2023 Fishing Seasons
This table provides general hook-and-line fishing seasons/dates for the species listed. There are many other fishing regulations associated with these species and seasons. Please refer to the rest of the 2023 Michigan Fishing Guide for regulations concerning size limits, possession limits, and other restrictions.
Species | Season Dates | More Info. | |||||||||||
April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sep. | Oct.. | Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | March | ||
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass | |||||||||||||
Catch-and-immediate-release on all waters (except as noted below) | Open for Entire Year | Page 12 | |||||||||||
Possession season on all waters, including Great Lakes (except as noted below) | May 27 - December 31 | Pages 12-13 | |||||||||||
Possession season on Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit rivers | June 17 - December 31 | Page 12 | |||||||||||
Muskellunge | |||||||||||||
Catch-and-immediate-release on all waters | Open for Entire Year | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Possession season on all Great Lakes & inland waters & St. Marys River- (except as noted below) | June 3- March 15 | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Possession season on Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit rivers | June 3 - December 31 | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Northern Pike & Walleye | |||||||||||||
Possession season on Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit rivers | Open for Entire Year | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Possession season on Lower Peninsula inland waters | April 29 - March 15 | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Possession season on Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters & St. Marys River | May 15 - March 15 | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Salmon & Trout | |||||||||||||
Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair, St. Marys River, St. Clair & Detroit rivers | Open for Entire Year (See Great Lakes Lake Trout & Splake information below as well) | Pages 18-21 | |||||||||||
(Inland) Type 3 & 4 streams and Type B, C, E & F lakes | Open for Entire Year | Pages 42-65 | |||||||||||
Possession & fishing season (inland) Type 1 & 2 streams | April 29 - September 30 | Pages 42-65 | |||||||||||
Possession & fishing season (inland) Type A & D lakes | April 29- October 31 | Pages 42-65 | |||||||||||
Gear Restricted streams | Please see Pages 44-46 for information concerning seasons on these streams. | ||||||||||||
Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Cisco, Lake Whitefish, Round Whitefish, Smelt, Sunfishes, White Bass, Yellow Perch & Other Species | |||||||||||||
All waters open for fishing | Open for Entire Year | Pages 12-14 | |||||||||||
Great Lakes Lake Trout & Splake - See map and Table 4 on Pages 20-21 | |||||||||||||
Lake Sturgeon - See Table 2 in regulations |