The Department of Natural Resources annually adjusts fishing regulations to ensure Michigan’s fisheries resources are managed properly and provide the best benefits to anglers and the public.
For the coming 2016-2017 angling year, which starts Friday, April 1, the DNR would like anglers to be aware of the following new or changed fishing regulations:
Lake Michigan – Lake trout and splake are now covered by the same regulations in MM 1-8.
Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters – The Menominee River lake sturgeon protection zone was expanded and now encompasses the Grand Rapids Dam downstream to the end of the breakwalls in Green Bay.
Anglers fishing for trout on inland waters should double-check the regulations for where they plan to fish as regulations for several waters were changed.
Regulation changes effective last fall (November 2015) are highlighted in red text in the 2016-2017 Michigan Fishing Guide.
Anglers should note that this year’s fishing guide covers a two-year cycle, 2016 and 2017. A new guide will not be produced in 2017. The guide is available at all major retailers and online at michigan.gov/fishingguide.
