Fishing in Michigan
Your complete guide to 120+ fishing spots across Michigan: lakes, rivers, reservoirs and more.
Interactive Map
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Top Venues
Top Fishing Spots in Michigan
The best-rated fishing venues across Michigan.
- 1
Lake St. Clair
World-class smallmouth bass fishery with fish averaging 4-5 lb and strong musky population
- 2
Pere Marquette River
Blue-ribbon steelhead and salmon river with legendary fly fishing opportunities
- 3
Saginaw Bay
Michigan's top walleye destination with incredible spring and fall runs
- 4
Grand Traverse Bay
Crystal-clear waters with outstanding smallmouth bass, lake trout, and whitefish
- 5
Au Sable River
Historic trout stream and birthplace of Trout Unlimited, famous for brown trout and grayling
- 6
Mullett Lake
Inland lake known for trophy walleye, northern pike, and excellent perch fishing
- 7
Manistee River
Premier steelhead and salmon river with both wadeable and drift boat sections
- 8
Houghton Lake
Michigan's largest inland lake with outstanding walleye, pike, and bluegill fishing
- 9
Lake Michigan
Offshore trolling for chinook salmon, lake trout, and steelhead from ports statewide
- 10
Detroit River
World-class walleye fishery connecting Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie
Species Guide
Species You Can Catch in Michigan
Learn about the fish you’ll find across Michigan.
Getting Started
Fishing License & Tips for Michigan
License Information
A Michigan all-species fishing license is required for residents and non-residents 17 and older. Resident annual licenses cost about $26, while non-resident annual licenses are approximately $76. Additional stamps may be required for certain species. Licenses are issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and can be purchased online or at licensed retailers.
Read the full fishing license guideQuick Tips
- Target walleye on Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie in spring using jigging spoons tipped with minnows along reef structures and drop-offs.
- Michigan's steelhead runs peak in March-April on rivers like the Pere Marquette, Manistee, and Muskegon. Drift spawn bags or swing flies for chrome-bright fish.
- For summer smallmouth bass, fish the rocky shorelines of Grand Traverse Bay, Burt Lake, or the Les Cheneaux Islands with tube jigs and drop shots.
- Use the GilledIt app to track your Michigan catches by species and location, helping you identify seasonal patterns across different Great Lakes tributaries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fishing in Michigan
Michigan offers an all-species fishing license for $26 (residents) or $76 (non-residents) per year. This covers all freshwater species. A 24-hour license is available for non-residents at about $10. Youth under 17 can fish free with a licensed adult. Purchase your license through the Michigan DNR website or at authorized retailers.
Walleye fishing peaks during spring (April-May) when fish move into shallow reefs and river mouths to spawn. Saginaw Bay, the Detroit River, and Lake Erie are top spring destinations. Fall also offers excellent walleye fishing as fish feed aggressively before winter. Ice fishing for walleye is popular from December through March on inland lakes.
Michigan has outstanding steelhead runs on both the east and west sides of the state. The Pere Marquette, Manistee, Muskegon, and St. Joseph Rivers on the Lake Michigan side are top choices. The Au Sable and Huron Rivers serve the Lake Huron side. Spring runs peak March-April, and fall runs start in October. Log your steelhead catches on GilledIt to track run timing year over year.
Absolutely. Ice fishing is a beloved Michigan tradition. Popular targets include walleye, perch, bluegill, pike, and crappie. Houghton Lake, Saginaw Bay, and Lake Gogebic are top ice fishing destinations. Ice is typically safe from late December through early March, but always check current conditions. Many anglers use tip-ups and jigging rods in heated shanties.
Yes, Michigan has excellent Great Lakes shore fishing opportunities. Piers and breakwalls at ports like Ludington, Manistee, and St. Joseph offer access to salmon, steelhead, and perch. River mouths are prime spots during spring and fall runs. The state maintains numerous public access sites along the Great Lakes shoreline.
Lake St. Clair is widely considered the best smallmouth bass fishery in the world, with fish averaging 4-5 lb. Grand Traverse Bay, Burt Lake, and the Les Cheneaux Islands in the Upper Peninsula also offer exceptional smallmouth fishing. Summer months from June through September are peak season. The GilledIt app can help you find specific access points.
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