Season |
Gear |
Waters |
Species |
Dec. 1 – March 15 (through the ice) |
hand-propelled spear (only) |
ALL WATERS except: Designated Trout Lakes and Designated Trout Streams and Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters. Also see Spearing Exceptions List below. See Inland Trout & Salmon Regulations in the current Michigan Fishing Guide for more information. |
northern pike and muskellunge |
All Type A and D lakes are Designated Trout Waters. All Types 1 and 2 streams, Gear Restricted Streams, Research Areas, Brook Trout Restoration Areas, and nearly all Types 3 and 4 streams are Designated Trout Waters. |
Spearing Exceptions List
Waters Closed to Northern Pike and Muskellunge Spearing:
It shall be unlawful to fish by any means other than hook-and-line for northern pike or muskellunge in the following waters:
ALGER: Kingston L.; ALPENA/MONTMORENCY: Fletcher Floodwaters; BARRY: Lower Crooked L., Thornapple L. (from McKeown Rd. to Barger Rd.); CLARE: Budd L.; CLINTON: L. Ovid; DELTA: Dana L.; DICKINSON: East, Island, South, and West Lks (all within Groveland Mines); IRON: Brule and Chicagon Lks., L. Emily, Paint L., Paint (Brule Isle Imp.) Pond, Stanley and Swan Lks.; KENT: Campau and Murray Lks.; KEWEENAW: L. Gratiot; LENAWEE: L. Hudson; LUCE: Round (North Manistique) L.; SCHOOLCRAFT: Grassy and McKeever Lks.; ST. JOSEPH: Long L. (Fabius Twp. T6S, R12W, S7); VAN BUREN: Bankson and Round Lks. (Keeler Twp. T4S, R16W, S31)
Waters Closed To Muskellunge Spearing
It shall be unlawful to fish by any other means other than hook-and-line for muskellunge in the following waters: L. Erie, L. St. Clair, Detroit R., and St. Clair R.
Waters with Spearing and Gaff Hook Restrictions
It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take any species of fish with spearing gear or gaff hook from Apr. 1 – Jun. 15 from the following waters of CHEBOYGAN County: Black R., Cheboygan R., and Indian R.