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Terms of Use
The rules for using this site, including the ones about not getting hurt on big water.
Acceptance
By using GreatAmericanLakes.com you agree to these terms. If you don't, don't use the site.
Safety — read this one
The Great Lakes are big water and they kill people every year. Superior can build a twenty-foot sea in a few hours. Erie stacks up faster than almost any water in North America because it is shallow. Ice conditions change overnight and no ice is ever guaranteed safe.
Everything on this site is general information, not a safety assessment of the conditions you are actually facing.Check the current NWS marine forecast, carry the required safety equipment, file a float plan, wear a PFD, and make your own call. You are responsible for your own safety and for everyone in your boat.
Fishing and boating regulations
Seasons, size limits, bag limits, licensing, and boating rules are set by each state and change every year. We link to the responsible agency on the relevant pages. Nothing here is a substitute for the current official rulebook for the water you are on. Verify before you fish, keep, or launch.
Accuracy
We work to keep this site accurate and we cite sources for the claims that need them, but we make no warranty that everything here is complete, current, or error-free. Prices and product details are point-in-time snapshots. If you find an error, tell us.
Affiliate links
This site earns commission on qualifying purchases through Amazon. See theaffiliate disclosure. We are not the seller and are not responsible for any transaction between you and Amazon or any manufacturer.
Intellectual property
Original text, layout, illustration, and code on this site are ours. Product names, brands, and logos belong to their owners and are used for identification. You may quote short passages with attribution and a link; wholesale reproduction is not permitted. Rights questions:takedown@greatamericanlakes.com.
Limitation of liability
This site is provided "as is." To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from your use of it or from reliance on anything published here.
Changes
We may update these terms. Continued use after a change means you accept the revised version.
Last updated 2026-09-01