A man and boy ice fishing on a frozen lake.

Ice Fishing

Auger down, tip-up

When the weather in Michigan gets colder, anglers get fishing across more than 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams. In fact, for many anglers, winter is the best time to get hooked.


Michigan Free Ice Fishing Weekend is Feb 15 - 16, 2025.


Ice Safety

In Michigan, fishing doesn't stop when the snow starts to fly.

Ice fishing is a time-honored sport. It can be a solitary endeavor or a chance to win bragging rights among family and friends. An ice fishing excursion can be as simple as drilling a hole in the ice and dropping in a line while perched on an overturned bucket. Or it can be an all-day outing complete with an elaborate ice shanty boasting all the comforts of home. Either way, traversing frozen waters allows anglers to reach the far corners of lakes that would be inaccessible during the open water season.

The state boasts more than 150 species of fish and almost all of them can be caught through the ice. Popular species when the ice freezes over include panfish such as bluegill and perch as well as northern pike, walleye and various trout species. Are you ready to get your fish on in Pure Michigan?  Families and friends can enjoy Free Fishing, Februay 18 - 19, 2023.

 

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Ice Safety

Ice Fishing the UP photo courtesy PhotoYoop
video slideshow
Ice Fishing Safely
man and his boy ice fishing on the frozen lake

Your safety is your responsibility! There is not a reliable "inch-thickness" to determine if ice is safe. Learn more about Ice Safety with these tips from the Department of Natural Resources.

More Information
How To: Ice Fishing for Panfish and Pike
Winter Steelhead Fishing: Hayden's Story
Ice Fishing in Pure Michigan

With over 11,000 lakes in Michigan, ice fishing offers a lot of opportunities to catch a variety of different species during the winter. Bluegill, perch, walleye, northern pike, and crappie are all popular fish species during Michigan's Winter season and are sure to hold you over until the ice melts away in the Spring. In Michigan, you have about 4-5 months of cold winter weather where the lakes freeze over enough to get some quality ice fishing in.

Up Next:
Ice Fishing Safely
man and his boy ice fishing on the frozen lake

Your safety is your responsibility! There is not a reliable "inch-thickness" to determine if ice is safe. Learn more about Ice Safety with these tips from the Department of Natural Resources.

More Information
How To: Ice Fishing for Panfish and Pike
Winter Steelhead Fishing: Hayden's Story
Ice Fishing in Pure Michigan

With over 11,000 lakes in Michigan, ice fishing offers a lot of opportunities to catch a variety of different species during the winter. Bluegill, perch, walleye, northern pike, and crappie are all popular fish species during Michigan's Winter season and are sure to hold you over until the ice melts away in the Spring. In Michigan, you have about 4-5 months of cold winter weather where the lakes freeze over enough to get some quality ice fishing in.

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The walking bridge at Island Park along the Grand River in winter Photo

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