2026 regulation year
Michigan Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Michigan offers all-species licences covering inland and Great Lakes waters. Trout, salmon, steelhead, and lake trout have type-A waters with stream-specific seasons; the all-species licence covers them all but a free Lake Sturgeon harvest tag is required separately.
License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual all-species | $26.00 | |
| Resident 24-hour all-species | $10.00 | |
| Resident 72-hour all-species | $30.00 | |
| Resident senior (65+) annual | $11.00 | |
| Resident under-17 annual | $2.00 |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual all-species | $76.00 | |
| Non-resident 24-hour all-species | $10.00 | |
| Non-resident 72-hour all-species | $30.00 |
Buy directly from Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelhead | Year-round on Great Lakes; Type-1 streams open last Sat April – Sep 30 | 3 / day (combined trout + salmon, Great Lakes); 1 / day on listed streams | 10 in minimum (most waters); 15 in on listed streams |
| Chinook (king) salmon | Year-round on Great Lakes; rivers open during fall run | 5 / day (combined Pacific salmon) | 10 in minimum |
| Walleye | Inland: last Sat April – Mar 15; Great Lakes: year-round | 5 / day (most waters) | 15 in minimum (most waters); 13 in on listed bays |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release: last Sat April – Sat before Memorial Day; harvest after | 5 / day (combined with largemouth) | 14 in minimum |
| Lake trout | Zone-based; many Lake Huron and Lake Michigan zones year-round | 2–3 / day (zone-dependent) | 15–24 in minimum (zone-dependent) |
Notable water-body special regulations
Flies-only artificial-only zone (M-37 to Gleason's Landing)
Flies-only, 15 in trout minimum, no-kill stretch
Manistee River below Tippy Dam
Fall salmon hot-spot, snagging prohibited, single-hook artificial only
Detroit River (border with ON)
Reciprocal licence required to cross; walleye special seasons
Official source
Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the authoritative source for Michigan fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.