Michigan Mixed Bag: New slot limit for walleyes on two Upper Peninsula lakes

Marquette, Mich. — Anglers fishing for walleyes in Lake Independence or Teal Lake in Marquette County have been reminded of a regulation change that makes walleyes smaller than 15 inches and those between 18 and 23 inches protected from harvest. Walleyes caught in those slots must be released, DNR noted in an announcement shortly before the possession season for walleyes on Upper Peninsula inland waters opened May 15.

The daily possession limit for walleye on these waters also remains at five fish; however, only one of those five walleyes can be more than 23 inches long. Information on this regulation can be found on Page 13 of the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations.

The Management Plan for walleyes in Michigan’s Inland Waters, published in 2022, provides a framework to guide walleye management efforts. A protected slot limit is one of the regulatory tools listed in the plan to help sustain walleye populations.

This regulation type is used by fisheries managers to protect spawning females to benefit recruitment (fry growing into mature fish), as well as to improve the quality of the fishery; this kind of regulation can produce both more and larger walleye in a population.

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Michigan United Conservation Clubs will call it quits this summer

KIDS FISHING DAY EVENT SCHEDULED AT POCKET PARK

Escanaba, Mich. — The 33rd Kids Fishing Day will be held June 13 at the Michigan DNR’s Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba. Registration for will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the event will run until 3 p.m. All activities are free of charge and open to youth ages 16 years old and younger.

“We are excited to again hold our fishing event at the Pocket Park,” said Brenda Madden, longtime Kids Fishing Day team member and organizer. “It offers plenty of space for the traditional fun favorites at Kids Fishing Day and the Pocket Park offers a beautiful natural-like setting right in the middle of Escanaba.”

Familiar activities returning include bluegill fishing, minnow races and face painting, along with free food and prizes. In addition, Smokey Bear will be wandering the grounds. There will also be a scavenger hunt and opportunities for kids to learn how to shoot at Pocket Park’s archery and pellet gun ranges. The DNR Pocket Park is located nearest Gate No. 1.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to help at the event, please call 906-286-1348.

WILDLIFE HABITAT GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN

Lansing — The Michigan DNR is accepting applications for about $1 million in wildlife habitat improvement grants through June 25. The grants are available through the DNR Wildlife Habitat Grant Program, which began in 2013 and is funded from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. The program enhances and improves the quality and quantity of wildlife species habitat across Michigan in support of the DNR Wildlife Division’s strategic plan. The 2026 grant cycle prioritizes projects that restore large complexes of grassland and savanna habitat.

Funding is available for local, state, federal and tribal governments, and for-profit and nonprofit organizations through an open, competitive process. The application period opened today; applications must be submitted through the MiGrants system by June 25.

Successful grants will be announced in August.

MICHIGAN ANGLERS AGAIN INVITED TO TAKE PART IN 2026 VERSION OF MIDWEST WALLEYE CHALLENGE

Lansing — The Midwest Walleye Challenge has returned for 2026 and the contest runs through June 28. The Michigan DNR is partnering with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas on the walleye fishing challenge.

This year, the challenge will include two new features: County Captains and weekly challenges aimed at boosting angler engagement in participating states. As part of the challenge, anglers report their catches of walleye and their fishing trips in the MyCatch mobile app. The app uses anonymous location data, while Michigan DNR fisheries biologists get valuable information – generalized lake and river catch data entered via the app – to better assess and manage walleye populations.

This year’s challenge includes several states across the Midwest as part of a larger fisheries research project. States participating and promoting the challenge include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska and South Dakota. Michigan anglers compete only against Michigan anglers for weekly prizes. The addition of County Captains, who will serve as local leaders to encourage anglers in their counties to participate, and weekly challenges with different goals throughout the season.

Participants pay a $25 fee to register, which qualifies them for prizes, including cash payouts. The entry fee also includes a $20 Discount Tackle gift certificate for every angler who reports a trip.

For more information, email Angler’s Atlas at events@anglersatlas.com.

MICHIGAN ADDS ‘SCOOPING’ AIRCRAFT TO ARSENAL

Gaylord, Mich. — Two Fire Boss aircraft, each capable of scooping up to 800 gallons of water from a lake in just 15 seconds, have been added to the Michigan DNR firefighting fleet. The planes, leased from late April through early June – historically the worst part of Michigan’s fire season – are housed at the Gaylord Regional Airport.

DNR explained that such a central location “is ideal to respond to wildfire anywhere in the state and especially for the areas hit hard by the ice storm of 2025.”

“The branches and trees downed from the ice storm can impede us getting into the woods with equipment,” said Kevin Jacobs, DNR aviation manager. “The added debris on the ground will add fuel to the fire, which could cause wildfires to spread faster and burn with more intensity.”

Jacobs said the Fire Boss aircraft don’t replace crews on the ground but can offer an important head start once a fire is discovered. The planes are Air Tractor AT-802 models, designed for agricultural use and modified to include floats for landing on water.