The 2021 lake sturgeon season on Black Lake in Cheboygan County will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. All anglers must register online to participate in this season.

The total 2021 season allocation on Black Lake is seven lake sturgeon. However, to reduce the chance of exceeding this allocation, officials will close the season when one of two scenarios occurs:

  1. The sixth fish is harvested.
  2. Five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.

Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season. The season will end either at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified via text message and on the ice by DNR personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon. Participating anglers age 17 or older must have a valid Michigan fishing license.

Anglers must register for the season. This year anglers must register online by Feb. 5 to participate in the season. More information about registration can be found at Michigan.gov/Fishing.

Those who harvest a lake sturgeon must immediately contact DNR personnel on the ice to register the lake sturgeon harvest. Harvest registration may include an examination of internal organs and removal of a piece of fin tissue for DNA analysis and aging.

Anglers should be aware of marginal ice conditions on regional lakes so far this year and use extreme caution. Visit Michigan.gov/IceSafety for tips to stay safe on the ice.