Seasons
Species: Bowfin, Bullheads, Burbot, Carp, Catfish, Cisco, Drum, Gizzard Shad,Goldish, Grass Carp, Longnose Gar, Smelt,
Suckers and Whitefish.
- Season: Open All Year
- Gear: Spear or bow and arrow or crossbow (as listed in Gear Limitations below)
- Waters: All Waters except: Designated Trout* Lakes and Streams and Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters. Also
see "Spearing Exceptions List" below.
Species: Northern Pike & Muskellunge
- Season: Dec. 1 - March 15 (through the ice)
- Gear: Hand-propelled spear (ONLY)
- Waters: All Waters except: Designated Trout* Lakes and Streams and Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters. Also
see "Spearing Exceptions List" below.
* All Type A and D lakes are Designated Trout Waters. All Type 1 and 2 streams, Gear Restricted Streams, Research Areas, Brook
Trout Restoration Areas, 10 Brook Trout Possession Limit waters, and nearly all Types 3 and 4 streams are Designated Trout
Waters.
Gear Limitations
Spearing gear shall be limited to: hand-propelled spear, rubber-propelled spear, spring-propelled spear, bow and arrow,
or crossbow.
Artificial lights may be used.
It shall be unlawful to use a rubber-propelled spear or a spring-propelled spear without being submerged and have the spear
under control by means of an attached line not exceeding twenty feet in length. It is unlawful to spear any fish in a waterbody
closed to fishing, except as noted in the spearing exceptions list. Unless noted otherwise, all general regulations apply for the
species listed.
Anglers should contact local enforcement offices for information concerning local weapons ordinances banning the use of
bow and arrow or crossbow in some locations.
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 April 1 – June 15
from the following waters of Cheboygan Co.: Black R., Cheboygan R., and Indian R.
Lake St. Clair Yellow Perch Spearing
Macomb, St. Clair & Wayne: A hand-propelled spear or bow and arrow or crossbow may be used to harvest yellow perch from
Dec. 1 - March 15.
Designated Trout Streams Open to Spring Spearing
The following designated trout streams listed by county are open to the use of spearing gear from April 1 - May 31, for taking
bowfin, bullheads, burbot, carp, catfish, cisco (lake herring), drum, longnose gar, gizzard shad, goldfish, grass carp, smelt,
suckers and lake whitefish:
- Alcona: Bryant Cr. from Vaughn L. downstream to Little L.; Buff Cr.; Sucker Cr. from confluence of Vincent Cr.
(T27N, R8E, S9) downstream to Hubbard L. (T28N, R7E, S36);
- Calhoun: Nottawa Cr. from Calhoun Co. line (T4S, R8W, S31) upstream to T3S, R5W, S35; Rice Cr. South Branch Rice Cr.
from confluence of Rice Cr. and Kalamazoo R. (T2S, R6W, S25) upstream to Concord Rd. (Jackson Co.);
- Chippewa: Trout Cr. downstream of Big Trout L. (T42N, R3E, S31); Prentiss Cr. (T42N, R2E,);
- Delta: Squaw Cr. downstream of Co. Rd 513;
- Mackinac: Doe Cr. (T43N, R10W); Foley Cr. downstream of I-75; Hoban Cr. downstream of US-2; Hudson Cr. (T41N, R11W,
S8); Martineau Cr. downstream of I-75; McClouds Cr.; Milakokia R. from Milakokia L. downstream to Heinz L.; Norton Cr. from
M-135 downstream to South Manistique L.; Nunn's Cr. downstream of Highway M -134; Pearson's Cr. T42N, R1W and R1E;
Rabbits Back Cr. downstream of Mackinac Trail; Scrams Cr. (T42N, R11W, S11); Taylor Cr. (T43N, R12W, S2, 11, 12 and 13);
- Mason: Sable R. from Freesoil Rd. downstream to Custer Rd. (T20N, R16W, S22);
- Van Buren: Dowagiac R. and tributaries upstream of 50th Street (T4S, R15W, S35); Lake of the Wood Outlet to
confluence with Dowagiac R. (T45N, R15W, S34).
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