April 7, 2025

With nearly 11,000 inland lakes and 76,000 miles of rivers and streams, Michigan has a wealth of inland fishing opportunities, and inland fishing guides help anglers enjoy those abundant resources. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers and guides that since March 1, 2024, inland fishing guides operating in the state are required to have an inland sport fishing guide license to take clients on guided trips on inland lakes, rivers or streams.

Great Lakes connecting waters refer to specific bodies of water in Michigan that connect the Great Lakes to each other: the St. Marys River, the St. Clair River (beginning at the Fort Gratiot Light), Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River (beginning at the imaginary line extending due south of the Windmill Point Light, Wayne County, and ending at the imaginary east/west line drawn through the most southernly point of Celeron Island).

Those interested should complete the following steps to apply for an inland sport fishing guide license:

1. Review the requirements and complete the questionnaire. The DNR will review responses to verify license requirements are met. Applicants will be notified via email within five business days with further instructions.
2. Upon receiving notification of DNR approval, buy the license online or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app. Read more

Jon boat before seat installation

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

After years of fishing with only the integral bench seats (above), I’ve opted for a padded seat with a backrest.  For mounting, I chose the adjustable clamp-type mount.  The idea is to install the seat before I get to a given lake either at home or at the lake.  The clamp mount is screwed to the underside of the seat and is installed as one unit to the boat.

Seat Clamp 

The mount rotates 360 degrees, and I lubed it as a precautionary procedure before use.  Also, I found that the adjustable rods are much too long for my narrow seat and therefore cut off sizeable lengths (and, filed the ends) so that they didn’t protrude unnecessarily.  I also fashioned a 12-inch length of 1-inch PVC as a tool to tighten the wing nuts.  I cut a notch across one end to connect to the wing nuts to tighten it to the seat.  This is important:  It’s almost impossible to get at the wing nuts when the clamp is on the bench seat.  There are also two brackets that retain the clamping framework to the seat front to prevent the seat from coming loose.  Too bad there is only one set provided.  With a bit of creativity, a person could fashion a couple more sets and install them to the other seats.  This way, the seat can be relocated.

This is the seat added to the Jon Boat.  Although it folds down, it will be removed before I store the boat, which is always upside down.

New regulations take effect April 1, 2025

Heading out to fish? New sportfishing regulations for Michigan’s 2025 fishing season begin Tuesday, April 1, and are in effect through March 31, 2026. Changes this season include modifications to steelhead and muskie size limits and gear restrictions on some waters. Highlights include:

Inland stream rainbow trout (steelhead) possession limit

Steelhead regulations on several Type 3 and Type 4 streams have been slightly modified from last year. Some streams no longer have a 20-inch minimum size limit on steelhead (the daily possession limit of which is one). See Pages 42-65 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations for more specific information. Read more

Approximately 4,250 adult trout were stocked recently by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in the Huron River (Proud Lake Recreation Area, Oakland County) and Spring Mill Pond (Island Lake Recreation Area, Livingston County) in southeast Michigan. These fish are retired broodstock from Michigan’s state fish hatcheries.

• The Huron River, downstream of the Proud Lake Dam, was stocked with approximately 1,950 brown trout and 1,350 rainbow trout, all ranging in size from 13 inches to 19 inches.
• Spring Mill Pond was stocked with approximately 450 brown trout and 500 rainbow trout, also ranging from 13 inches to 19 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 March 31. April 1-25, anglers are limited to flies only, catch-and-release fishing, with the exception that children under 12 may keep one trout sized between 8 inches and 12 inches.
  • Spring Mill Pond at Island Lake Recreation Area is closed to fishing March 15-31. Anglers are limited to artificial lures only, catch-and-release fishing April 1-25.
  • On both bodies of water, beginning April 26, all baits are allowed, and anglers may keep up to five trout over 8 inches, but only three over 15 inches.

Read more

Lake Erie anglers can expect the 2025 fishing season to offer continued world-class catches, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. As walleye from Lake Erie’s recent large hatches continue to grow, anglers can expect a breadth of sizes and increased trophy potential in the Walleye Capital of the World. Additionally, a stable yellow perch population in Lake Erie’s west zone will provide good fishing in 2025, while lower catch rates are expected to continue in the central and east zones.

Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system. Each jurisdiction regulates its catches with annually determined harvest levels that ensure sustainability. The most recent quotas were announced by the Lake Erie Committee on Thursday, March 20. While most daily harvest limits remain unchanged in 2025, the yellow perch daily limit in Ohio’s east zone, from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut, will decrease from 30 fish to 20 fish beginning on May 1, 2025. Fishing limits are enforced by the Division of Wildlife to prevent overfishing and protect the fishery for sustainable use, ensuring future generations may enjoy Ohio’s outdoors.

Walleye

Lake Erie, The Walleye Capital of the World, continues to offer exceptional fishing. Read more

Fishing the Muskegon River this spring? Be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam. Egg collections with electrofishing boats will start as early as the week of March 24 and conclude by April 12.

Four days of egg collections are planned this spring. The date those collections will begin depends on water temperatures and the presence of ripe fish (fish that are ready to spawn), and the schedule may change based on conditions.

The egg-take zone runs from Croton Dam downstream to the Pine Street Access Site, so anglers who wish to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream from the Pine Street Access Site. Anyone fishing near the egg-collection zone should use caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. For safety, anyone wading will be asked to exit the water when electrofishing boats approach.

Electrofishing usually begins at Croton Dam each day at 8 a.m. and proceeds downstream to the Pine Street Access Site. If more eggs are needed, additional collections may occur downstream to the Thornapple Avenue (High Rollway) Access Site. Read more

Over the past week, the Trump Administration has taken several actions related to trade that will impact the sportfishing industry. These include new tariffs on critical components used in the manufacturing of sportfishing tackle and accessories.

Citing failures to adequately address fentanyl shipments, President Donald Trump announced that the February 1 previously announced, and subsequently delayed, 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will come into effect on March 4, 2025. He also stated that the 10% additional tariff on Chinese imports that went into effect on February 4 would be increased to 20% on March 4, 2025. Read more