Anyone fishing the Huron River at Proud Lake Recreation Area or Spring Mill Pond at Island Lake Recreation Area may soon benefit from late-March trout-stocking efforts at these southeast Michigan destinations.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources crews stocked approximately 3,000 adult trout – fish that were retired broodstock from the state’s fish hatcheries.
The Huron River, downstream of the Proud Lake Dam, in Oakland County, received approximately 1,200 brown trout and 1,200 rainbow trout, all ranging in sizes from 14 inches to 19 inches.
Spring Mill Pond, in Livingston County, received approximately 220 brown trout and 400 rainbow trout, also ranging in size from 14 inches to 19 inches.
The DNR also stocked a total of 1,550 yearling rainbow trout at the sites: 900 in the Huron River and 650 in Spring Mill Pond. Anglers should be aware that some portion of these yearlings will be smaller at first than the minimum size limit of 8 inches.
Special regulations apply for anglers interested in targeting these trout:
The Huron River at Proud Lake Recreation Area is closed to fishing Oct. 1 through . through , anglers are limited to flies only, catch-and-release fishing. The exception is that children under 12 during this time period may keep one trout that meets the 8-inch minimum size limit and is under 12 inches.
Spring Mill Pond at Island Lake Recreation Area is closed to fishing through . through , anglers are limited to artificial lures only, catch-and-release fishing.
On both bodies of water, beginning , 2023, all baits are allowed, and anglers may keep up to five trout over 8 inches, but only three over 15 inches.
