The Detroit-area spring walleye run is considered some of the best fishing in the country, and regulations help manage the heavy angler pressure.
Most Sought After Fish by Anglers in Michigan
Walleye are Michigan’s most sought-after game fish, valued for their taste and the strong fishing opportunities across the Great Lakes and inland waters, especially in Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay.
There are two more areas of excellent walleye fishing that occur mid-March through early June and those are the St. Clair River and the Detroit River.
The St. Clair River in Port Huron flows from the southern end of Lake Huron toward Lake St. Clair and becomes a prime walleye spawning area. During the run, its shores and waters fill with anglers and boats taking advantage of dense populations of fish.
The Detroit River has even more boats and anglers along its shores during the spring walleye run. The rules are different from inland lake regulations.
Walleye Run Crowds Growing: Rules You Need to Know
Following the recent case on the Detroit River where five anglers were cited for possessing more than twice the legal limit of walleye, many have suggested highlighting the area’s fishing regulations.
WXYZ-TV published a list of fishing rules for the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, and Lake Erie for Michigan, Ontario, and Ohio:
- Michigan St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair – Six fish per day, open all year, 15″ minimum size, and three rods per angler.
- Ontario St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair – Six fish per day, open all year, no size limit, and two rods per angler.
- Michigan Detroit River – Six fish per day, open year around, 15″ minimum size limit, and three rods per angler.
- Ontario Detroit River – Six fish per day, open year around, no size limit, and one rod per angler.
- Michigan Lake Erie – Six fish per day, open all year, 15″ minimum size limit, three rods per angler.
- Ontario Lake Erie – Six fish per day, open all year, no size limit, two rods per angler.
- Ohio Lake Erie – Six fish per day, open all year, 15″ minimum size limit, three rods per angler.
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Those are the rules, so it is important to know where the boundaries are, so your fishing license is valid for the waters you’re fishing…