2026 regulation year
Inland lakes 2026 — Michigan Fishing Regulations
Michigan statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Inland lakes carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Michigan's 2026 fishing rules — covering Muskellunge, Yellow perch. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Per-species rules on Inland lakes
Statewide 42 in minimum, 1 per license year; year-round catch-and-release
Statewide 25 / day, no minimum size, year-round
Official source
Michigan Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Michigan fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Michigan fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Michigan Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Michigan trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Michigan
- Au Sable River — Mason Tract
- Au Sable River mainstream (Oscoda County)
- Au Sable River, North Branch (Crawford County)
- Au Sable River, South Branch (Crawford County)
- Betsie River
- Big Manistee
- Black Lake (Cheboygan County)
- Black River (Otsego / Montmorency Counties)
- Boardman River
- Cooks Run (Iron County)
- Detroit River (border with ON)
- Duck Creek (Gogebic County)
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Inland lakes?
- Inland lakes carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Michigan's statewide 2026 rules, covering Muskellunge and Yellow perch. One of them reads: "Statewide 42 in minimum, 1 per license year; year-round catch-and-release." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Inland lakes?
- Yes. Inland lakes is in Michigan, so a valid Michigan fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Inland lakes; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Michigan rules.
- Do Inland lakes' special rules replace Michigan's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Michigan's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Inland lakes by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Inland lakes?
- Muskellunge and Yellow perch have a water-body-specific rule on Inland lakes, each linking to its full Michigan regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Michigan limits.