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MDNR Report
The Michigan DNR encourages everyone to take advantage of “Three Free” Weekend – Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14.
It's two full days when Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can grab a fishing rod, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks, boating access sites and other outdoor locations — all free of charge.
“If you need another reason to get outdoors and explore some of Michigan’s best recreation opportunities, ‘Three Free’ Weekend is it,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “There’s nothing better than spending time outdoors with friends and family in places you love, so we’re encouraging everyone to take advantage of these two days to fish, hit the ORV trails and visit our award-winning state parks.”
“Three Free” Weekend includes:
- Free Fishing Weekend. Fish for all in-season species, all weekend long, without a license. All other fishing regulations apply. Visit Michigan.gov/FreeFishing for more information.
- Free ORV Weekend. Legally ride 4,000 miles of state-designated routes and trails and the state's six scramble areas without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit. Many ORV trails remain closed following this spring's ice storm in northern Michigan. Visit Michigan.gov/ORVinfo for the latest ORV trail, safety and closure information.
- Waiver of the Recreation Passport. To encourage people to pursue free fishing and other outdoor fun, the DNR waives the regular Recreation Passport fee that grants vehicle access to Michigan's 103 state parks, 1,000-plus state-managed boating access sites and many other outdoor spaces. Learn more about Passport benefits at Michigan.gov/RecreationPassport.
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MDNR Report
As the seasonal peak of the world-class Detroit River walleye runs slow, Michigan DNR conservation officers share several cases of overlimit fishing to remind anglers of the legal possession limit.
Throughout April and May, DNR conservation officers conducted increased fish patrols on the river to ensure anglers stayed within the legal daily limit. The daily walleye limit for the Detroit River is six fish per angler.
“This time of year is always busy for us, as people come from all over to fish the Detroit River,” said DNR 1st Lt. Damon Owens. “We’re on the water doing this job because, unfortunately, some people abuse daily limits. If everyone takes what they want, it will deplete the resource.”
Patrol highlights
On May 15, COs observed two anglers return to shore in Wyandotte and clean 12 walleye. Later in the day, the same anglers returned from a second fishing trip with an additional eight walleye. After officers made contact, the anglers were found in possession of 20 walleye — eight over the legal daily limit.
One angler admitted they knew they could not legally take limits from both U.S. and Canadian waters, but stated they wanted to “load up” because they would not be returning soon. A citation was issued for possessing more than the daily limit of walleye.
The next day, COs observed four anglers fishing from a vessel with Indiana registration. The officers saw the group return to the marina in the afternoon with at least 15 walleye before heading back onto the water later in the day. When the anglers returned that evening, officers observed at least 14 additional walleye, putting the group’s total at 29 walleye – five over the legal limit for four anglers. When the officers made contact, the anglers admitted they possessed 14 walleye from the second trip and an additional 24 from the morning trip. A citation was issued to one person for taking an overlimit of walleye.
Earlier in the month, a group fishing north of Milliken State Park was found with more than double the daily walleye limit.
The DNR reminds anglers that daily possession limits are strictly enforced to help protect Michigan’s fisheries and ensure sustainable fishing opportunities for current and future generations.
Get more information at Michigan.gov/Fishing.
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MDNR Report
A 150-pound black bear that wandered into a Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and climbed a tree directly over a white-picket fence was captured and safely relocated to a northern Michigan swamp Tuesday.
The Michigan DNR partnered with Mt. Pleasant police, firefighters and city workers to isolate the male bear in the tree and then tranquilize and tag the animal before transporting it about 60 miles away to the Houghton Lake area.
With a crowd of residents watching from a safe distance, the tranquilized bear fell unharmed about 18 feet into a thick pole vault pad borrowed from Mt. Pleasant High School.
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MDNR Report
A group of anglers from northern Michigan was caught Friday with an overlimit of 34 walleye – more than double the daily legal limit, after fishing on the Detroit River.
“People visit Detroit from all over to take advantage of the abundant fishing offered by the Detroit River,” said Todd Szyska with the Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division, and the division’s acting captain for the south region of the Lower Peninsula. “Our walleye fishery is world-class in part because of the many respectful anglers who follow the daily limits.”
The five anglers were staying at a rental property in the city of Detroit for the duration of their fishing trip.
Conservation officers saw the group north of Milliken State Park Friday morning. When the anglers returned several hours later, the officers observed them taking additional fish and approached the group with a search warrant.
In total, the five anglers were over the daily limit by 34 walleye. The daily walleye limit for the Detroit River is six fish per angler.
The anglers kept their legal daily limit and received citations for the misdemeanor offense.
Michigan’s current fishing season started April 1 and runs through March 30, 2027. A license is required for anyone 17 and older fishing Michigan waters. Get more information at Michigan.gov/Fishing.
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MDNR Report
An angler from Lowell, Michigan, caught a new state-record fish: a gizzard shad that weighed 4.45 pounds and measured 20.3 inches long!
Sedrick Neinhuis was spincasting on the Grand River in Kent County on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 22, when he brought in the record-breaker.
This fish beats the previous state-record gizzard shad, which was 4.12 pounds and 21 inches, caught by baitcasting in 1996 on Lake St. Clair (St. Clair County). Gizzard shad are a fish native to Michigan and are named for their gizzard, a muscular organ filled with grit and stones that helps to break down food, more commonly associated with birds like chickens than with fish.
DNR fisheries biologist Matt Diana, who works out of Plainwell in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Southern Lake Michigan Fisheries Management Unit, verified Neinhuis’ new state-record fish.
“We kind of knew the fish was there,” said Neinhuis of that day on the water. “Our mission this year was to get one close to 5 pounds. There are a lot of big ones out there, but it’s one of those fish people don’t ever report. I’m hoping next year we can get one even bigger.”
About state-record fish
Michigan's state-record fish are recognized by weight only. To qualify, fish must exceed the current listed state-record weight and be weighed on a certified commercial scale, and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.
To view a current list of Michigan state-record fish by species, visit Michigan.gov/StateRecordFish.