General Netting Regulations
The following restrictions apply for the species, seasons and waters listed below:
- Nets and seines may not be fished within 100’ of any dam.
- Hand nets may be of any circumference and handle length, except for taking minnows.
- Dip nets may not exceed 9' x 9' square and permit is required if equipment is to be left overnight. Permits are available from local DNR Customer Service Center.
- There is a two-gallon daily possession limit on smelt.
- Seines may not exceed 12’ x 4’ and may only be used for minnows except under a scientific collector’s permit issued by the DNR.
- Hoop nets shall be no larger than 36" in diameter and no longer than 7' in length.
- NOTE: Check Definitions and Terms for more information.
General Netting Regulations
| Season | Gear | *Species | Waters |
|---|---|---|---|
Mar 1 - May 31 | Hand Net | Bowfin, Carp, Goldfish, Gizzard Shad, Longnose Gar, Smelt,Suckers | All Great Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Clair R., Detroit R.,and St. Marys R. including all tributaries to those waters from the mouth to ½ mile upstream (except that Thompson Cr. ([Schoolcraft Co.], is closed).See List A for additional inland streams open to hand netting. |
Mar 20 - May 31 | Dip Net | Bowfin, Carp, Goldfish, Gizzard Shad, Longnose Gar, Smelt,Suckers | All Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula streams, except Designated Trout Streams. See List B for additional streams closed to dip netting. |
Dec 15 - end of Feb | Hoop Net | Burbot (permit required from local DNR office) | Peshekee R. (Marquette Co.); Au Train R. (Alger Co.) from Au Train L. to mouth; Sturgeon R. (Baraga Co.) from M-38 bridge to mouth; Sturgeon R.(Houghton Co.). |
Open all year | Seine, HandNet, Dip Net | Minnows | All waters, except Designated Trout Lakes & Streams and those waters closed to minnow harvest (see Lawful Fishing Methods). |
Open all year | Cast Net | Alewife, Minnows, Smelt, Gizzard Shad | Great Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Clair R., Detroit R., and St. Marys R. |
*The term “suckers” refers to: suckers (longnose, white, northern hog, spotted), redhorse (silver, golden, black, greater, shorthead), buffalo (bigmouth, black), lake chubsucker, and quillback carpsucker. The term “minnows” refers to small baitfish used as bait: chubs, shiners, dace, stonerollers, sculpins (muddlers), mudminnows, and suckers. Review the netting exceptions list below for regulations that differ from those listed in the table above.
**Review the netting exceptions list below for regulations that differ from those listed in the table above.
Netting Exceptions
LIST A – Additional Inland Waters Open to Hand Netting
The following inland waters are open to use of hand nets from March 1– May 31 for Bowfin, carp, Goldfish, Gizzard Shad, Longnose Gar, Smelt and suckers:
Alger: Towes Cr.; W. Br. Whitefish R. from Sea Lamprey Barrier (T44N, R21W, S29) downstream 500’ to posted signs; Charlevoix: L. Charlevoix and trib to 1/2 mile upstream; Chippewa: Trout Cr. down from Big Trout L. (T42N, R3E, S31); Prentiss Cr. (T42N, R2E); Delta: Days R. from sea lamprey barrier downstream for 500’; Rapid R. from Rapid River Falls (T42N, R21W, S19) down to Co. Rd S15; Escanaba R. from mouth to 1st dam upstream of US-2; Ford R. down from Jaeger Rd.; Houghton: Portage L. and tribs to 1/2 mile upstream; N. and S. Portage Canal and tribs to 1/2 mile upstream; Torch L. and tribs to 1/2 mile upstream; Luce: Little Two Hearted R. from mouth upstream to bridge on Co. Rd. 412 (T50N, R9W, S25); Mackinac: Doe Cr. (T43N, R10W, S9); Foley Cr. down from I-75; Hoban Cr. down from State St.; Hudson Cr. (T41N, R11W, S8); Martineau Cr. down from I-75; McClouds Cr.; Milakokia R., Milakokia L. down to Heinz L.; Norton Cr. from M-135 down to S. Manistique L.; Nunn’s Cr. from M-134 to mouth; Pearson’s Cr. (T42N, R1W and R1E); Rabbits Back Cr. down from Mackinac Trail; Scrams Cr. (T42N, R11W, S11); Taylor Cr. (T43N, R12W, S2, 11, 12, 13); Manistee: Little Bear Cr. down from Bear L. to trunkline US-31; Menominee: Big Cedar R. down from mouth of Elwood Cr. (T35N, R25W, S11).
LIST B – Inland Streams Closed to Dip Netting
It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take any species of fish with dip nets on the following streams:
Arenac: Au Gres R. from Saginaw Bay upstream to M-65 (T22N, R5E, S26); Rifle R. from Steve’s Rd. (T19N, R5E, S9) upstream; Benzie: Cold Cr. from Crystal L. (T26N, R15W, S26) upstream; Grand Traverse: Unnamed Cr. from Green L. (T26N, R12W, S20) upstream to Bridges L.; Iosco: Au Gres R. from Saginaw Bay upstream to M-65 (T22N, R5E, S26); Leelanau: Houdek Cr. from North Lake Leelanau (T31N, R12W, S35) upstream; Monroe: Huron R. from L. Erie upstream to Belleville Dam; Stony Cr. from L. Erie upstream to Finzel Rd. (T5S, R8E, S23); Wayne: Huron R. from L. Erie upstream to Belleville Dam.
