{"id":39465,"date":"2022-09-23T17:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?p=39465"},"modified":"2026-02-03T18:13:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T18:13:11","slug":"michigan-fishing-seasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/michigan-fishing-seasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishing Seasons in Michigan: The Complete Guide for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 11<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p>Bordering on four of the five Great Lakes, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/state\/us\/MI?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\">Michigan<\/a> is the place where some of the best freshwater fisheries in the world intertwine. The state&#8217;s waters offer endless opportunities for adventure, whether you&#8217;re looking to put some dinner on the table or catch your next angling trophy. Of course, you&#8217;ll first have to get acquainted with Michigan fishing seasons, because what you end up catching will depend on when you go.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Michigan-Main.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial photo of the marina in Traverse City, Michigan featuring green fields, roads, jetties, boardwalk, and slots dotted with charter boats on a bright and sunny day\" class=\"wp-image-39538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Michigan-Main.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Michigan-Main-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Michigan-Main-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Like the rest of the upper Midwest, Michigan gets cold during wintertime. However, the fishing doesn&#8217;t stop even when its waters are all but frozen. In fact, one of Michigan&#8217;s nicknames is &#8220;Winter Wonderland&#8221; and you better believe it applies to fishing as well.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To find out exactly how the fishing changes and how the seasons turn, stick with us. We&#8217;ll provide a month-by-month overview of the fishing seasons in Michigan, so you know what to expect no matter when you decide to go.<\/p><h2 id=\"what-is-the-best-season-to-go-fishing-in-michigan\">What is the best season to go fishing in Michigan?<\/h2><table class=\"table table-bordered table-hover\">\n   <thead>\n      <tr>\n         <th>Species<\/th>\n         <th>Jan<\/th>\n         <th>Feb<\/th>\n         <th>Mar<\/th>\n         <th>Apr<\/th>\n         <th>May<\/th>\n         <th>Jun<\/th>\n         <th>Jul<\/th>\n         <th>Aug<\/th>\n         <th>Sep<\/th>\n         <th>Oct<\/th>\n         <th>Nov<\/th>\n         <th>Dec<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/thead>\n   <tbody>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Chinook Salmon<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Coho Salmon<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Atlantic Salmon<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Steelhead\/Rainbow Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Lake Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Brown Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n\t  <tr>\n         <td><strong>Walleye<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Perch<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Muskellunge<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n <td><strong>Northern Pike<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      \n   <\/tbody>\n<\/table><p>For those looking to experience the <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/great-lakes?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\">Great Lakes<\/a>, and catch their fill of all the amazing fish that inhabit these waters, <strong>summer is the best time to go fishing in Michigan<\/strong>. Whether it&#8217;s <strong>Walleye<\/strong>, <strong>Chinook<\/strong>, <strong>Coho<\/strong> <strong>Salmon<\/strong>, or most of the other species you&#8217;ll find out here, they&#8217;ll all be biting between <strong>June<\/strong> and <strong>September<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Summertime is also the peak season on many other lakes you&#8217;ll find in Michigan. For example, <strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong> features fantastic <strong>Muskie<\/strong> action when the waters are warm. Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/MI\/manistee?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Manistee<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>Maple<\/strong> rivers can put you on some of the best <strong>Trout<\/strong> fishing around. Whichever way you go during the summer, you&#8217;ll be in for a productive time on the water.<\/p><p>With this in mind, you can fish Michigan&#8217;s waters no matter when you visit. It&#8217;s just that <strong>the period between December and March is usually reserved for ice fishing<\/strong>. If you&#8217;re interested in knowing more about what each month has on offer, take a look at our breakdown below. Or, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/reports\/destination\/us\/mi\/?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\">check out what&#8217;s biting in Michigan right now<\/a>.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#january\">January<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#february\">February<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#march\">March<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#april\">April<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#may\">May<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#june\">June<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#july\">July<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#august\">August<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#september\">September<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#october\">October<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#november\">November<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#december\">December<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><div class='featured-charters-container' data-trigger='featured-charters' data-destination-id='638' data-destination-title='Michigan' data-perpage='4' data-currency='USD'data-filter-field=''data-filter-value=''data-headline='Top Fishing Charters in Michigan'data-add-type='m'><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"january\">January<\/h2><p>It&#8217;s deep winter in the Mitten State, with many of its waters completely frozen over. For anglers brave enough to tackle the frigid weather, this means only one thing &ndash; ice fishing. In Michigan, this type of fishing is a time-honored tradition and a popular pastime both for visitors and locals.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Pike-Ice-Fishing.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of an angler standing on a lake surrounded by white snow and ice posing with a big Northern Pike caught during the ice fishing season in Michigan\" class=\"wp-image-39540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Pike-Ice-Fishing.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Pike-Ice-Fishing-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Pike-Ice-Fishing-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>There are many different spots you can visit throughout the state. Among them, Lake Huron&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/saginaw-bay?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Saginaw Bay<\/strong><\/a> is a popular destination during Michigan&#8217;s ice fishing season. In winter, fishing here will net you one of the tastiest catches out there &ndash; <strong>Walleye<\/strong>. Other lakes, such as <strong>Hamlin<\/strong>, <strong>Cadillac<\/strong>, or <strong>Mitchell Lake<\/strong> are full of <strong>Crappie<\/strong>, <strong>Bluegill<\/strong>, as well as <strong>Northern Pike<\/strong>, and <strong>Walleye<\/strong>. Finally, <strong>Crystal Lake<\/strong> is a great choice if you want to reel in some <strong>Lake Trout<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Compared to summertime, ice fishing trips in Michigan do have their fair share of logistics attached to them. You&#8217;ll need shanties, augers, ice fishing gear, as well as transportation to the prospective lakes. While you can bring or rent the equipment, the best option is to pair up with one of the many <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/charters\/search\/us\/MI?search_location&amp;booking_date&amp;booking_days&amp;booking_persons=2&amp;booking_children=0&amp;orderby=recommended&amp;offset=0&amp;limit=15&amp;fishingTechniqueFilter%5B0%5D=ice_fishing&amp;utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\">ice fishing guides in Michigan<\/a>. Besides knowing where the bite is, they&#8217;ll supply you with all the necessary equipment to make your trip comfortable.<\/p><h2 id=\"february\">February<\/h2><p>While many inland lakes are frozen at this time of year, large rivers such as <strong>Manistee<\/strong> or <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/muskegon-river?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Muskegon<\/strong><\/a> will still be flowing. In them, you&#8217;ll find plenty of <strong>Trout<\/strong>, as well as <strong>Steelhead<\/strong>, the supercharged migratory version of Rainbow Trout. Of course, you&#8217;ll have to make sure you&#8217;re equipped to handle the cold because the average temperatures range from about 20 to 30 F.&nbsp;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Ice-Fishing-in-a-Shanty.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of three anglers ice fishing inside a shanty all looking at the ice hole while two of them are holding fishing rods and waiting for fish to bite\" class=\"wp-image-39541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Ice-Fishing-in-a-Shanty.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Ice-Fishing-in-a-Shanty-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Ice-Fishing-in-a-Shanty-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>The ice fishing conditions are largely the same as in January. In <strong>Saginaw Bay<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll see some <strong>Perch<\/strong> and <strong>Walleye<\/strong> take your bait. <strong>Lake Gogebic<\/strong> is another spot renowned for its <strong>Perch<\/strong> fishing. On other lakes, you&#8217;ll get the chance to reel in some <strong>Bluegill<\/strong> and <strong>Crappie<\/strong>, <strong>Northern Pike<\/strong>, <strong>Trout<\/strong>, and more.<\/p><div class='reviews-fetcher-container' data-destination-id='638' data-destination-title='Michigan' data-category-title='' data-category='' data-category-id='' data-trigger='reviews-fetcher' data-viewport-event='view_reviews_fetcher' data-action='In viewport' data-viewport-category='Reviews' data-label=''>\n                    <h3>What anglers said about fishing in Michigan<\/h3>\n                <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"march\">March<\/h2><p>In Michigan, the first half of March is still rather chilly, with plenty of the state&#8217;s waters still encased in ice. With this in mind, it&#8217;s smart to check the ice fishing reports or ask a local bait shop whether the ice is thick enough to fish on. If so, you can expect the same kind of action January and February offer, with <strong>Walleye<\/strong>, <strong>Perch<\/strong>, <strong>Pike<\/strong>, and <strong>Trout<\/strong> being the main targets depending on where you go.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Walleye-Ice-Fishing-Michigan.jpg\" alt=\"A closeup shot of a Walleye placed on the snow and ice covered lake and caught during the winter season in Michigan, next to an ice fishing hole.\" class=\"wp-image-39542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Walleye-Ice-Fishing-Michigan.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Walleye-Ice-Fishing-Michigan-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140728\/Walleye-Ice-Fishing-Michigan-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Towards the latter half of March, you&#8217;ll start seeing the first signs of spring. As the waters warm up in rivers such as the <strong>Pere Marquette<\/strong> near <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/MI\/ludington?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Ludington<\/strong><\/a>, or <strong>Muskegon<\/strong> and <strong>Manistee<\/strong>, <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> will be making their spring run. These fish are some of the best freshwater fighters you can hope to encounter, worth braving the cold for.<\/p><h2 id=\"april\">April<\/h2><p>As springtime finally arrives in the Wolverine State, <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> will be making their run along the state&#8217;s various rivers. The earliest runs usually take place on the <strong>Pere Marquette <\/strong>and the <strong>White River<\/strong>, with <strong>Muskegon<\/strong>, <strong>Manistee<\/strong>, and others joining soon after. For those among you who&#8217;ve been itching to wrestle some Steelies, this is your chance to do so.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140727\/Manistee-River-Steelhead.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a happy angler wearing glasses and winter hat while sitting on a charter boat and holding a big Manistee River Steelhead during a cold fall day\" class=\"wp-image-39543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140727\/Manistee-River-Steelhead.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140727\/Manistee-River-Steelhead-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140727\/Manistee-River-Steelhead-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Alternatively, <strong>Walleye<\/strong> fishing on the <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/detroit-river?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Detroit River<\/strong><\/a> is absolutely on fire in April. Their fishing season in Michigan generally begins as soon as the ice thaws. Early during the Walleye run, you&#8217;ll have the chance to reel in trophy-sized fish. Later on, the fishing gets more and more consistent, with anglers often hitting limits of smaller fish.<\/p><p>Also, Walleye fishing in the <strong>Saginaw River<\/strong> reopens on the last Saturday in April, right after the spawning season ends. At this time, you can expect to enjoy some of the finest, most bountiful Walleye action in this part of Michigan. If you can&#8217;t visit during summer, this is the ideal time to catch your share of these delicious fish.<\/p><h2 id=\"may\">May<\/h2><p>By May, most charter boats will be offering fishing trips on the four Great Lakes surrounding Michigan. Starting around the middle of the month, you&#8217;ll get the chance to fish <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/lake-michigan?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Lake Michigan<\/strong><\/a> for <strong>Coho Salmon<\/strong> and <strong>Trout<\/strong>, as well as <strong>Bass<\/strong>. If you visit <strong>Lake Superior<\/strong> instead, you&#8217;ll get to fish for <strong>Brown Trout<\/strong>, <strong>Cisco<\/strong>, as well as early-season <strong>Coho<\/strong> and <strong>Chinook Salmon<\/strong>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140726\/Lake-Erie-Walleye.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of an angler sitting on a charter fishing boat and holding a huge Walleye caught in Lake Erie's western basin in Michigan.\" class=\"wp-image-39595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140726\/Lake-Erie-Walleye.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140726\/Lake-Erie-Walleye-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140726\/Lake-Erie-Walleye-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Another excellent place to fish around this time of year is Lake Erie&#8217;s western basin. Launch from <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/MI\/monroe?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Monroe<\/strong><\/a>, and you&#8217;ll get the opportunity to reel in plenty of delicious <strong>Walleye<\/strong>. Alternatively, the <strong>Tittabawassee River<\/strong> is also a great option if you want to catch some &#8216;Eyes.<\/p><p>On the other hand, if you&#8217;re in the mood for some panfish, try making your way to <strong>Union Lake<\/strong> or the <strong>Portage Chain-of-Lakes<\/strong>. Around this time, big <strong>Bluegill<\/strong> should be hanging out in the shallows, along with some <strong>Crappie<\/strong>. <strong>Strawberry Lake<\/strong> in particular is known for the chubby Bluegill swimming through its waters.<\/p><h2 id=\"june\">June<\/h2><p>June marks the beginning of the high season on the Great Lakes. On <strong>Lake Michigan<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll get to target <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> and <strong>Lake Trout<\/strong>, as well as <strong>Coho<\/strong> and even <strong>Chinook Salmon<\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/lake-superior?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Lake Superior<\/strong><\/a> also offers plenty of <strong>Salmon<\/strong> and <strong>Trout<\/strong> action, while <strong>Lake Erie<\/strong> traditionally features the hottest <strong>Walleye<\/strong> fishing.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Trout-Michigan.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of an angler standing on a charter fishing boat and posing with a Lake Trout caught while fishing on the lake on a bright and sunny day\" class=\"wp-image-39596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Trout-Michigan.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Trout-Michigan-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Trout-Michigan-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Other options for Walleye anglers are the <strong>Detroit River<\/strong>, <strong>St. Clair River<\/strong>, and <strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong>. All three will be teeming with these delicious fish during the month of June. On Lake St. Clair, you&#8217;ll also get the chance to reel in some <strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong>, as well as the elusive <strong>Muskellunge<\/strong>.<\/p><p>However, if you&#8217;re looking for the most diversity, there&#8217;s no better choice than to visit <strong>Lake Huron<\/strong>. It offers amazing Walleye action in places such as <strong>Saginaw Bay<\/strong> and <strong>Thunder Bay<\/strong>. In addition to that, there&#8217;s also an assembly of <strong>Lake Trout<\/strong>, <strong>Rainbow Trout<\/strong>, <strong>Coho<\/strong>, and even <strong>Atlantic Salmon<\/strong> elsewhere on the lake. The number of species you can catch on Lake Huron ensures you&#8217;ll never get tired of these waters.<\/p><p>One last thing to note regarding June fishing in Michigan is the <a href=\"https:\/\/mynorth.com\/2022\/05\/experience-the-hex-hatch-in-northern-michigan-its-epic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>hex hatch<\/strong><\/a>. The hatch marks the high time for fly fishermen to hit the waters as Trout will be swimming near the surface, looking to feed. Visit rivers such as <strong>Au Sable<\/strong>, <strong>Manistee<\/strong>, <strong>Pere Marquette<\/strong>, or <strong>Grand River<\/strong> for some of the best fly fishing in the whole Michigan state.<\/p><h2 id=\"july\">July<\/h2><p>The fishing only gets better in July. For those interested in battling the famed <strong>Chinook Salmon<\/strong>, now&#8217;s the time to hit <strong>Lake Michigan<\/strong>, <strong>Lake Superior<\/strong>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/lake-huron?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Lake Huron<\/strong><\/a>. Also known as King Salmon, these fish are some of the finest fighters out there. The Salmon season in Michigan is arguably the most exciting time to go fishing in the state, so make sure you join in on the action.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Michigan-King-Salmon.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of an angler posing with a big Chinook Salmon he reeled in during the peak fishing season on Lake Michigan.\" class=\"wp-image-39597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Michigan-King-Salmon.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Michigan-King-Salmon-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Michigan-King-Salmon-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>If you somehow end up catching your limits of Salmon early during your trip, you&#8217;ll be glad to know there are other fish to catch on those three lakes. In fact, they all provide habitat for plenty of <strong>Lake<\/strong> and <strong>Brown Trout<\/strong>, which are always fun to chase after. Finally, you might even hook into some leftover <strong>Coho Salmon<\/strong>, though the fishing usually drops off in July.<\/p><p>Of course, it&#8217;s peak season pretty much everywhere else in Michigan, too. <strong>Lake Erie<\/strong> anglers are consistently catching limits of <strong>Walleye<\/strong>, even if they don&#8217;t spend a full day on the water. On <strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong>, the <strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong> fishing is absolutely on fire. Adding to that, there are also <strong>Muskellunge<\/strong> hiding around it, giving you the opportunity to land the &#8220;Fish of a Thousand Casts.&#8221;<\/p><p>Finally, if you&#8217;re itching to add <strong>Atlantic Salmon<\/strong> to the mix, <strong>St. Marys River<\/strong> is a great place to do so in July. <strong>Kings<\/strong> will also be biting, and you&#8217;ll sometimes even hook into <strong>Walleye<\/strong>. All in all, it&#8217;s worth checking out.<\/p><h2 id=\"august\">August<\/h2><p>The amazing <strong>King Salmon<\/strong> fishing July brings only continues in August. If you&#8217;re keen on catching some on Lake Michigan, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/MI\/traverse-city?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Traverse City<\/strong><\/a> and the nearby towns will serve as great starting points. Otherwise, head to Lake Superior or Lake Huron and reel in your share of these freshwater superstars.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Superior-Chinook.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of two men aboard a Lake Superior fishing charter, posing with a King Salmon they caught during a cold day\" class=\"wp-image-39602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Superior-Chinook.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Superior-Chinook-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140725\/Lake-Superior-Chinook-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>For anglers, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/lake-erie?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Lake Erie<\/strong><\/a> is pretty much synonymous with <strong>Walleye<\/strong> fishing, which holds true during this time of year as well. The fishing is extremely consistent, with limits of Walleye being the standard, rather than the exception. We are talking about the finest Walleye fishery on the planet, after all.<\/p><p><strong>St. Marys River<\/strong> remains a prolific Salmon fishery in the summertime. It drains Lake Superior into Lake Huron, offering some of the best fishing you can find in either. By August, <strong>Chinook Salmon<\/strong> should be biting throughout the river. Otherwise, fish near the mouth of <strong>Tahquamenon River<\/strong> for some <strong>Perch<\/strong>, <strong>Walleye<\/strong>, and <strong>Bass<\/strong>.<\/p><h2 id=\"september\">September<\/h2><p>You can still enjoy plenty of <strong>King Salmon<\/strong> action in the first half of September. They&#8217;ll be getting ready to head upriver to spawn, which means you&#8217;ll often find them staging close to lake shores. Of course, you&#8217;ll also get to reel in <strong>Coho Salmon<\/strong> on <strong>Lakes Michigan<\/strong>, <strong>Huron<\/strong>, and <strong>Superior<\/strong>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140718\/Walleye-Michigan.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of an angler posing with a Walleye he reeled in on a Lake Erie fishing charter and standing on a charter boat in front of five fishing rods placed neatly in the rod holders\" class=\"wp-image-39622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140718\/Walleye-Michigan.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140718\/Walleye-Michigan-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140718\/Walleye-Michigan-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>If you turn to<strong> Lake Erie<\/strong> instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/walleye\/us\/lake-erie?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Walleye<\/strong><\/a> will naturally still be biting. However, September also marks the start of the fall <strong>Perch<\/strong> season. During this time, you&#8217;ll get the chance to reel in larger specimens of these delicious fish, and supplement your Walleye haul with even more catch.<\/p><p>On other lakes, such as <strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong>, it&#8217;s once again a great time to catch some <strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong>. On the nearby <strong>Detroit River<\/strong>, <strong>Walleye<\/strong> fishing is still going wrong. And, of course, there&#8217;s always <strong>Brown Trout<\/strong> swimming along Michigan&#8217;s various rivers.<\/p><h2 id=\"october\">October<\/h2><p>By now, fall is in full swing in Michigan. On <strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong>, the <strong>Muskellunge<\/strong> bite will pick up again as the water temperatures settle into the 40s. This usually happens in the latter half of the month, making it a great time to fish for trophy Musky.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Lake-St.-Clair-Musky.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a man standing on a charter boat, posing with a Musky he caught fishing on Lake St. Clair in Michigan.\" class=\"wp-image-39612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Lake-St.-Clair-Musky.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Lake-St.-Clair-Musky-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Lake-St.-Clair-Musky-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Late October also marks the return of the beloved <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/rainbow-trout-steelhead\/us\/MI?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Steelhead<\/strong><\/a>. These overgrown <strong>Trout<\/strong> haven&#8217;t exactly been to the ocean, causing some anglers to put their moniker to doubt. However, they look and fight the same as the ones you&#8217;d find on the West Coast, which is enough for us to call them Steelhead.<\/p><p>During the fall fishing season in Michigan, you&#8217;ll find Steelhead along rivers such as the <strong>Pere Marquette<\/strong>, <strong>Manistee<\/strong>, <strong>Au Sable<\/strong>, <strong>Platte<\/strong>, and <strong>Muskegon<\/strong>. Whether you&#8217;re fishing conventional or on the fly, this is the best time to visit these waters, as the fish will definitely be biting.<\/p><p>Finally, October is typically the last month you&#8217;ll get to hop on a charter boat and fish the Great Lakes. By the end of the month, most captains will be preparing their boats for the oncoming winter.<\/p><h2 id=\"november\">November<\/h2><p>Even though the waters will be getting cold by November, the <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> fishing season will still be at its hottest throughout Michigan. We&#8217;ve already mentioned a few rivers where you can catch these fish in our October writeup. So this time, you should know that there&#8217;ll also be some <strong>Salmon<\/strong> still in the waters in early November.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Michigan-Steelhead.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of an angler holding a beautiful Steelhead caught during the fall fishing season in Michigan and standing in the water surrounded with greenery after wading\" class=\"wp-image-39613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Michigan-Steelhead.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Michigan-Steelhead-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140722\/Michigan-Steelhead-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>By the middle of the month, you can expect <strong>Whitefish<\/strong> fishing to pick up. There&#8217;s plenty of <strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong> to catch as well. They&#8217;ll be scattered throughout the various Michigan lakes, including <strong>Skegemog<\/strong>, <strong>Upper Herring<\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/MI\/lake-leelanau?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\">Lake Leelanau<\/a><\/strong>, and numerous others. The <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/lake-st-clair?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong><\/a> <strong>Musky<\/strong> bite is usually great as well during the first half of November.<\/p><p>Other fish, such as <strong>Northern Pike<\/strong>, <strong>Brown Trout<\/strong>, and <strong>Walleye<\/strong> will be biting throughout the inland lakes and rivers. Occasionally, you&#8217;ll even find Great Lakes charter guides offering some of their last trips of the season during the first days of November.<\/p><h2 id=\"december\">December<\/h2><p>Even though winter is here, big rivers such as <strong>Manistee<\/strong>, <strong>Muskegon<\/strong>, or <strong>Pere Marquette<\/strong> are in no danger of freezing over. Instead, they offer steady <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> and <strong>Trout<\/strong> fishing for anyone eager to still get out there. With fewer anglers fishing, the waters are under less pressure, leaving you to enjoy them all by yourself.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140721\/Winter-Steelhead.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of two happy Muskegon River anglers holding a Steelhead each and posing for the camera while standing on a charter boat surrounded by trees\" class=\"wp-image-39615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140721\/Winter-Steelhead.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140721\/Winter-Steelhead-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140721\/Winter-Steelhead-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>On the other hand, you can expect many smaller lakes to start accumulating ice. Since it&#8217;s only the start of winter, make sure to check with the locals whether the ice on the lake you want to fish is thick enough. If so, you&#8217;re in for a treat, as fish ranging from <strong>Perch<\/strong> and <strong>Walleye<\/strong> to <strong>Bluegill<\/strong>, <strong>Northern Pike<\/strong>, and <strong>Trout<\/strong> will be biting.<\/p><p>If you can manage to get on <strong>Lake St. Clair<\/strong> during the first half of December, you might still get to reel in some <strong>Musky<\/strong>. Later during Michigan&#8217;s winter fishing season, this lake will also freeze over, so you&#8217;ll need to bring the <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/technique\/ice-fishing\/us\/MI?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=39465\"><strong>ice fishing<\/strong><\/a> equipment or hire a guide.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"michigan-fishing-season-faqs\">Michigan Fishing Season FAQs<\/h2>\n<div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa\" class=\"fbgb-faq-block aligncenter fbgb-faq-style-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-container\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"0\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-0\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When does fishing season start and end in Michigan?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-0\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Fishing in Michigan is a year-round activity. However, we could say that Michigan has two fishing seasons, one that runs from March to December, and the other one that\u2019s reserved for ice fishing anglers between December and March.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"1\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-1\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When is fly fishing season in Michigan?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-1\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Spring and fall are widely regarded as the best seasons for fly fishing in Michigan. However, you should not forget about early summer. The hex hatch happens in June, and this is your sign it\u2019s high time you geared up and went fly fishing for Trout in Michigan.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"2\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-2\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When does Bass fishing season open in Michigan?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-2\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Bass fishing season usually opens in spring around May in Michigan.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"3\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-3\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">What are the best times to fish in Michigan?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-3\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Each season has its own perks. But, the best time to fish in Michigan is probably spring as you\u2019ll have a variety of fish species at your disposal.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"4\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-4\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">Can you fish in fall in Michigan?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-4\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Absolutely. Fall fishing in Michigan is great and promises excellent Muskellunge, Pike, and Salmon action. But Perch and Lake Trout aren\u2019t lagging far behind either.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"5\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-5\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When does the ice fishing season start in Michigan?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fda35856dfa-item-5\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Ice fishing season heavily depends on weather conditions and ice safety, so there isn\u2019t a fixed date when it starts each year. However, it typically runs between December and March.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n    <\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When does fishing season start and end in Michigan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Fishing in Michigan is a year-round activity. However, we could say that Michigan has two fishing seasons, one that runs from March to December, and the other one that&rsquo;s reserved for ice fishing anglers between December and March.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When is fly fishing season in Michigan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Spring and fall are widely regarded as the best seasons for fly fishing in Michigan. However, you should not forget about early summer. The hex hatch happens in June, and this is your sign it&rsquo;s high time you geared up and went fly fishing for Trout in Michigan.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When does Bass fishing season open in Michigan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Bass fishing season usually opens in spring around May in Michigan.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the best times to fish in Michigan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Each season has its own perks. But, the best time to fish in Michigan is probably spring as you&rsquo;ll have a variety of fish species at your disposal.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can you fish in fall in Michigan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Absolutely. Fall fishing in Michigan is great and promises excellent Muskellunge, Pike, and Salmon action. But Perch and Lake Trout aren&rsquo;t lagging far behind either.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When does the ice fishing season start in Michigan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Ice fishing season heavily depends on weather conditions and ice safety, so there isn&rsquo;t a fixed date when it starts each year. However, it typically runs between December and March.\"}}]}<\/script><h2 id=\"michigan-fishing-seasons-a-year-round-wonderland\">Michigan Fishing Seasons: A Year-Round Wonderland<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140717\/Turnip-Rock-on-Lake-Huron.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of Turnip Rock near Port Austin in Michigan taken on a bright and sunny day\" class=\"wp-image-39629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140717\/Turnip-Rock-on-Lake-Huron.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140717\/Turnip-Rock-on-Lake-Huron-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/08\/14140717\/Turnip-Rock-on-Lake-Huron-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>The season shift but the fishing never stops in Michigan. The state&#8217;s various waters can only be described as a freshwater angler&#8217;s dream. There&#8217;s so much you can do, so many fish to catch, and so many places to visit. All you need is an adventurous spirit and willingness to get out there.<\/p><p>But before you start fantasizing about what you want to catch, here&#8217;s one final thing to consider &ndash; fishing regulations. We&#8217;ve presented what you can catch, but whether the fish can be kept or not is up to the state of Michigan to decide. The regulations can change from year to year, so make sure to visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/dnr\/things-to-do\/fishing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Michigan DNR website<\/strong><\/a> for the latest information.<\/p><p>If you want more information on how to go <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/fishing-in-michigan\">fishing in Michigan<\/a>, read our dedicated blog.<\/p><p><em>What&#8217;s your favorite season to go fishing in Michigan? Which fish species do you enjoy targeting the most? Hit the comment button and let us know!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bordering on four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan is the place where some of the best freshwater fisheries in the world intertwine. The state&#8217;s waters offer endless opportunities for adventure, whether you&#8217;re looking to put some dinner on the table or catch your next angling trophy. Of course, you&#8217;ll first have to get acquainted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":39538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1474],"tags":[358,569,403,504,477,596,545,518],"class_list":["post-39465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-licenses-regulations","tag-beginners-advice","tag-chinook-salmon","tag-freshwater-fishing","tag-great-lakes","tag-lake-erie","tag-lake-michigan","tag-michigan","tag-rainbow-trout"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fishing Seasons in Michigan: The Complete Guide for 2026 - FishingBooker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/michigan-fishing-seasons\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fishing Seasons in Michigan: The Complete Guide for 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eager to learn more about Michigan fishing seasons and how they shift? 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