Yes. If you’re 17 or older, you need a fishing license in Michigan to fish any public water, whether you live in the state or are visiting. The rule covers fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and reptiles, and it applies from the moment you turn 17 during the license season, which runs April 1 through March 31.1Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations A standard resident annual license is $26 including the $1 conservation surcharge.
You also have to carry the license and the ID you used to buy it whenever you’re fishing. A Michigan Conservation Officer or other law enforcement officer can ask to see both, and not being able to produce them is its own violation even when you actually own a valid license.2Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43560
Who Is Exempt
Children 16 and Under
Kids aged 16 and under can fish anywhere in Michigan without a license. Bag limits, size limits, and other regulations still apply. Families who want a younger angler to have their own license can buy an optional youth license for $2.3Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and Hunting License Information
Free Fishing Weekends
Twice a year, Michigan drops the license requirement for everyone on both inland waters and the Great Lakes. In 2026 the winter weekend is February 14–15 and the summer weekend is June 13–14. All other rules, including bag and size limits, still apply.
Veterans, Active-Duty Military, and Residents With Disabilities
Michigan waives license fees for residents rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or rated as individually unemployable.4Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43537 Active-duty military personnel who keep Michigan residency also qualify for free licenses. Fees are also waived for Michigan residents with a developmental disability as defined in the state’s mental health code. Residents of a licensed home for the aged can fish without a license under a special DNR permit, so long as they’re in a group accompanied by at least one licensed adult; permits are issued at DNR Customer Service Centers.1Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations
Private Ponds
A private pond entirely enclosed on private land with no connection to public waters doesn’t require a license. Species protections still apply.
What a License Costs in 2026
All fees include the $1 conservation surcharge.3Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Fishing and Hunting License Information
- Resident annual all-species: $26
- Nonresident annual all-species: $76
- Daily all-species (resident or nonresident): $10 per day
- 24-hour license: $105Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324.43533 – 24-Hour or 72-Hour Fishing License
- 72-hour license: $305Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 324.43533 – 24-Hour or 72-Hour Fishing License
- Resident senior (65+) or legally blind resident annual: $114Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43537
- Youth (16 and under, optional): $2
- Resident hunt/fish combo: $76
- Nonresident hunt/fish combo: $266
- Senior hunt/fish combo: $43
The 2026 season opened April 1, 2026, and licenses are valid through March 31, 2027. New licenses generally go on sale in early March.6Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Ready for Spring Fishing? 2026 Michigan Fishing Licenses Now Available
Penalties for Fishing Without One
Fishing without a license is a misdemeanor. Fines run from $25 to $250 plus court costs, and a judge can impose up to 90 days in jail.2Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43560 First-time offenders without other violations typically face a fine rather than jail, but the misdemeanor still lands on your record.
Having a valid license and just forgetting it is treated differently. That’s a civil infraction with a maximum fine of $150.2Michigan Legislature. MCL Section 324.43560 Owning the license doesn’t excuse you from producing it on request.
How To Buy One
Residents need a valid Michigan driver’s license or a state ID from the Secretary of State. Nonresidents need a driver’s license from their home state. There are three ways to purchase:
- Online through the DNR licensing portal at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, where you can also set up auto-renewal.
- In person at authorized retailers like sporting goods stores and bait shops, or at a DNR Customer Service Center.
- Through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app, which stores an electronic copy of your license that you can show on the water.
An electronic copy on a phone is acceptable in place of a paper license, as long as the device is charged and you can pull it up when asked.
One Thing a License Doesn’t Cover
The license lets you fish, but it doesn’t exempt you from Michigan’s aquatic invasive species rules, which trip up anglers regularly. Before moving a boat over land you have to pull all drain plugs, drain livewells and bilges, and remove any plants or organisms from the boat and trailer. You also can’t use fish caught in one water body as bait in an unconnected one, and released fish have to go back into the same water or a directly connected one. Unused bait goes in the trash on land, not in the water. Violations are civil infractions carrying fines up to $100.7State of Michigan. Invasive Species Prevention: Boaters and Anglers