It’s time to dust off your fishing gear because trout season begins in Michigan on Saturday.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources fish biologist Christian LeSage tells us while fishing for things like bluegill happens pretty much all year, the state has to be more careful with its trout streams.
“Since trout have more restrictive regulations, like in our trout streams and our type 1 streams, they do not open for fishing until the last Saturday of April,” LeSage said.
LeSage says Michigan’s trout streams are under increasing threat from species that affect habitat and food sources for trout and other fish. However, he tells us the trout season is looking fine.
“Everything looks pretty good. There might be some sediment in some of the streams when we have heavy rainfalls or things like that, but generally as those systems clear up a little bit, things clear up, the fish will become more active.”
LeSage advises anglers to just look for spots with clear water. He notes you can get a fishing license at just about any sporting goods retailer, and you can also now get a license via the DNR’s hunting and fishing app. That’ll also direct an angler to a good trout stream.
And trout isn’t the only fishing opening Saturday. LeSage says the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons also open that day.