christiansen, 906-293-9402; Wayne Heinzman, 906-293-9402
Newberry Customer Service Center, 5666 State Highway M-123, Newberry, MI 49868
Encompassing all of the waters that drain into the western portion of Lake Superior. This work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Ontonagon.
Fisheries Biologist: Kris Nault, 906-250-7807
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Shawn Sapp, 906-293-9402
Fisheries Technicians: Kyle Urban, 906-353-6651 ext. 115; Jack Cole, 906-353-6651 ext. 115
Baraga Customer Service Center, 427 US 41 North, Baraga, MI 49908
The Northern Lake Huron Management Unit (NLHMU) encompasses all waters that drain into the northern portion of Lake Huron. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Alcona, Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Mackinac, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon. The NLHMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Huron from a field office located in Gaylord.
Lake Huron Basin Coordinator: Doug Schultz, 989-590-9073
Northern Lake Huron Unit Manager: Tim Cwalinski, 231-340-0276
Fisheries Biologists: Neal Godby, 231-340-2621; Matt Klungle, 989-889-4832
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Kynzie House, 989-619-7099
Fisheries Technicians: Taylor Gross; David Lombardi
Gaylord Customer Service Center, 1732 W M-32 Gaylord, MI 49735
The Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit (NLMMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the northern portion of Lake Michigan. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Gogebic, Iron, Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, Delta, Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce, and Mackinac. The NLMMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Michigan from field offices located in Escanaba and Crystal Falls.
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator: Jay Wesley, 269-685-6851 ext. 117
Fisheries Unit Supervisor: Darren Kramer, 906-786-2351 ext. 789-8213
Fisheries Biologists:
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Bradley Shucha, 906-875-6622 ext. 119, Crystal Falls DNR Office
Fisheries Technicians: Jacob McWethy, 906-875-6622 ext. 119; Michael Woodworth, 906-875-6622 ext. 119
Escanaba DNR Office, 6833 Hwy. 2, 41 & M-35, Gladstone, MI 49837
Norway Field Office, 500 West US-2, Norway, MI 49870
Crystal Falls DNR Office, 1420 US 2 West, Crystal Falls, MI 49920
The Southern Lake Huron Management Unit (SLHMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the southern portion of Lake Huron. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Lapeer, Livingston, Midland, Ogemaw, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola. The SLHMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Huron from a field office located in Bay City.
Lake Huron Basin Coordinator: Doug Schultz, 989-325-3232
Southern Lake Huron Unit Manager: Jeff Jolley, 989-686-2678
Fisheries Biologists: Jason Gostiaux, 989-686-3645; April Morey, 989-686-2295
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Chris Schelb, 989-684-7892
Fisheries Technicians: Vince Balcer, 989-684-7892; Ryan Histed, 989-684-7892
Bay City Customer Service Center, 3580 State Park Drive, Bay City, MI 48706, 989-684-9141
The Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit (SLMMU) encompasses all of the waters that drain into the southern portion of Lake Michigan. Our work area includes all or portions of the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw. The SLMMU covers a diverse array of inland waters and nearshore Lake Michigan from a field office located in Plainwell.
Basin Coordinator: Jay Wesley, 269-204-7057
Southern Lake Michigan Unit Manager: Brian Gunderman, 269-251-2645
Fisheries Biologists:
Fisheries Technician Supervisor: Matt Smith, 269-204-7056
Fisheries Technicians: Mike Wilson, 269-204-7058; Alexa Curtis, 269-204-7057
Plainwell Customer Service Center, 621 N. 10th Street, Plainwell, MI 49080
An Overview of the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit Walleye Rearing and Stocking Program
