Michigan regulations
Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow) Regulations in Michigan 2026
Michigan trout 2026 open seasons vary by 44 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 5/day and 7″ min. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (117)
Michigan statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
- Min size
- 8"
- Min size
- 10"
combined total for all trout and salmon species, except for specific regulations inland streams and rivers statewide general rule; combined trout limits may apply on specific waters general statewide inland streams rule; combined trout limits may apply on specific waters
Au Sable River Mainstream (Crawford Co.) From South Wakeley Bridge Rd. (Wakeley Bridge) To McMasters Bridge Rd. (McMasters Bridge)Open
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 18"
open all year
Au Sable River Mainstream (Oscoda Co.) From Mio Power Line (T26n, R3e, S7; 44° 39’ 40.550" N/ 84° 7’ 24.280" W) To Evans Rd. (McKinley Bridge)Open
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 18"
open all year
Au Sable River North Branch (Crawford Co.) From Sheep Ranch (T28n, R2w, S12; 44° 49’ 40.470" N/ 84° 29’ 25.933" W) To Confluence With MainstreamOpen
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 18"
open all year
Au Sable River South Branch (Crawford Co.) From Lower High Banks (T25n, R2w, S13; 44° 33’ 49.735" N/ 84° 29’ 59.107" W) To Confluence With MainstreamOpen
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 18"
open all year
Bear Creek
- Possession
- 1 fish
Year-round — the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Betsie River
- Possession
- 1 fish
Year-round — the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Betsie River From Kurick Rd. Downstream To M-22.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
Year-round —the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Big South Branch Pere Marquette River From Confluence Of Beaver/ Winnepesaug Creeks Downstream To Confluence With Pere Marquette River
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Big South Branch Pere Marquette River From Confluence Of Beaver/Winnepesaug Creeks Downstream To Confluence With Pere Marquette River
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Black River (Otsego And Montmorency Cos.) From Tin Shanty Bridge Rd. To The Town Corner Lake Stairs (T32n, R1e, S31 Se/Se; 45° 6’ 50.872" N/ 84° 21’ 0.488" W)Open
- Status
- Open
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
open all year
Carp River
- Possession
- 1 fish
Year-round — the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Carp River From Morgan Creek Downstream To L. Superior
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Cooks Run To The Mouth Of The North Branch Of The Paint River
- Season closes
- Sep 30
Duck Creek (Gogebic Co.) From Railroad Bridge (T44n, R39w, S16) To Confluence With Middle Branch Ontonagon RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
open all year
Escanaba River (Delta Co.) From Boney Falls Dam To Mouth Of Silver CreekOpen
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 12"
- Min size
- 12"
open all year
Isle Royale National Park WatersCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Within 4.5 miles of Isle Royale; no possession.
L. SuperiorClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
within 4.5 miles of Isle Royale, no possession of Brook Trout
Little Manistee River
- Possession
- 1 fish
NOTE: The daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout from 300’ downstream of Little Manistee River Weir down to the boundary with Manistee Lake, which is defined as the power line crossing downstream of Stronach Road Bridge (also referred to as Water Street on some maps).
Little Manistee River (Lake Co.) From North Peacock Trail (Spencer’s Bridge) To Johnson Rd. (Johnson’s Bridge)
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 15"
Little Manistee River From Johnson Rd. (Johnson’s Bridge) Downstream To The Boundary With Manistee Lake, Which Is Defined As The Power Line Crossing Downstream Of Stronach Road Bridge (Also Referred To As Water Street On Some Maps)
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round — from Johnson Rd. downstream to 300 feet above the Little Manistee River Weir
Manistee River
- Possession
- 1 fish
Year-round — the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Manistee River (Crawford And Kalkaska Cos.) From M-72 To Sunset Trail Rd. (Ccc Bridge)Open
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 18"
open all year
Manistee River (Crawford Co.) From Co. Rd. 612 To M-72Open
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 18"
open all year
Manistee River From Tippy Dam Downstream To Railroad Bridge Below M-55 (T21n, R16w, S6)
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Muskegon River From Croton Dam Downstream To M-120
- Possession
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Year-round, no more than three (3) trout 15" or greater and shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout 20 inches or greater Year-round, shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout 20 inches or greater
North Branch White River From Arthur Rd. Downstream To Confluence With White River
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Pere Marquette RiverClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Status
- Prohibited
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 8"
harvest of fish greater than 14" and less than 18" shall be prohibited Year-round — the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Pere Marquette River (Lake Co.) From M-37 To The Downstream Edge Of The Boat Ramp/Slide At Gleason’s Landing (T17n, R14w, S13; 43° 52’ 14.521" N/ 85° 55’ 21.752" W)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 8"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
- Slot max
- 18"
From Sep. 1 – the Fri. before the last Sat. in April From the last Sat. in April – Aug. 31 harvest of fish greater than 14" and less than 18" shall be prohibited. From the last Sat. in April – Aug. 31
Pere Marquette River From Reek Rd. (Indian Bridge) Downstream To Old Us-31
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Pere Marquette River From The Upstream Edge Of The Boat Ramp At Rainbow Rapids (T18n, R14w, S27) Downstream To Reek Rd. (Indian Bridge)
- Possession
- 1 fish/day
Year-round
Pigeon River: (Cheboygan And Otsego Cos.) From Elk Hill Campground Horse Trail (T32n, R1w, S10; 45° 10’ 50.753" N/ 84° 25’ 27.866" W) To Pine Grove Campground Stairs (T33n, R1w, S17; 45° 14’ 38.497" N/ 84° 26’ 47.983" W)Open
- Status
- Open
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Min size
- 10"
- Min size
- 12"
open all year
Platte River From Us-31 Bridge At Veteran’s Park Downstream To L. Michigan.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
The daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Rogue River
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot max
- 15"
Year-round — From Rockford Dam downstream to confluence with Grand River — the daily possession limit for Type 4 still applies with up to five (5) Rainbow Trout allowed in the daily possession limit, no more than three (3) trout 15" or greater and shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout 20 inches or greater.
Spring Mill PondCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Artificial Only
April 1 - Fri. before the last Sat. in April, catch-and-immediate-release of trout with artificial lures only
Whitefish River
- Possession
- 1 fish
Year-round - the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Whitefish River From 38th Road (U.s.f.s. 2236) Downstream To Us-2 Bridge In T41n, R21w, S28.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
Year-round - the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) Rainbow Trout.
Trout on famous Michigan waters
Dedicated rule pages for Trout on the most-targeted destinations in Michigan.
Other Michigan fish regulations
Other regulated species in Michigan with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Lake Trout86 rules
- Walleye82 rules
- Northern Pike79 rules
- Lake Sturgeon28 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)11 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)9 rules
- Smallmouth Bass8 rules
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Pink)7 rules
- Largemouth Bass7 rules
- Channel Catfish4 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)2 rules
- Yellow Perch2 rules
Also known as
Trout is also called Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow), Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Tiger Trout. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Michigan.
Frequently asked questions
When is Trout season in Michigan?
Trout season in Michigan is set by DNR. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Trout in Michigan?
Minimum size for Trout in Michigan is 10 inches in Au Sable River Mainstream (Crawford Co.) From South Wakeley Bridge Rd. (Wakeley Bridge) To McMasters Bridge Rd. (McMasters Bridge), per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Trout in Michigan?
Daily bag limit for Trout in Michigan is 1 fish in Betsie River From Kurick Rd. Downstream To M-22., per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/inland-trout-salmon-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/exceptions-to-general-regulations-by-county
- https://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/great-lakes-trout-salmon-regulations
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.