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Outdoors
Outdoors
MARQUETTE — If Michigan’s early spring weather patterns continue, the spring trout fishing opener for this year looks to be one of the more mild and pleasant seasons for fishing as compared to the long-term average. Trout anglers will remember seeing spring openers with snow on back country roads and lakes that were frozen thick enough to allow for ice-fishing.
With early snow thaw, trout openers such as this year, anglers can enjoy warmer temperatures, most streams flowing at levels within their banks and snow-free road access to interior fishing sites.
Michigan anglers are fortunate to have year-round trout fishing access to many lakes and portions of rivers across Michigan. However, these opportunities are on waters that have specially designated rules.
The annual tradition of spring fishing, regarded by many as the official trout season opener, begins on the last Saturday in April on all Type-1 classified trout streams and Type A and D lakes. Type-1 streams and Type-A classified lakes are known as the typical across-the-landscape brook trout waters, while the Type-D lakes are known as the quality size brook trout lakes.
Recent satellite imagery shows that most of the Upper Peninsula winter snowpack has melted and the spring snowmelt water runoff has already largely been completed.
If conditions remain warm and dry, anglers will see clear streams, summer-like water levels and insect hatches that entice brook trout into a better feeding bite. As always, U.P. anglers are never surprised by a late spring snowstorm that sometimes can occur. Therefore, while the spring trout opener looks to be shirt-sleeve weather, it’s always wise to keep your warmer hat and coat close at hand.
Stocking of brook trout and splake in the U.P. from the Marquette State Fish Hatchery began during the week of April 12 and will continue into the month of May.
Splake are a hybrid trout produced by the pairing of brook trout and lake trout. Splake are typically stocked into specified inland lakes as well as Munising Bay and Copper Harbor. Munising and Copper Harbor will receive their splake in late April this year, versus the mid-May stocking of a typical year. These splake will be 8 to 10.5 inches long.
This past winter’s mild weather helped produce daily water rearing temperatures at the Marquette hatchery that were warmer than normal, and all fish in the rearing raceways added noticeable increased growth compared to growth during average winters.
Anglers this spring will see very nice sized yearling brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout from Michigan’s hatcheries. Area brook trout lakes and streams will benefit by receiving fish in the 7- to 9-inch length range. Numerous wild, unstocked brook trout waters are also available for fishing. Staffers at local DNR offices can put anglers in touch with information about these places.
Anglers searching for places to fish can log onto the Michigan DNR Trout Trails webpage to find areas with good fishing opportunities. The webpage provides information about special lakes and streams, with an overview of what types of trout can be caught, and with directions on getting to the site.
To be ready for the opening day, anglers may purchase a fishing license online, with an optional auto-renewal program so that a new fishing license can be obtained next March for the 2022 fishing season without having to remember to do so.
To keep up to date on good fishing locations, anglers can also sign up to receive a weekly fishing report. Fishing regulations are found in the DNR’s Fishing Digest for 2021, located at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests and can be downloaded to a computer or smartphone.
To learn more about past DNR fish stocking, tactics, Family Friendly Fishing Waters and more, visit Michigan.gov/Fishing.