Michigan Fishing Regulations: Bag Limits, Size Limits and Seasons

These are the statewide daily bag limits and length limits Michigan anglers work under, taken from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guide for April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Statewide means the default: most states, Michigan included, override these on specific lakes, rivers and coastal zones, so treat this page as the baseline and the official guide as the rule for the water you are standing on.

Michigan runs real seasons. Bass possession opens the Saturday before Memorial Day on most waters (third Saturday in June on Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers) and runs through December 31, with catch-and-release the rest of the year. Inland walleye and pike open the last Saturday in April in the Lower Peninsula and May 15 in the Upper Peninsula, closing March 15. Muskellunge opens the first Saturday in June. Panfish, perch and catfish are open all year. You will still need the Michigan fishing license, which runs $26 for residents and $76 for non-residents; the Michigan fishing license page covers short-term options, exemptions and where to buy.

AgencyMichigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Regulation yearApril 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
Free fishingTwo Free Fishing Weekends a year: the second full weekend of February and the second full weekend of June (February 14-15 and June 13-14 in 2026). No license needed, all other rules apply.
Official regulation guide License cost

Limits last verified 2026-09-16.

Michigan freshwater bag and length limits

Statewide freshwater limits. Water-specific exceptions in the official guide take precedence.
Species Daily bag Length
Largemouth and smallmouth bassPossession season only; catch-and-release is open all year unless the water is closed. 5 combined 14 in. minimum
WalleyeGreat Lakes waters of the Lower Peninsula are open all year. 5 15 in. minimum
Northern pikeSeveral waters use a 5-fish, no-size limit instead. 2 24 in. minimum
MuskellungeHarvest must be registered within 24 hours. 1 per year 42 in. minimum on most waters
Trout and salmonNo more than 3 over 15 in. on Type 1 streams. Check the trout and salmon tables. 5 combined on most waters Varies by water type (8 in. on many inland streams, 10 in. on the Great Lakes)
Yellow perch 25 inland, 50 on the Great Lakes None
Sunfish, bluegill and crappie 25 combined None
Channel catfish 10 12 in. minimum
Flathead catfish 5 15 in. minimum

How to read a bag limit

A daily bag limit is the number of that species one angler may keep in a day, and in most states also the number you may have in possession on the water. Where a row says "combined", the number is shared across every species named in it. A minimum length is measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched; a slot means fish inside the range must go back. When a lake has its own rule in the official guide, that rule replaces the statewide one for that water only.

Related: the Michigan fishing license page for the fee and where to buy, non-resident fishing license fees across states, and fishing regulations for every state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the bass limit in Michigan?

Statewide, Michigan allows 5 combined largemouth and smallmouth bass per day, with a length rule of 14 in. minimum. Possession season only; catch-and-release is open all year unless the water is closed. Individual lakes often carry a different slot or minimum, so check the water-specific exceptions in the official guide.

How many crappie can you keep in Michigan?

The statewide daily limit is 25 combined, size rule none.

What is the catfish limit in Michigan?

Channel catfish: 10 per day, 12 in. minimum.

What is the trout limit in Michigan?

Trout and salmon: 5 combined on most waters per day, varies by water type (8 in. on many inland streams, 10 in. on the great lakes). No more than 3 over 15 in. on Type 1 streams. Check the trout and salmon tables.

Is there a closed season for fishing in Michigan?

Michigan runs real seasons. Bass possession opens the Saturday before Memorial Day on most waters (third Saturday in June on Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers) and runs through December 31, with catch-and-release the rest of the year. Inland walleye and pike open the last Saturday in April in the Lower Peninsula and May 15 in the Upper Peninsula, closing March 15. Muskellunge opens the first Saturday in June. Panfish, perch and catfish are open all year.

When can you fish without a license in Michigan?

Two Free Fishing Weekends a year: the second full weekend of February and the second full weekend of June (February 14-15 and June 13-14 in 2026). No license needed, all other rules apply.

Do I need a license to fish in Michigan?

Yes for most adults. The annual Michigan fishing license costs $26 for residents and $76 for non-residents. Both figures carry a $1 surcharge already included. Senior annual is $11 (residents 65+/legally blind). 2026 licenses valid through March 31, 2027. See the Michigan fishing license page for short-term options and where to buy.

Where do these Michigan limits come from?

Every figure on this page was read from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulation guide for April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 and last checked on 2026-09-16. The guide, not this page, is the legal document. Use the official source link above before you keep a fish.