Fishing near Dearborn, Michigan
Wayne County, population 109,976.
- 12 milesto nearest lake
- 5launches nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Erie shore: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0
Water close to Dearborn
In 2020, 109,976 people lived in Dearborn, a Wayne County city. Newburgh Lake lies 12 miles west of town, closer than any other lake page. The biggest lake listed here is Belleville Lake, 1,254 acres. Boats go in at Belanger Park, 6 miles from the town point.
Great Lakes trips start at William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor on Detroit River, 10 miles from town. Nearby, 4 lakes list walleye, and Newburgh Lake is the shortest drive. A 24 miles drive leads to the Clinton River and its trout water. The nearest fishing site page is Detroit River (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park) fishing site, Detroit, 8 miles away.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lakes closest to Dearborn
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Satellite clarity | Trout Type | Fish on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newburgh Lake | 12 miles west | 92 | 0 | 7.6 ft (2023) | bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass | |
| Lake Muskoday | 13 miles east | 25 | 1 | 3.7 ft (2023) | ||
| Washago Pond | 15 miles southwest | 18 | 0 | carp, catfish, crappie | ||
| Belleville Lake | 17 miles southwest | 1,254 | 2 | 4 ft (2023) | black bullhead, black crappie, channel catfish | |
| Walnut Lake | 18 miles north | 236 | 0 | 14.2 ft (2023) | black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead | |
| Ford Lake, Washtenaw County | 20 miles west | 958 | 1 | 4.6 ft (2023) | black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill |
Rivers closest to Dearborn
- Ecorse River4 miles
- Middle River Rouge9 miles
- River Rouge9 miles
- Bell Branch10 miles
- Upper River Rouge11 miles
Straight-line distances from the Census point for Dearborn; EGLE lake layer, MDNR Fish Atlas and trout regulation Types.
Launches and lakes around Dearborn, mapped
- Belanger ParkDetroit River, 6 miles
- John David Dingell Jr. Boat AccessDetroit River, 6 miles
- Wyandotte Boat AccessDetroit River, 7 miles
- Riverside Park on Detroit RiverDetroit River, 7 miles
- Rotary ParkDetroit River, 12 miles
Where to fish from shore near Dearborn
- Detroit River (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park) fishing site, DetroitDetroit River (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park), 8 miles
- Newburgh Lake fishing site, LivoniaNewburgh Lake, 11 miles
- Trenton Channel (Detroit River) fishing site, Grosse Ile/TrentonTrenton Channel (Detroit River), 13 miles
- Founder's Fishing Pier fishing site, Farmington HillsFounder's Fishing Pier, 14 miles
- Washago Pond fishing site, HuronWashago Pond, 15 miles
- Maybury Pond fishing site, Northville TwpMaybury Pond, 18 miles
Nearest Great Lakes ports to Dearborn
- William G. Milliken State Park and HarborDetroit River, 10 miles
- Detroit Erma Henderson ParkLake St. Clair, 12 miles
- Trenton Elizabeth Park MarinaLake Erie, 13 miles
Stream gauges a drive from Dearborn
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower River Rouge At Dearborn, Mi | 40 cfs, 3.23 ft gage height | Oct 23 4:00 am |
| River Rouge At Detroit, Mi | 43 cfs, 4.89 ft gage height | Oct 23 3:45 am |
| Ecorse River At Dearborn Heights, Mi | 1 cfs, 2.29 ft gage height | Oct 23 4:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 23, 2026 4:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Bait shops and charters by Dearborn
Shops to stop at on the way to Dearborn
- Angles by Aubreybait and tackle shop, Dearborn, 2 miles
- United Tackle Distributorbait and tackle shop, Melvindale, 3 miles
- Specialized Boat Caremarina, Dearborn, 4 miles
- Zubok's Bait Tackle Marinebait and tackle shop, Taylor, 4 miles
- Motor City Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Detroit, 6 miles
- Motor CIty Marinamarina, Wyandotte, 7 miles
- Boaters Value Storemarina, Wyandotte, 7 miles
- Midway Marina Incmarina, Wyandotte, 7 miles
Guides that list Dearborn
- Fish-N-Fun Chartercharter, Detroit, (313) 882-3018
Registered contests in the county of Dearborn
| Date | Event | Water | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027-04-03 | Michigan Walleye Tour – Sbwc | Lake Erie | Walleye |
| 2027-04-04 | Michigan Walleye Tour – Sbwc | Lake Erie | Walleye |
| 2026-09-08 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
| 2026-09-01 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
| 2026-08-25 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
| 2026-08-18 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
| 2026-08-14 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
| 2026-08-04 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
| 2026-08-01 | Teamsters Helping Hands | Lake Erie | Bass |
| 2026-07-28 | Belleville Bass Club Tuesday Night Tourament | Belleville Lake | Bass |
MDNR Fishing Tournament Information System, public registrations for Wayne County, checked October 2026.
Big fish and hatchery plants near Dearborn
| Water | Species | Number | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Muskoday | Channel catfish | 358 | 2025-06-24 |
DNR State Record Fish table and MDNR Fish Stocking Report (FSIS), 2024 to 2026.
Seasons for Dearborn anglers
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations; walleye and pike rows for the Lower Peninsula. Lake pages show trout Types and any exception.
A short drive from Dearborn
Base camps for Dearborn
- Melvindale3 miles
- Allen Park4 miles
- Dearborn Heights4 miles
- Lincoln Park5 miles
- River Rouge5 miles
Counties that Dearborn spans
- Wayne Countyseat: Detroit
Piscifun gear picked for Dearborn
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Species to expect at Dearborn
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain
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Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
What anglers in Dearborn want settled
Which lake takes the least driving from Dearborn?
Newburgh Lake, 12 miles west.
Which public ramp is closest to Dearborn?
Belanger Park, roughly 6 miles.
Which MDNR fishing site suits shore anglers from Dearborn?
Closest: Detroit River (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park) fishing site, Detroit, 8 miles.
Does Dearborn have bait and tackle nearby?
Try Angles by Aubrey, about 2 miles.
Where do Dearborn walleye anglers start?
Newburgh Lake, 12 miles away, has walleye in MDNR records.
Under which county does Dearborn fall?
Wayne County covers it.
Can Dearborn anglers reach a trout stream quickly?
24 miles to the Clinton River (Type 4).
Which peninsula rules apply in Dearborn?
Last Sat. in April, unless a lake page shows an exception.
What do out-of-state anglers visiting Dearborn pay?
One day costs $10; the nonresident annual all-species license is $76.
Can I fish the Great Lakes from Dearborn?
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor on Detroit River, 10 miles away.