Fishing on Sage Lake
2022 Fishing Tournament
Sage Lake Fishing Survey
The Sage Lake Association Fishing Committee is interested in knowing what anglers are catching on Sage Lake. The Sage Lake fish survey is an effort to learn more about Sage Lake’s fishery so we can better support anglers and improve fishing opportunities on Sage Lake. The fishing committee has waterproof stickers for your boat or tackle box with a QR code that links to the survey. Please enter your catches using the QR code or the link below. Thanks for participating! Your input is completely anonymous.
Click here for the fishing survey
2022 Sage Lake “Rough Fish” Tournament
Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, and participants in the 2022 Sage Lake “Rough Fish” Tournament!
- 19 teams participated
- 1,204.9 lbs. of fish harvested, more than doubling last year’s total!
- 218 dogfish
- 34 gar
- 568 bullheads
- 3 carp
Betsy Miner-Swartz and her Dad
2020 Fish Stocking Update- September 29, 2020
Our hardworking Fish Team has received a stocking permit to stock fish into Sage Lake. The approximate Stocking Date is 10-15-2020.
2000 Hybrid Bluegills 4-6 “
1000 lbs Fathead Minnows 1-2 “
Compliments to all the team members for making this happen!!
Sincerely,
Patti Rogers, President Sage Lake Association
Rough Fish Tournament Proposal for 2021 (click to view)
2020 Fishing Tournament – July 25 8 a.m. – 3. p.m. at DNR Boat Launch. $10 Registration. Cash prizes.
DNR Fish Stocking– From 1937 to 1944 Sage Lake was stocked with over 1,000,000 Walleye fry with little success establishing a Walleye population. From 1987 to 1990 108,769 Northern Pike fingerlings and 73,228 Walleye fingerlings were stocked. Walleye survival was poor and Northern Pike was good. In 1990, Northern Pike stocking was stopped due to an imbalance in the predator and prey numbers and there have not been any fish stocked by DNR
Sage Lake Association has Private plant stocked, under permit 1,000 Walleye in 2005 and 1,200 in 2009.
In our 2019 DNR Sage Lake Fish Survey, the Fisheries Biologist has stated that our lake does not appear to be suited for Walleye. At this time they do not recommend stocking any panfish because they believe they should be self-sustaining. To better understand the changing dynamics of Sage Lake, they recommend we institute an angler diary program with Sage Lake Association and would help to implement this program. The DNR is considering an additional ice-out survey in the next 3-5 years, to gather more information on the Northern Pike fishery to better understand the predator prey relationship.
20-06-13 Fishing Committee meeting minutes
DNR presentation from May 30, 2020 SLA meeting
DNR Preliminary Fish Report 7-24-19
Fishing License Requirements:
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You must purchase a license if you are 17 years of age or older. If you are under 17 years of age, you may fish without a license, but you are required to observe all fishing rules and regulations.
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You must have the license in your possession when fishing and the identification used to purchase that license.
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Your fishing license is valid from March 1 of a given year through March 31 of the following year.
To purchase a fishing license, you must have:
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A valid Michigan Driver License.
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A valid Michigan ID Card (issued by the Secretary of State) with additional proof of Michigan residency, such as a Michigan voter registration card.
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A DNR Sportcard (issued by license dealers). If the information on your DNR Sportcard from a previous year is still accurate, you may continue to use it.
To qualify for a resident fishing license, you must:
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Be a person who resides in a settled or permanent home or domicile within the boundaries of this state with the intention of remaining in this state (the ownership of land in Michigan by itself is not qualification for a resident license), or
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Be a full-time student at a Michigan college or university, or
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Serve full time in the U.S. Military and be officially stationed in Michigan.
Sage Lake Association 
