Finding and identifying fish in Michigan – resources that can help

Fishing in Michigan

Have you ever gone fishing in Michigan and been unsure about what you’ve just reeled in? Have you wanted to go fishing in Michigan but aren’t sure the best techniques to use when targeting certain species? The Department of Natural Resources can help you with your fish finding and identification needs!

2013 Michigan Fishing Guide
A great first place to start is pages 42 and 43 of the 2013 Michigan Fishing Guide – “Know Your Fish: Common Fish Species.” These pages provide identification characteristics of some of the most popular fish species in Michigan.



Don’t have a hard copy of this year’s guide? You can get this information online as well: http://www.eregulations.com/michigan/fishing/know-your-fish-common-fish-species/.

Fish ID Website
Are you interested in the identifying characteristics of various Michigan fish species, as well as information on their preferred habitat and spawning cycles? Check out the DNR’s Fish ID page online which features all types of species – from Asian carp to yellow perch.

Just visit www.michigan.gov/fishid!

Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them Website
Are you interested in the fishing methods used to target various Michigan fishes, and also information on the best places to find each available species? You’ll want to visit the DNR’s Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them page online which highlights the most popular sport fishes in the state – from Atlantic salmon to yellow perch.



Just visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_52261-213908--,00.html!


For all things Fishing in Michigan – visit www.michigan.gov/fishing.