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Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum

Fishing Wisconsin

Anglers, commercial fishers and others with an interest in Lake Michigan's fisheries can join the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum to get the latest research, management news and other information about the fishery. In addition, this group shares their feedback with Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Management staff on Lake Michigan topics.

The Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum (LMFF) is facilitated by Titus Seilheimer, UW-Sea Grant, with support from DNR. Representatives from major sport fishing clubs on Lake Michigan and Green Bay, commercial fishers, the Conservation Congress and the University of Wisconsin System are formal members of the forum. Meetings are open to the public.

Forum purpose
The forum's focus is on raising awareness of Lake Michigan fisheries issues and providing an opportunity for discussion, feedback and comment on topics of interest. In the fall of 2012, the group was expanded to about 40 members from the 17-member group that had been operating in past years.

Revised Terms of Reference [PDF] for the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum.

May 29, 2024 LMFF Meeting

At this meeting, the department will engage stakeholders to discuss the current status of the Lake Michigan Lake Whitefish trawling rule. Specifically, we will gather input on the current rule, onboard camera monitoring information and possible revisions to the trawling rule. 

April 2, 2020 LMFF Meeting

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, this meeting was held via Zoom for the first time. At this virtual meeting, the department discussed our charter boat program and ongoing lake whitefish information. In addition, Kelly Robinson gave a presentation on a project to engage the public on salmonine stocking management. 

April 15, 2019 LMFF Meeting

At this meeting, the department will re-engage stakeholders to begin discussions about Lake Michigan management and collaboration options for 2020 and beyond. Specifically, we will gather input on the timeline for summer meetings and gather stakeholder thoughts and ideas on the information that will be presented at these future meetings

September 27, 2018 LMFF Meeting

At this meeting, the LMFF members heard an update on the economic benefits of the Lake Michigan sport fishery, a fish passage project on the Menomonee River and updates on various projects including a discussion about the Lake Michigan Commercial Fishing Board activities.

April 26, 2018 LMFF Meeting

At this meeting, the LMFF members discussed a Milwaukee Harbor mapping project, Sea Grant angler participation initiatives, learned about the current status of the Lake Michigan salmon and trout fishery and listened to a variety of Lake Michigan updates.

December 7, 2017 LMFF Meeting

At this meeting, the LMFF members and stakeholders discussed a study proposal to allow large mesh gill nets in Zone 3 for the purpose of catching lake whitefish.

August 30, 2017 LMFF Meeting

At this LMFF meeting, salmon and trout stocking levels for 2018 and beyond were discussed, as well as the Terms of Reference, information from nearshore ecosystem studies, trawl study updates and the charter captain electronic reporting system.

April 8, 2017 LMFF Meeting

Highlights of the Green Bay fishery and other updates on Lake Michigan will be shared by leaders from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at the April 8 meeting of the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum. A major focus of the meeting will be the forum’s governance structure with discussion and approval of the terms of reference.

January 26, 2017 LMFF Meeting

On January 26, 2017, the LMFF will meet to discuss the final plans for stocking brown trout in Lake Michigan and Green Bay. In addition, prior to this meeting, a discussion on lake trout regulations will give stakeholders the opportunity to provide comments for appropriate regulations for the 2017 fishing season. The meeting will be available LIVE and will be recorded - from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

A special meeting will be held prior to the LMFF to discuss possible changes to lake trout fishing regulations for the 2017 fishing season. The meeting will be available LIVE and will be recorded - from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

November 7, 2016 LMFF Meeting

On November 7, 2016, the LMFF met to discuss the final plans for salmon and trout stocking in 2017. In addition, we discussed the terms of reference for the group, solicited members to participate on a small team designed to develop a marketing and outreach plan for the 2017 fishing season and received information from the USFWS on Lake Michigan Lake Trout Management.

August 29, 2016 LMFF Meeting

On August 29, 2016, the LMFF met to discuss Lake Michigan salmon and trout plans for 2017. The main focus of the meeting was centered around DNR draft plans to develop chinook salmon and lake trout stocking numbers plus a variety of other initiatives.

April 9, 2016 LMFF Meeting

On April 9, 2016, the LMFF will hold the first of two meetings for the 2016 calendar year.

Below is the agenda for the meeting.

October 3, 2015 LMFF Meeting

On October 3, 2015, the LMFF held the seventh meeting of this group. The agenda for this meeting was varied and includes information on the Predator/Prey Model, Commercial fishing updates and general Lake Michigan updates.

Below are the agenda and meeting notes from the meeting.

April 11, 2015 LMFF Meeting

On April 11, 2015, the LMFF held the sixth meeting of this group. The agenda for this meeting was varied and includes information on our CWT tagging program, Lake Michigan food web, fisheries economics and more.

Below are the agenda and meeting notes from the meeting.

September 17, 2014 LMFF Meeting

On September 17, 2014, the LMFF held its fifth meeting. The Forum reviewed comments received to date from our Lake Michigan Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and provided input and direction on key components on the plan.

Below are the agenda and meeting notes from the meeting. 

April 5, 2014 LMFF Meeting

On April 5th, the LMFF held its fourth meeting. The members of the group suggested many of the agenda items for this meeting which included an update on the Chinook salmon CWT project, various commercial fishing updates and an update on our Lake Michigan Fisheries plan.

Below are the agenda and meeting notes from the meeting.

October 12, 2013 LMFF Meeting

On October 12, 2013, the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum held its third meeting. The main focus of the morning was to present the latest draft of the chinook salmon stocking strategy to the forum and listen to suggestions and comments. The afternoon session consisted of two presentations. The USFWS sea lamprey control unit talked about their surveys, assessments and control efforts on sea lamprey focusing on efforts in Lake Michigan. Dr. Harvey Bootsma from the UW-M WATER Institute presented information on the impacts of dreissenid mussels on the Lake Michigan food web.

Below are the agenda and a signed copy of the chinook salmon stocking recommendation memo plus the approved chinook salmon stocking strategy.

April 6, 2013 LMFF Meeting

On April 6, 2013, the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum held its second meeting to discuss important Lake Michigan Fisheries topics. The meeting started with Dr. John Janssen talking about "Is it time for a new paradigm in the Lake Michigan Fishery?" We then listened to the forage assessment report from Dave Warner - USGS, via a recorded talk he gave at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission meetings held in March in Duluth, MN. After that, Brad Eggold discussed salmon stocking strategies and presented a strategy that the Department developed to distribute chinook salmon stocking to the various ports in Wisconsin. The meeting concluded with Bill Horns presenting information on their Lake Michigan Fisheries Integrated Management Plan [PDF].

December 1, 2012 LMFF Meeting

On December 1, 2012, the Lake Michigan Fisheries Forum and other interested stakeholders met to discuss where and how many Chinook salmon should be stocked in each port along Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shoreline. DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp attended the meeting to hear comments, questions and concerns from anglers and stakeholders.

The Department has decided that we will stock 798,000 chinook salmon in 2013 distributed among Wisconsin's ports along Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Since this number reflects an overall lower number of fish stocked compared to 2012, each stocking location, except Strawberry Creek, will have the same percent reduction. 

Below you will find the presentation that was given at this meeting along with several other presentations.

December 1, 2012 LMFF Meeting Information