Michigan 2026 sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake starts Feb. 7

Will the Black Lake sturgeon fishing season set one other time report in 2026? We’ll know on February 7 when the season begins – and almost certainly ends.

The 2026 lake sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties begins at 8 a.m. Feb. 7. according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The season historically begins on the primary Saturday in February and runs till the next Wednesday or till the quota of six sturgeons is reached. Final yr it took 17 minutes, the quickest ever.

Throughout the season, fishing hours are from 8am to 2pm on daily basis.

There isn’t any dimension requirement for sturgeon caught within the 2026 season.

The longest season that may final is till February 11 at 2 p.m. Nonetheless, the season ends as soon as six fish have been harvested or when 5 fish have been harvested on the finish of a fishing day.

Historically the season solely lasts about an hour. In 2023 it lasted 65 minutes. In 2022 it was over after 36 minutes. The Black Lake sturgeon fishing season was canceled for the primary time ever in 2024 as a result of marginal ice situations and ice depletion on Black Lake.

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Recording of the Black Lake sturgeon season

Registration is required for all anglers who wish to take part within the Black Lake sturgeon season. Contributors should register on-line. Private registration shouldn’t be attainable.

Previous to registration, members will need to have a present Michigan fishing license except the angler is 16 years of age or youthful.

Cellphone numbers are required as a part of registration to obtain occasion and harvest updates.

Black Lake Sturgeon Fishing Season Guidelines

Black Lake anglers are allowed to reap one lake sturgeon and the fish should be reported instantly to DNR workers on the ice or by calling 231-340-0276 if DNR workers can’t be situated. Official recording of every harvested fish will happen on a DNR trailer situated on the Zolner Street entry within the northwest portion of Black Lake.

Up to now, harvest recording included an examination of the fish’s inner organs and the elimination of a pattern of fin tissue for DNA evaluation or getting older.

The season contains spearfishing and hook-and-line fishing.

In line with the DNR, collaborating fishermen should carry their very own shiny pink flags (1 foot in diameter or bigger) to hold on fishing boats. When the season is over, the flags should be eliminated instantly.

Fishermen will obtain textual content messages the evening earlier than the season begins, at 8 a.m. on February 7, when the season begins, when a fish is recorded as caught by an angler and when the season ends.

May Black Lake sturgeon season be canceled once more?

The DNR might cancel the season as much as 48 hours prematurely if situations pose a big threat to the secure and efficient conduct of harvest assortment.

The DNR will submit notices on its web site and supply digital notification if the season is canceled.

The non-profit group Black Lake chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow common posts updates about Black Lake ice conditions on its Facebook page through the winter.

Black Lake sturgeon Shivaree

The annual Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree Pageant takes place from February 6 to 7. Occasions embody meals, dwell music, an ice fishing contest, poker run, raffles, bonfire, youngsters’s actions, winter backyard video games and extra.

It’s going to happen close to the previous Black Lake Resort at 1701 Winifred St. in Cheboygan on the west financial institution of Zolner Street.

The doorway payment is $5.

2025 Black Lake Sturgeon Harvest Outcomes

The biggest lake sturgeon caught through the 2025 Black Lake season was 24 inches lengthy, weighed 78.3 kilos and was harvested by Austin Dreifuerst.

Final yr there have been 797 fishermen registered.

The biggest lake sturgeon ever caught in Michigan weighed 193 kilos, in accordance with the DNR.

Historical past of lake sturgeon in Black Lake

Lake sturgeon are one of many oldest species within the Nice Lakes.

The DNR and several other entities have been working to rehabilitate Michigan’s lake sturgeon populations after they’ve declined dramatically for the reason that 1800s as a result of habitat loss and degradation and overfishing, the DNR mentioned.

Michigan banned the taking of lake sturgeon statewide in 1928, in accordance with a 2016 Lake Sturgeon Management Plan in Black Lake.

Starting in 1948, restricted sport fishing for lake sturgeon was permitted on inland lakes open to spearfishing, together with Black Lake. Fishermen have been allowed to reap two sturgeon at the least 36 inches lengthy throughout a two-month season that came about in January and February. The minimal size was modified to 42 inches in 1952.

Within the late Nineteen Nineties, there have been considerations about an obvious decline within the species’ inhabitants in Black Lake following declining harvests.

In 2000, extremely restrictive lake sturgeon harvest rules have been applied for Black Lake. From 2000 to 2009, the fishing season was restricted to 9 days or till a quota of 5 fish was met. The minimal fish dimension was set at 36 inches and solely a restricted variety of anglers might take part.

In 2010, the variety of fishermen allowed to take part turned limitless and the season was set at 5 days or till the state harvest quota was met. The scale restrict for harvested fish was additionally eliminated to assist cut back the harvest of grownup females. For the reason that 2010 rule adjustments, participation has ranged from 197 to 797 anglers.

Nonetheless, in 2011, 4 fish have been harvested above the state restrict and security measures have been put in place to make sure quotas weren’t exceeded.

Sturgeon administration

In line with the DNR, the sturgeon inhabitants has elevated over the previous 20 years as a result of rearing and stocking efforts, analysis and safety of spawning adults.

The species acquired elevated consideration in 1997 when the Michigan DNR Fisheries Division accomplished the primary model of the statewide lake sturgeon rehabilitation technique.

The species is of cultural significance to tribes in Michigan. The fish are managed collectively by the state and the tribes within the 1836 Treaty Space.

In July 2024, a survey was performed in Cheboygan County on Mullett Lake to guage the standing of juvenile lake sturgeon and the success of stocking efforts. Solely 42 particular person lake sturgeon have been captured through the research. They ranged from 29.5 to 70.5 inches in size. Seven of the fish caught have been confirmed to be from the stocking as a result of presence of tags.

In July 2023, a research was conducted in Black Lake Greater than 400 lake sturgeons have been captured through the three-week research. They ranged from 23 to 66.4 inches in size. The vast majority of the specimens caught consisted of stocked lake sturgeons.

One other survey was deliberate for Burt Lake in 2025.

Black Lake Sturgeon Facility

A partnership between Michigan State College and the Division of Fisheries, which started in 2002, allowed for extra analysis on lake sturgeon.

Black Lake’s sturgeon facility in Cheboygan County is centered round a riverside analysis and hatchery facility. The hatchery has resulted within the stocking of 33,416 juvenile lake sturgeon within the Cheboygan River drainage.