• You must purchase a license if you are 17 years of age or older. If you are under 17, you may fish without a license, but you are required to observe all fishing rules and regulations.
• When fishing, you must carry your license and the identification used to purchase that license and exhibit both upon demand of a Michigan Conservation Officer, a Tribal Conservation Officer or any law enforcement officer.
• Your fishing license is valid from March 1 of a given year through March 31 of the following year.

To purchase a fishing license, you must have:

• A valid Michigan Driver License.
• A valid Michigan ID Card (issued by the Secretary of State) with additional proof of Michigan residency, such as a Michigan voter registration card.
• A DNR Sportcard (issued by license dealers). If the information on your DNR Sportcard from a previous year is still accurate, you may continue to use it.

To qualify for a resident fishing license, you must:

• Be a person who resides in a settled or permanent home or domicile within the boundaries of this state with the intention of remaining in this state, or
• Be a full-time student at a Michigan college or university, or
• Serve full time in the U.S. Military and be officially stationed in Michigan.

The ownership of land in Michigan by itself is not qualification for a resident license.

The following special provisions exist:

Residents serving in the Armed Forces: Persons serving in the U.S. Military, who, at the time of enlistment, were residents of Michigan and have maintained residence status for the purposes of obtaining a driver license or voting and who are stationed outside the state, may purchase a resident all-species license for $1. Applicants must present proof of military status and leave papers when applying for the discounted licenses. This license, available at DNR Operations Service Centers(see p. 40) and at license retail outlets statewide, is valid for up to two weeks during an open season. The license buyer can designate the exact fishing period.

Residents who are blind or disabled: A resident who is declared legally blind or a resident who has been determined by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled and entitled to veteran benefits at the 100% rate (with proof of same) is eligible to purchase ANY of the senior fishing licenses.

Persons with mental retardation and residents of a home for the aged (licensed under the Public Health Code) may fish without a license if they are a member of a group, and accompanied by one or more licensed adults who possess a permit issued by the DNR. Permits are available at DNR Operations Service Centers(see p. 40).

Description of Inland Waters
Inland waters are all waters within the jurisdiction of the state except the Great Lakes, and the bays and connecting waters. The connecting waters between Lake Superior and Lake Huron include that portion of the St. Marys River located within this state. The connecting waters of Lake Huron and Lake Erie include the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River (beginning at the imaginary line extending due south of the Windmill Point Light, Wayne County and ending at the imaginary east-west line drawn through the most southerly point of Celeron Island). Inland waters also include all inland lakes, streams and tributaries to the Great Lakes.

Fishing and Harvest Closures
(Spawning Closures)
Michigan, like many states, prohibits fishing for various species at certain times of the year. These seasonal closures generally coincide with spawning periods and are often referred to as spawning closures. Many anglers and managers tend to think of these regulations as providing specific protection to spawning fish, and the timing and length of closed seasons are generally related to the timing and duration of spawning seasons. These closures are indicated by lake or stream in the county listings. Lakes and streams are closed to all fishing during the period listed.

Native American Fishing on Inland Waters
In 2007, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan entered a Consent Decree on tribal fishing rights in the 1836 Treaty area of Michigan. The parties to the Consent Decree were the state of Michigan, the United States and the following tribes in the 1836 Treaty area: the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The area covered by the agreement is the portion of Michigan within the 1836 Treaty boundary, which includes roughly the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula and a large area in the northern third of the Lower Peninsula. The Consent Decree recognizes a treaty-reserved right for the tribes' members to engage in hunting, fishing and gathering activities within the treaty area and for the tribes to regulate those activities.

Under a permit system, tribal members may use spears and may place impoundment nets on public waters. If you encounter these activities, do not disrupt the fishers or interfere with their nets. In the 1836 Treaty area, the DNR and the tribes will coordinate their efforts in research and assessment activities and consult and exchange information. Under the decree, the tribes will have seasons and bag limits that differ somewhat from state regulations. However, tribal fishing efforts should have limited effect on the resources, especially in view of the small number of tribal fishers relative to the large number of non-tribal fishers.

For more information or to view a copy of the 2007 Inland Consent Decree, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.