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MDNR Report
Trout and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 26.
Make plans with your fishing buddies or bring someone new this year to share in the fun!
Anglers should note that in Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike possession seasons open Thursday, 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 7 (catch-and-immediate-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year).
And don’t forget 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 summary for specifics.
The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 24 — except for on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 21.
Storm damage
Anglers should be aware of potential road and waterway obstructions, including downed trees and branches, due to recent ice storm damage in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties. Find up-to-date information about closures and conditions on the DNR storm recovery page.
Protect our waters
Michigan’s trout streams are under increasing threat from harmful species that affect habitat and food sources for trout and other fish. Both didymo (rock snot) and New Zealand mudsnail can be moved to new locations on waders, nets and gear. To protect Michigan waters, be prepared and take the time to decontaminate before moving to a new river or stream.
Learn about more actions anglers and boaters can take to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Fishing licenses
The new license season began April 1, so anglers should make sure they purchase a new fishing license for this fishing season. The 2025 annual fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2026. If you need any assistance with your fishing license, contact DNR licensing staff at MDNR-E-License@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-6057.
The 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations and Inland Trout and Salmon Maps are available online at Michigan.gov/Fishing, along with other helpful fishing information. Buy your license online or download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app to purchase your licenses, report harvests, access regulations, and get the latest hunting and fishing updates.
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MDNR Report
As bears continue expanding their ranges in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula, more residents and business owners may spot a hungry bear roaming through their property this spring.
Here are two important points to remember:
- Bird feed, including suet, is like fast food to a bear, which can smell the feed from a mile away and remember where it is year after year.
- A bear will likely keep on moving if there’s nothing tasty to eat, whether that’s bird seed, unsecured garbage or a food-splattered grill.
Living with bears has long been part of the fabric of the Upper Peninsula, which is home to about 10,000 bears. But bears have become a greater presence in the Lower Peninsula over the past two decades as they expand their footprint farther west and south, including into the Traverse City, Grand Rapids and Midland regions. About 2,000 bears now live in the Lower Peninsula.
The Michigan DNR manages Michigan’s wildlife, including its only bear species, the American black bear. The DNR regulates bear hunting season in the fall to help keep the bear population sustainable. Jared Duquette, a DNR wildlife biologist who specializes in human-wildlife interactions, noted that black bears are an important part of the state’s ecosystem.
“Bears eat a variety of fruits, berries and nuts, making them terrific seed dispersers,” Duquette said. “Their droppings help spread seeds across large areas, promoting plant growth and forest regeneration. As opportunistic omnivores, bears help control populations of small mammals and insects. They also scavenge on carrion, which helps recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.”
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MDNR Report
Heading out to fish? New sportfishing regulations for Michigan’s 2025 fishing season began Tuesday, April 1, and are in effect through March 31, 2026. Changes this season include modifications to steelhead and muskie size limits and gear restrictions on some waters. Highlights include:
Inland stream rainbow trout (steelhead) possession limit
Steelhead regulations on several Type 3 and Type 4 streams have been slightly modified from last year. Some streams no longer have a 20-inch minimum size limit on steelhead (the daily possession limit of which is one). See Pages 42-65 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations for more specific information.
New single-pointed hook restriction and spearing prohibition waters
The ports of Grand Haven, Muskegon and Whitehall/Montague have new single-pointed hook regulations Nov. 1-30, and spearing or possessing spearing gear is now prohibited in these waters Nov. 1-30. For more information, see Pages 16-17 and 30-31 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Muskellunge size limit regulation
In Thornapple Lake (Barry and Eaton counties) and Lake Hudson (Lenawee County), new 50-inch minimum size limit regulations for muskellunge are in effect. These lakes are important sources of Great Lakes-strain muskellunge, from which the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is developing a population of mature adults for future stocking needs. Find more information on Page 13 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Several other inland waters have undergone minor regulation changes focused on northern pike, bass and trout. Before you hit the water, make sure to review the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations thoroughly to learn any new laws that apply to your favorite fishing spots.
Don’t have your 2025 fishing license yet? Buy your fishing license online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and visit Michigan.gov/Fishing for helpful resources including fishing location maps, fish ID information, the weekly fishing report and more.
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MDNR Report
If you’re already dreaming of sun-soaked days on the water, take advantage of the DNR’s improved tool for navigating to your best boating destinations this summer.
The new Michigan Boating Facility Finder, or MiBFF, makes finding boating access sites a breeze. Use the interactive map to explore launch points, check watercraft rules and stay informed about closures.
You can find it at Michigan.gov/MiBFF.
“MiBFF provides updated facility information through a much-improved, user-friendly mapping system that cuts out the delays that the prior system had,” said Jordan Byelich, waterways development program manager for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.
Here’s what you can expect when using MiBFF:
- More clearly identified launch-type information through map location points and a legend.
- Photos that clarify launch area information – especially helpful for first-time users of a boating access site!
- New search criteria to filter by launch type, body of water and presence of a boating pier and/or restrooms.
- Ability to print customized maps.
- Information about DNR-managed boating access site facilities as well as state-sponsored sites under local units of government.
Surrounded by one-fifth of the planet’s fresh surface water, it’s no surprise Michigan is home to great boating and fantastic freshwater recreation opportunities. With more than a thousand public boating access sites and 82 public harbors across the state, you'll find easy access to 3,300 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams. Fun fact: Our state ranks second in the nation (behind Florida) for total watercraft registrations.
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MDNR Report
Michigan Conservation Officers had a good week last week, helping two campers from falling temperatures and a man with heart trouble who capsized his boat.
Here are the details:
Camper rescue in Dead Stream Swamp
Two campers contacted the DNR Report All Poaching Hotline requesting rescue assistance after becoming stranded Friday in Dead Stream Swamp, a wetland consisting of more than 11,000 acres located between Cadillac and Houghton Lake in Missaukee and Roscommon counties.
The campers, whose names are not being released, were dropped off at the Dead Stream Swamp by a friend on Friday with the intent to camp for four days.
Rain developed during the evening hours and later turned to snow, soaking the campers and their gear. The temperature dropped to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, which froze one of the men's inhalers and caused him to have difficulty breathing.
The campers contacted the RAP Hotline around 5 a.m. Saturday, saying they could not self-rescue.
Dispatchers contacted local conservation officers, Sgt. Brian Olsen and CO Ben McAteer, who immediately responded to the caller’s last known cellphone location – about 1 mile west of the intersection of Higgins Lake Road and Pine Road in Lyon Township.
It took officers about an hour to hike the 1 mile into the swamp, where they found the campers soaking wet in a makeshift shelter. The officers made a fire to help warm the campers and thaw their frozen boots. CO Matt Zultak also arrived on scene to assist.
Once the campers were able to put on their boots and pack their gear, it took the group another hour to make it out of the swamp. They were met along the way by CO James Garrett, who helped navigate to a location where EMS was waiting.
The group met EMS on Higgins Lake Road, south of Pine Road. EMS evaluated and released both campers at the scene.
Man and his dogs saved from AuSable
A 59-year-old man from Caro is expected to be released from the hospital after his boat capsized along the AuSable River in Alcona County.
Accompanied by his two dogs, the man, whose name is not being released, was fishing on a 10-foot boat when he fell into the river while trying to disembark. The water was only 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and air temperature was freezing at 32 degrees.
Using his watch, the man texted 911 that he’d fallen into the river and was having difficulty breathing. The DNR later learned that the man had open-heart surgery two years ago and had recently been feeling ill.
Alcona County Central Dispatch notified local emergency responders of the situation around 2:16 p.m.
DNR Conservation Officers Jeff Panich and Casey Pullum heard the radio communication. Based on the last known GPS coordinates from the man's watch, they responded to the intersection of Snowmobile Trail LP96 and the Shore to Shore Horse Trail at 3:12 p.m.
Panich and Pullum began walking the horse trail along the river and quickly located footprints in the snow. A short distance ahead, they saw a dog on the trail. Beyond the dog, they located the missing man, who was standing with blood covering his legs and feet. He was missing some clothes.
Panich immediately notified dispatch of the man’s location and requested assistance. After Panich approached the man, he said, “Help me,” and collapsed onto the conservation officer.
While the COs were waiting for medical assistance to arrive, the man became unresponsive. Panich and Pullum quickly pulled him out of the woods to a nearby river access parking lot, 4001 Bridge Landing, located off Federal Route 4001.
EMS and deputies quickly arrived and helped load the man into the ambulance, which transferred him to MyMichigan Medical Center Tawas.
Both dogs were secured and will be returned to the man when he is released from the hospital. The boat has not been recovered.
Alcona County Sheriff’s Department, Alcona County EMS and Curran Fire Department also assisted.