On Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, everyone in Michigan – including residents and nonresidents – can fish without a license, but all other fishing regulations still apply.These two days make up the Summer Free Fishing Weekend – an annual effort (it’s the 31st year this has been celebrated) to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will head out to fish for free on their own, there are numerous organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. Read more

Juvenile Asian carp next to common baitfishThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to monitor their live bait purchases this holiday weekend – and during the entirety of the fishing season – to look for juvenile invasive (Asian) carp.

The DNR is doing many things to prevent adult invasive carp (bighead and silver) from entering the Great Lakes, but many people don’t realize juvenile invasive carp pose a threat to the state’s waters as well. Juvenile invasive carp can be confused with common baitfish, such as gizzard shad, emerald shiner, spottail shiner or golden shiner. Because bait often is transported across state lines, including from areas with breeding populations of invasive carp, it is possible for juvenile invasive carp to make their way into the bait supply. Read more

Nearly six months after he disappeared while fishing, the body of a Saginaw County man was pulled from the choppy waters of Lake George Thursday afternoon, east of Sault Ste. Marie.The body of William Kenyon Wenzel, 52, of Merrill was positively identified Thursday by a family member.

Wenzel had been reported missing Nov. 27 after he had gone fishing alone in a boat on Lake George. ChippewaMap of the Sault Ste. Marie area with Lake George. County Sheriff’s deputies said there were high winds and waves that day and it was suspected Wenzel had fallen overboard. Read more

As this year’s open-water fishing season gets under way, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that Fisheries Division personnel are out at lakes, rivers and Great Lakes ports collecting fishing data from anglers.DNR creel clerks will be stationed at boat launches and piers around the state asking anglers questions as they return from fishing trips. Information will be requested on trip length, target species and number and type of fish caught. In some cases, creel clerks may ask to measure or weigh fish and to take scales or other body parts for aging. These data are key information in helping the DNR manage the state’s fisheries. Read more

What angler wouldn’t like inside information on potentially new “hot spots” for Michigan trout fishing? A second round of quality trout streams and lakes accessible to anglers has been added to the Department of Natural Resources’ online Trout Trails application to help with that. Trout Trails is a comprehensive map featuring fisheries biologist-verified trout waters that are often lesser known, but considered outstanding destination points.This is the second phase of Trout Trails locations revealed, with more than 60 additional sites added to the application. That brings the total locations highlighted close to 200. These newly added sites are spread out over the western and central Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula and southwestern and southeastern Lower Peninsula. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently jaw tagged 3,000 walleyes in a number of Saginaw Bay tributary rivers. Anglers are asked to collect information on tagged fish they catch and to report it to the DNR.The DNR has tagged more than 100,000 walleyes in the Saginaw Bay area since 1981. Jaw tagging is part of a long-term research project to monitor survival and harvest rates and to learn about walleye movement. The program depends on anglers to report when and where they catch a tagged walleye, as well as the fish’s length, weight (if known) and tag identification number. Once reported, anglers will receive a letter back detailing the history of their fish.

About 10 percent of the tags include a $100 reward for reporting the tag. Each tag is stamped with a unique identifying number and a P.O. box address. If anglers prefer, they can report their tagged walleyes online at michigandnr.com/taggedfish/. Anglers can keep the fish, of course, or release it if they prefer. Anglers are reminded that in order to be eligible for a reward, photos are required of the flattened tag. If the fish is released and an angler is not interested in being eligible to receive a reward, the tag should not be removed from the fish’s jaw. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources would like to remind anglers to dust off their fishing gear and get ready for the opening of two fishing seasons Saturday, April 30. The statewide trout season and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons all open that day.In Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons open Sunday, May 15.

Don’t 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 – check the Michigan Fishing Guide for specifics). The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 28, except for Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 18.

Fishing is a major economic driver in many parts of the state. In Michigan, anglers typically spend 28 million days on the water and generate $4.4 billion in economic activity, which produces $623 million in local, state and federal tax revenue. On top of that, sportfishing in Michigan is estimated to support nearly 38,000 jobs. Read more