2026 regulation year
Michigan Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Sander vitreus
Last updated
Michigan walleye splits between inland (closed mid-March to last Saturday in April) and Great Lakes (year-round). Saginaw Bay, Lake Erie, and the Detroit River are the marquee walleye fisheries — among the best in the country during the spring run.
Season
Inland: last Sat April – Mar 15. Great Lakes: year-round.
– Inland waters
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (most waters)
- Possession
- Same as daily bag
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in minimum (most waters); 13 in on listed bays
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line on most waters
- Spearing legal in some inland and Great Lakes zones during open season
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Michigan waters:
Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron)
13 in minimum; 5 / day; one of the great walleye fisheries in North America
Detroit River
Border water with ON; reciprocal rules; spring run hot-spot
Lake Erie (MI waters)
Year-round; 5 / day; 15 in minimum statewide
Muskegon Lake
Inland regs: closed mid-March to opener; 15 in / 5 fish
Official source
Michigan Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Michiganfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.