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 Michigan Fishing Regulations for regulations concerning size limits, possession limits, and other restrictions.
Species | Season Dates | ||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||
Possession season on all waters, including Great Lakes (except as noted below) | May 25 - December 31 | ||||||||||||
Possession season on Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit rivers | June 15 - December 31 | ||||||||||||
Muskellunge | |||||||||||||
Catch-and-immediate-release on all waters | Open for Entire Year | ||||||||||||
Possession season on all Great Lakes & inland waters & St. Marys River- (except as noted below) | June 1- March 15 | ||||||||||||
Possession season on Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit rivers | June 1 - December 31 | ||||||||||||
Northern Pike & Walleye | |||||||||||||
Possession season on Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair & St. Clair & Detroit rivers | Open for Entire Year | ||||||||||||
Possession season on Lower Peninsula inland waters | April 27 - March 15 | ||||||||||||
Possession season on Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters & St. Marys River | May 15 - March 15 | ||||||||||||
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) | ||||||||||||
(Inland) Type 3 & 4 streams and Type B, C, E & F lakes | Open for Entire Year | ||||||||||||
Possession & fishing season (inland) Type 1 & 2 streams | April 27 - September 30 | ||||||||||||
Possession & fishing season (inland) Type A & D lakes | April 27- October 31 | ||||||||||||
Gear Restricted streams | Please see 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 | ||||||||||||
Great Lakes Lake Trout & Splake - See Regulations | |||||||||||||
Lake Sturgeon - See Regulations | |||||||||||||
