Michigan Fishing License
Issued by Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fishing in Michigan
Michigan is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes — only Ontario is missing. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron produce chinook, coho, brown trout, and lake trout from spring through fall. The AuSable, Pere Marquette, and Manistee rivers run steelhead and king salmon. Inland, Houghton, Burt, and Mullett lakes hold muskie, walleye, and trophy smallmouth. The Upper Peninsula's brookie water is some of the most pristine in the country, and Saginaw Bay walleye fishing is world-class.
License Types & Fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual All-Species | $26.00 |
| Resident Senior All-Species (65+ or legally blind) | $11.00 |
| Resident/Non-Resident Daily All-Species Per day; purchaser sets start date/time | $10.00 |
| Resident/Non-Resident Voluntary Youth (<17) | $2.00 |
| Underwater Spearfishing DNR Sportcard may be needed | Free |
| DNR Sportcard | $1.00 |
| Non-Resident Annual All-Species | $76.00 |
| Resident Hunt/Fish Combo Includes base, 2 deer, annual all-species fishing | $76.00 |
| Resident Senior Hunt/Fish Combo (65+) | $43.00 |
| Non-Resident Hunt/Fish Combo | $266.00 |
Fees are subject to change. Confirm current pricing on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website before purchasing.
Anglers age 17 and older need a license; under 17 can fish without one (any adult assisting a minor must still have a license). Annual licenses run March 1 through March 31 of the following year. Michigan-resident 100%-disabled veterans qualify for free licenses; active-duty military with maintained MI residency have fees waived except drawing licenses.
Log Your Michigan Catches
CatchVault is available on iOS. Identify species with AI, measure with LiDAR, and keep a private journal of every fish you land in Michigan.