Spring fishing is finally here. Wednesday, April 1, is the official kickoff to the new fishing license year in Michigan. Grab your gear and invite someone new to join you and share the fishing experience!
Before you hit the water, make sure to thoroughly review the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations to learn any new regulations that apply to your favorite fishing spots. Major regulation changes approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission for the 2026 season, in effect until March 31, 2027, are highlighted below.
Lake Superior lake trout and splake possession limit change
Stannard Rock and Big Reef are now under new daily possession limits of one lake trout or splake (combined) in the areas defined on pages 9 and 20-21 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Upper Peninsula walleye protected slot limit lakes
Lake Independence and Teal Lake (Marquette County) are under new walleye regulations: the minimum size limit is 15 inches, and all walleye 18-23 inches, now protected from harvest, must be released. The daily possession limit is five walleye, with no more than one greater than 23 inches allowed per day. More information can be found on page 13 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
New burbot daily possession limit
A possession limit of five per day has been placed on burbot. Find more information on page 12 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Bead fishing for trout and salmon
Use of a bead fished on the hook or pegged or attached to the line no further than 4 inches above the eye of a single-pointed hook has been defined as an artificial lure for clarification purposes. For more information, see page 8 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Underwater spearfishing waters expansion
Additional Great Lakes waters are now open to this activity, with some exclusions. Monthly reporting is no longer required; however, anglers must still obtain a free license. See pages 16-17 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations for more specific information. (Please note that the print version of the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations incorrectly listed the Lake Michigan southern boundary text as "waters north of the MI/WI border" (page 16); this should be "waters north of the MI/IN border" and has been corrected in the digital version of the regulations).
Menominee River lake sturgeon fishing season
A new catch-and-immediate-release fishing opportunity for lake sturgeon has been added to the Menominee River (from Grand Rapids Dam to the Sturgeon Falls Dam) from the first Saturday in June through the first Sunday in March. For more information, check pages 15 and 25 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Several other waters have undergone minor regulation changes, so be sure to review the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations for waters and species relevant to you.
Don't have your 2026 fishing license yet? Buy your fishing license online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, where you can purchase licenses, report harvests, access regulations and get the latest hunting and fishing updates.