There are a number of significant changes to Michigan fishing regulations that affect many anglers including a major new allowance to legal possession limits with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources adding two additional daily possession limits of fish. Also, effective May 1, walleye possession limits on Lake Erie increase to 6 fish. Please read below and check the 2011 MDNR fishing guide for full details.
There are a number of significant changes to Michigan fishing regulations that affect many anglers including a major new allowance to legal possession limits with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources adding two additional daily possession limits of fish. Please read below and check the 2011 MDNR fishing guide for full details.
Notes in blue text below are exceptions to the already printed 2011 MDNR fishing guide but should be included in the latest online fishing guide.
Statewide – All-Species Fishing License Requirement
An all-species license is required to take and possess trout, salmon, lake sturgeon, lake herring, amphibians, reptiles or crustaceans.
Statewide – Possession Limit
A person may possess two (2) additional daily possession limits of fish taken during previous fishing days (see p. 5).
Statewide – Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations
Gear restrictions have been added to an additional 81.5 miles of streams and changes have been made to regulations on some existing gear restricted streams. Minimum size limits for trout have been modified on stream Types 1 – 4 and the lake trout possession limit and season has been changed on Type F lakes (see p. 22 – 37). On page 25, there is a spawning closure on the Little Manistee River (Lake County) from Jan 1 – Mar 31.
Lake Erie – New Walleye Possession Limit Regulations – Toll Free Information Line 888-367-7060
The daily possession limit will remain at five (5) walleye through April 30, 2011. Starting in 2011, the daily possession limit for walleye will be set on May 1 each year. On page 7, Note 3 – for Lake Erie the daily possession limit for walleye has changed from 5 fish to 6 fish, effective May 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012. This is a result of the new regulations governing Lake Erie walleye harvest.
Lake Michigan – Lake Trout Regulations
Lake trout size limits have been modified in MM-1 – MM-5 and the possession seasons have been changed in MM-5 – MM-8 (see p. 10 – 11). On page 11, Attention Lake Huron Anglers: New regulations set for lake trout and splake in lake trout management unit MH-1, effective May 1, 2011. The minimum size limit for lake trout and splake shall be 10 inches and the maximum size limit shall be 24 inches, except that the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) lake trout or splake 32 inches or greater. MH-1 Map.
Lake Superior – Lake Trout and Splake Regulations
The daily possession limit has been changed to restrict harvest of large lake trout to one (1) lake trout 34 inches or greater and the splake minimum size limit has been increased to 15 inches (see p. 10 – 11).
Black Lake – Lake Sturgeon Harvest Quota
On or before January 15, 2012, a notice of the harvest quota for Black Lake will be posted on the Department’s website (www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing), noted in a statewide news release, and noted in printed material that will be made available to the public via various outlets. Anglers should contact the Gaylord Operations Service Center at 989-732-3541 for more information.
Download a PDF copy of the latest 2011 MDNR Fishing Guide. Get the latest Michigan DNR fishing information at www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing.