Dust off the coolers, start planning with your buddies and get ready to go fishing! Its time to get your gear back out and get ready to put that new fishing license to good use: trout and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 26!
It’s important for anglers to remember that, in Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike possession seasons open Thursday, May 15. Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 7 (catch-and-immediate-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year). And who could forget the catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters, unless otherwise closed to fishing. You can check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations summary for specifics and to stay up to date. The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 24 — except for on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 21.
and as an extra reminder – new license season began April 1, so anglers should make sure they purchase a new fishing license for this fishing season. The 2025 annual fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2026. If you need any assistance with your fishing license, contact DNR licensing staff at MDNR-E-License@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
