DNR Fishing Report
Due to our seasonal creel clerks finishing up for the season, the Weekly Fishing Report is currently suspended. Early in 2026, when ice fishing picks up and we begin to receive more reports, the Weekly Fishing Report will resume. In the interim, we recommend calling your local bait shop for information on current fishing conditions.
All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license. Fishing licenses can be purchased at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchasing your license on the app.
Fishing tip: Dropping water temperatures
As water temperatures continue to drop, fish metabolism slows down — meaning they won’t chase baits as aggressively. Try slowing your presentation and using smaller, natural-colored baits to match late-season forage. For walleye and perch, minnows or soft plastics worked slowly near the bottom can be especially effective. On calm days, focus on deeper structure and channel edges, where fish tend to concentrate as they transition to their winter patterns.
This report is intended to give you an idea of what is going on around the state. Updates come from Fisheries staff and conservation officers. With more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not all locations can be listed. However, it is safe to say if a species is being caught in some waters in the area, they are likely being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.