By joining one of MSSFA’s fourteen chapters you are joining a group of fishermen, women and children who enjoy being around the Great Lakes and its fishery. By joining, you are also showing that you care enough about the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways, that you’re willing to join a group of individuals who want to get as much as they can of what the Great Lakes has to offer while maintaining their natural beauty and resources. If there is one thing Steelheaders know how to do well, it’s how to enjoy the fishery by knowing the latest techniques and tactics that consistently put fish in the boat or creel under all conditions. It is well known that if you wait to improve at something you need to surround yourself with people who are just as eager to learn, as well as being involved with people who have the experience to show you how.

In every MSSFA chapter there are such people; people who are experts at catching salmon, steelhead, lake trout and even walleye and other Michigan sport fish. Many Steelheaders are as comfortable on the river or stream as they are on the big lakes or small ponds. They don’t just fish for salmon or trout, they fish for all species and enjoy being outdoors and on the water.

All MSSFA chapters have their own schedules with events such as membership meetings where ideas are shared and chapter happenings are discussed. Some of the other events include kid’s fish outings, cook outs, boat and fishing show involvement and seminars. Most chapters publish their own newsletters to keep you informed of upcoming local events and issues. The most popular outings are chapter tournaments. Mostly these are not big money, high entry fee tournaments. They are outings where the members get together for a fun day of competition among club members at various ports around the state. Families and friends who enjoy one an others company make up the teams and after a day of fishing, they usually finish with a big cook out or social gathering. Each chapter has its own schedule which can be seen on the chapter’s website or in the official MSSFA publication The Great Lakes Sport Fishing News which you receive for free just by joining. Yes, we do stay on top of what’s going on in Lansing with potential laws and regulations concerning the fishery as well as what’s being discussed inside the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In fact, the Steelheaders have representation and input on a number of Great Lakes Advisory Committees where we express the concerns and viewpoints of our membership. We have a representative to monitor tribal issues, an executive director that meets regularly with the DNR Fisheries Chief, the DNR Director and the Natural Resources Commission as well as various state representatives and senators.

Joining the Steelheaders is simple and compared too many other organizations, still inexpensive for what you get. To join, search out a chapter and take a look at what they are involved in. Feel free to contact someone from that chapter and ask questions. If you have any questions on who to contact, start by contacting the Membership Office at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can become involved with as much or as little as your schedule allows. Whether you just fish in tournaments, attend the membership meetings or you simply join just to receive The Great Lakes Sport Fishing News, it’s up to you but at least you’ll have the opportunity to get involved with the outings when you are ready as well and having a voice in the direction of maintaining a healthy fishery. As a member, you will also be entitled to numerous discounts from various merchants around the state by showing your MSSFA membership card to them when making purchases; see the website or the GLSFN for a complete list of the “It Pays to Belong” merchants.

So why join the Steelheaders…. Got kids, love fishing? JOIN NOW! And become a member of the largest organized group of fishermen in the Great Lakes Basin. There are chapters throughout the entire state. Click on the link to the chapter nearest to you and join today! You too can begin protecting, promoting and enhancing sport fishing in the Great Lakes and connecting waterways!