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Spring fish runs in Michigan

Michigan Spring Fish Runs: Walleye and Rainbow Smelt

Walleye runs on the Muskegon, Detroit and Tittabawassee rivers, and rainbow smelt spawning in Upper Peninsula streams for about three weeks from April.

Michigan at a glance

Read October 13, 2026
4
Runs
on 4 waters
2
Species
walleye and rainbow smelt
March
First to start
Walleye on the Muskegon River
45 to 50°F
Spawning water
for walleye
2
USGS gauges
on the Muskegon River

Months, temperatures and places are the agency’s own, quoted on each run below. The verdict on each card is worked out in your browser against today and the latest reading at the gauge on that river.

Is the run on?

Every Michigan run, and where it stands today

Walleye

Walleye on the Muskegon River

When
Usually late March and April.
Spawns at
45 to 50°F Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, for the species
The run
below Croton Dam downstream past Newaygo
Where to go
Pine Street Access Site
During 4-5 days in late March and early April, crews from Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit (SLMMU) electro-shock walleye below Croton Dam and bring them to shore for hatchery crews to spawn.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (2), where to fish and notes
Open season2026 regulations
Last Sat. in April – March 15: Lower Peninsula inland waters
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Gear rule2026 regulations
On all waters of the White R. (from mouth upstream to Hesperia Dam) and all waters of the N. Br. White R. and Muskegon R. (upstream to Croton Dam) special artificial lure regulations apply (p. 8).
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Where to fish
The egg-take zone runs from Croton Dam downstream to the Pine Street Access Site, so anglers who wish to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream from the Pine Street Access Site.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, news release of March 17, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
The Muskegon River has the largest run of walleye in the Lake Michigan watershed, south of Green Bay, and its adult walleye population is primarily stocked fish.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, news release of March 17, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
The number of spawning walleye in the Muskegon River has been estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 fish.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, news release of March 17, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
Egg collections with electrofishing boats will start as early as the week of March 23 and conclude by April 17.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, news release of March 17, 2026. Read it at the source
Walleye

Walleye on the Detroit River

When
Usually April and May.
Spawns at
45°F Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Throughout April and May, DNR conservation officers conducted increased fish patrols on the river to ensure anglers stayed within the legal daily limit. The daily walleye limit for the Detroit River is six fish per angler.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, news release of June 5, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (2) and notes
Limit2026 regulations
L. Erie, Detroit R., L. St. Clair and St. Clair R.: The daily possession limit is 6 Walleye through April 30, 2026. The daily possession limit for Walleye will be updated by May 1 annually.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Open season2026 regulations
Open All Year: Lower Peninsula Gr. Lakes, L. St. Clair, St. Clair R. and Detroit R.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
As the seasonal peak of the world-class Detroit River walleye runs slow, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers share several cases of overlimit fishing to remind anglers of the legal possession limit.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, news release of June 5, 2026. Read it at the source
Walleye

Walleye on the Tittabawassee River

When
Usually March and April.
Spawns at
45 to 50°F Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, for the species
The run
Midland downstream to the Saginaw River
Hook and Line Restrictions During Walleye Spawning Runs ... During the period from March 16 through the Friday before the last Saturday in April:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (3)
Closure2026 regulations
Tittabawassee R. between Sanford Dam site and mouth of the Salt R. and between Dow Dam and Gordonville Bridge, closed to fishing from March 16 – Fri. before last Sat. in April.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Gear rule2026 regulations
Bad R., Cass R., Flint R., Saginaw R. from upstream of the West Center St. (Douglas G. Schenk) Bridge, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers and all their tribs the following regulations apply from March 16 – Fri. before the last Sat. in April: Anglers are limited to using unweighted single-pointed hooks, natural bait, and sinkers or weights or artificial lures with unweighted single-pointed hooks.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Open season2026 regulations
Last Sat. in April – March 15: Lower Peninsula inland waters
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Rainbow smelt

Rainbow smelt in Upper Peninsula streams

When
Usually April.
Where to go
Tahquamenon River, Roxbury Creek
Their spawning period begins in the early spring (April), and extends for about a three-week period.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (2), where to fish and notes
Limit2026 regulations
There is a two-gallon daily possession limit on Smelt.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Gear rule2026 regulations
Dip Nets: Dip nets may be used for Bowfin, carp, Longnose Gar, Smelt and suckers in waters that are not designated trout streams. A permit is required if equipment is to be left overnight.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Where to fish
Smelt Dipping Opportunities - Streams & Great Lakes Shoreline *In the following areas, smelt may concentrate in the spring*
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
The best smelt dipping these days is in Upper Peninsula streams.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
March 20 – May 31 Dip nets on all Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula streams, except Designated Trout Streams.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Advertisement
A man in waders and a red plaid shirt stands thigh deep in grey water holding a long handled dip net, with gulls wheeling overhead in thick fog
Dipping for smelt at Tawas City, Michigan, on Lake Huron in April 1973. Smelt run at night in the first weeks after the ice goes out, and the gulls find them as quickly as the people with nets do. “Smelt Run at Tawas City”, Donald Emmerich, DOCUMERICA, U.S. National Archives, Public domain
Sources

Where the Michigan runs come from

Every month, temperature, place and rule on this page is quoted from these pages, read October 13, 2026. Rules change every year, so check the current regulations before you fish.

Michigan fish run questions

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Spring fish runs in other states

Every spring fish run, state by state

Runs, months, spawning temperatures, places and rules read October 13, 2026 from the pages listed under sources. Where a state gives no temperature for a species, the figure is the species figure its publisher gives, and the card says so. Water temperatures are the latest reading at a USGS gauge on the run’s own river, fetched when the page opens; a run without one goes by the months.