Fishing Tournament Information
The following shall be registered online using the DNR's Michigan Fishing Tournament Information System:
- All bass fishing tournaments
- All Walleye fishing tournaments
- All competitive fishing events targeting Muskellunge.
Tournaments and Muskellunge competitive fishing events must be registered online. Tournament directors shall verify all tournament participants and provide a unique registration receipt to all participating anglers. Tournament directors shall report tournament results to the DNR by December 31, annually.
A fishing tournament is considered one that meets all of the following criteria: (a) the determination of a winner is based on the cumulative weight or length of the targeted fish species caught by an angler or team of anglers; (b) occurs during a defined period, which can be on one or multiple days but does not exceed five days; (c) is anchored to a single boating access site or designated nearby location where fish caught by participating anglers or teams are to be weighed-in, entered or the group is otherwise operating their event from; and (d) is limited to a single waterbody or connected waterbodies [ex: Lake St. Clair, Detroit River and Lake Erie] that are accessed by a common access site.
A fishing tournament is not where "winning" or prize distribution is determined solely on one or more of the following criteria: (a) who caught the largest fish or some combination of big fish awards; (b) who caught the smallest fish; (c) who caught the first fish; (d) who caught the most fish species; and/or (e) any other format that does not involve an angler or team of anglers entering a cumulative weight or length of the target species.
A competitive fishing event is considered to be any other organized competition among anglers involving prize distribution or the declaration of a winner that is not defined as a fishing tournament.
For more information, consult Fisheries Order 250 on the Michigan Fishing Tournaments website.
The Fishing Tournament Information System can be used by the public to determine where and when fishing tournaments are scheduled.
Boat Registration
For information about boat registration, refer to The Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws & Responsibilities, available online. Boat registrations are handled through the Secretary of State.
Charter Boat Captains and Inland Sportfishing Guides
Inland sportfishing guides are required to acquire a license that is valid for 3 years. Additionally, licensed inland sportfishing guides are required to submit monthly catch activity reports to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit the Michigan Fishing website.
Lead Alternatives
The DNR would like to remind anglers that lead can cause mortality when ingested by mammals and birds. There are nontoxic alternatives to lead such as tin, bismuth, steel and tungsten-nickel alloy for use in jigs, sinkers and other gear. These materials can be found at established sporting goods retailers and online.
Ice Shanties
A person placing a shanty on the ice for fishing shall permanently affix their name and address OR drivers license number OR DNR sportcard number on ALL SIDES of the shanty in legible alphanumeric letters that are at least 2" in height. The letters shall be readily visible and consist of material not soluble in water. The information identifying the owner must be on the shanty and may not be placed on a board or other material that is then attached to the shanty. Tents or other temporary shelters must be removed from the ice at the conclusion of each day's fishing activity and do not require identification.
Persons placing a shanty on the waters of the Upper Peninsula shall remove the shanty by midnight of March 31 each year. Persons placing a shanty on Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters shall remove the shanty by midnight of March 15 each year.
Persons placing a shanty on waters in the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon or Wexford shall remove the shanty by midnight of March 15 each year. Persons placing a shanty upon the waters of the remaining portion of the Lower Peninsula shall remove the shanty by midnight on March 1 each year. Shanties placed on L. St. Clair shall be removed before sunset on the first Sunday after Feb. 20 each year. In all areas, a shanty must be removed if ice conditions become unsafe, regardless of the date. After the above dates, a shanty must be removed at the end of each day’s fishing activity.
Parasites and Diseases of Fish
Occasionally anglers catch fish with black, pinhead-size spots which cause the fish to have a peppered appearance, or a fish may be caught which has white-to-yellow-colored grubs under the skin or in the flesh. Yellow Perch taken from the shallower waters of the Great Lakes often contain red worms coiled within the body cavity. These conditions are caused by common fish parasites. Fish with these parasites are safe to eat because the parasites are killed by cooking. Black spot and yellow grub parasites are most common in bass, sunfish (all species) and Northern Pike. These parasites may be found in other species of fish as well. Red worm is specific to Yellow Perch.
It is not unusual for anglers to catch Walleye with pink, whitish or yellowish wart-like growths on their bodies and fins. These markings are caused by fish viruses, the most common of which is called lymphocystis. This is primarily a skin disease, and the flesh is usually not affected. Lymphocystis is harmless to humans and affected fish are safe to eat. Skinning the fish usually removes all diseased tissue. If a legal-size fish is heavily affected and appears aesthetically unpleasing, it should be kept for disposal because a fish that is released will only spread more virus. Please note, if you keep a fish for disposal it is still part of your daily possession limit.
Northern Pike from some waters occasionally are caught with various size and colors of external tumors which may be whitish, creamy, pink or red. In advanced stages, the tumors are ugly open sores tinged with red and often are referred to as red sore. These tumors are caused by a naturally occurring virus which is specific to Northern Pike and Muskellunge. The disease is not known to be infectious to other animals or humans; however, affected fish are not aesthetically pleasing and should not be eaten. Affected fish (of legal size) should be kept for disposal because a fish that is released may spread the infection to other fish. Please note, if you keep a fish for disposal it is still part of your daily possession limit. Anglers are encouraged to report unusual-looking fish or those with lesions or pathogens using the sick or dead aquatic species form.
Seasonal Fish Mortalities
Throughout the year, it is not uncommon to witness dead or dying fish in ponds and lakes across the state. Many incidents stem from natural causes such as winter kill, brought about by a depletion of oxygen supplies coincident with heavy snow and ice cover; stress (brought about by low oxygen levels); periods of unusually rapid temperature increase or natural stresses associated with spawning. The deaths may be viewed as nature’s way of reducing the fish population and selecting those fish which are most fit for survival. If you suspect a fish kill is caused by non-natural causes, please complete the sick or dead aquatic species form.
