Fish Consumption Guide · Updated 2026-10-11
What MDHHS guidance says
Clark Lake, Jackson County, MI — fish consumption guidance is published by the state health agency; see the official advisory page for current species limits.
No curated species guidance for Clark Lake — fish consumption advisories for Michigan lakes are published by the MDHHS. See the official advisory page linked below for current species limits and any waterbody-specific advisory.
Check the Official Source
For waterbody-specific advisories (PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, lake-specific mercury) beyond the statewide rules, always consult the official Michigan fish consumption advisory page for Clark Lake.
Official Michigan Advisory →Why Mercury Builds Up in Some Fish
Mercury enters lakes from atmospheric deposition (coal-fired power plants are the dominant US source), local geology, and historical mining or industrial activity. In water, it converts to methylmercury, which bioaccumulates: small fish absorb it, larger fish eat smaller fish, and apex predators end up with the highest concentrations.
That's why walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, and lake trout carry the strictest advisories — they're top predators that live a long time. Smaller, faster-growing fish like bluegill, crappie, and yellow perch have much lower mercury and can usually be eaten weekly.
In Minnesota, the Northeast (St. Louis, Lake, Cook counties — the Arrowhead) has higher background mercury due to mining legacy and forested wetlands that favor methylmercury production. MN MDH applies 2-inch shorter length cutoffs for walleye and pike in this zone.
For PFAS ("forever chemicals"), the contamination is point-source: industrial discharges, military firefighting foam, paper mill waste. Bay of Green Bay (WI) and select Northeast MN lakes have the most active PFAS advisories. PFAS is not well-correlated with mercury, so a lake with low Hg can still have a PFAS advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to eat fish from Clark Lake?
Whether fish from Clark Lake are safe to eat is a call for MDHHS and the county health department; this page reports what their published guidance says. Under MDHHS statewide guidance, panfish from Clark Lake are listed at 1 meal per week. Clark Lake, Jackson County, MI — fish consumption guidance is published by the state health agency; see the official advisory page for current species limits. For waterbody-specific advisories beyond the statewide rules, check the official MDHHS query linked on this page.
What is the most restrictive species at Clark Lake?
Clark Lake appears to hold mostly low-mercury species, which MDHHS lists at 1 meal per week under statewide guidance.
Who is in the "sensitive population" for fish consumption?
Minnesota MDH defines it as children under 15, and people 15 or older who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Wisconsin DHS uses a similar definition and includes people who may become pregnant in the next three to five years. Each agency publishes a separate table of meal limits for this group, and both tables are on this page for the states where we carry them.
Why are walleye and northern pike more restricted than panfish?
Mercury bioaccumulates up the food chain. Walleye, pike, musky, and lake trout are top predators that eat smaller fish, concentrating mercury in their flesh. Bluegill, crappie and sunfish eat insects and zooplankton and carry much less. Yellow perch is the exception among the panfish: Minnesota MDH holds it to one serving per month for everyone, and puts it on the avoid list for children under 15 and for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What about PFAS in fish from Clark Lake?
PFAS (forever chemicals) are an emerging concern in fish, especially near industrial/military sites and in the Bay of Green Bay (WI), Yahara chain (WI), and select Northeast Minnesota lakes. The Michigan health department publishes waterbody-specific PFAS advisories as sampling identifies elevated levels. Check the official query for current PFAS-specific guidance for Clark Lake.
Related
This page applies statewide guidance from the Michigan health department to fish species documented at Clark Lake in DNR survey data. It does not replace lake-specific advisories published by health agencies. Always check the official query (linked above) for the most current guidance, especially for PFAS, PCBs, and dioxins which can require waterbody-specific advice. Last updated: 2026-10-11.