Michigan runs one all-species licence rather than the tiered structure most Great Lakes states use, which makes it unusually simple: one purchase covers trout, salmon, walleye and everything else across inland waters and the Great Lakes alike. The catch people miss is the calendar. The licence year ends 31 March regardless of when you bought it, so an August purchase buys eight months, not twelve.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every Michigan fishing fee
The licence year runs 1 April to 31 March, whatever date you buy.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily, 24 hours | Either | 1 day | $10.00 |
| Youth, 16 and under Optional: under-17s fish without a licence. | Resident | Annual | $2.00 |
| Senior resident, 65 and over Also available to residents who are legally blind. | Resident | Annual | $11.00 |
| All-species, annual | Resident | Annual | $26.00 |
| All-species, annual | Visitor | Annual | $76.00 |
Every Michigan licence carries a $1 surcharge on top of the price shown.
A change is proposed: Governorβs FY2027 budget proposes resident annual $26 to $30 and nonresident $76 to $90; the Legislature has not approved it. Old and new prices, the date and the law (proposed, not enacted as of september 15, 2026).
Passing through? A visitor pays $10 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 8 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Still to verify: Falta verificar la licencia de 72 horas y la combinada de caza y pesca. We publish what we have checked and leave the rest blank rather than guess.
Visiting from out of state? What visitors pay in Michigan, with the annual-versus-short-term arithmetic.
Do you need a fishing licence in Michigan?
Yes, from age 17. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$26.00 a year if you live in Michigan, $76.00 if you are visiting.
Who does not need one
- Anglers 16 and under. The youth licence is optional and buys reporting privileges, not the right to fish.
- Everyone on the two Free Fishing Weekends, in February and June.
Nobody needs a licence on Michiganβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official DNR licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 26 Michigan waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Lake St. Clair β Wayne County
- Pere Marquette River β Mason County
- Grand River β Kent County
- Muskegon River β Newaygo County
- Detroit River β Wayne County
- Lake Gogebic β Gogebic County
- St. Clair River β St. Clair County
- Houghton Lake β Roscommon County
- Saginaw Bay β Bay County
- St. Joseph River β Berrien County
- Higgins Lake β Roscommon County
- Hamlin Lake β Mason County
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in Michigan?
$26.00 for a resident annual all waters licence and $76.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
Do you need a fishing license in Michigan?
Yes, from age 17, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $26.00 for a resident annual licence, $76.00 for a visitor. 2 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in Michigan?
From age 17. Anglers under 17 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a Michigan fishing licence online?
Yes. Michigan Department of Natural Resources sells online and through licence agents. Every Michigan licence carries a $1 surcharge on top of the price shown.
When does a Michigan fishing licence expire?
On 31 March, whatever date you bought it. The licence year runs 1 April to 31 March, so buying late in the year gives you less than twelve months.
Do I need a separate trout or salmon stamp in Michigan?
No. Michigan folded species privileges into a single all-species licence, so trout, salmon and everything else are covered by the base purchase.