2024 fishing season, license begins today

April 1, 2024

Michigan’s new fishing license and regulation season kicks off today, Monday, April 1. The 2024 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2025.

Fishing licenses can be purchased from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing the license through the app.

Michigan DNR Hunt Fish, an official app of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, gives a mobile path to buy and store hunting, fishing, ORV and snowmobile licenses and permits, report harvests, access guides and digests, and get the latest outdoor recreation updates.

2024 fishing seasons

  • The statewide trout opener and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons all open Saturday, April 27.
  • In Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike seasons open Monday, May 15.
  • Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 1. (Remember that catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year.)
  • The catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing – check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations for specifics).
  • The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 25, except for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers which open Saturday, June 15.

The 2024 Michigan Fishing Regulations and Inland Trout & Salmon Maps are available online along with a lot of other helpful fishing information. Visit the DNR website at Michigan.gov/Fishing for the most up-to-date information. For fishing license questions, contact DNR eLicense at MDNR-E-License@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.

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