The weather has been great this week but most are tired of ice fishing and the lakes are deserted with great ice. What few guys are out the fish are biting, smelt good on Higgins and Crystal. Most are waiting for open water and crappie to start running in the canals.
On Monday, April 1st, all anglers 17 years of age and older will be required to have a 2013 fishing license. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 2013 Fishing Guide when you purchase your license. Even though the calendar says spring, ice fishing is going strong in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. While spring is slow to arrive this year, a long, slow warm-up is better for fish production.
Northwestern Michigan
Skegemog- Perch have been on the bite big time this week with many limit catches.Call Jack’s Sport Shop@231-258-8892
Fife Lake- Real slow this week Call Lakeside Party @ 231-879-4346
Portage Lake- Osborn’s says big perch are biting and the lake has no people on it. Call Osborne’s@ 231-889-3775
Hamlin Lake- Has had a good bite this week with crappie and gills being caught in limit numbers. Call PM Expeditions@ 231-425-8913 or Hamlin Grocery@(231) 843-2058 and Capt. Chucks @ (231) 843-4458
Lake Missaukee- Fishing has been great with crappie, and gills on the bite. Call Miller Corner@ 231-839-0440.
Betsie River: Is producing a fair number of steelhead. Try flies, spawn or a wax
Crystal Lake: Continues to produce smelt.
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing continues however the shoreline ice is starting to deteriorate. Those fishing have caught crappie and bluegill but catch rates were hit-or-miss.
Lake Mitchell: Still has ice fishing. Be careful along the shoreline. Those fishing in the coves have caught a few fish.
Pere Marquette River: Fresh steelhead are moving into the river system. Anglers could see a big push of fish in the next week or so as temperatures and water levels slowly rise.
Big Manistee River: Is fishable and should have a fair to good number of steelhead including some fresh fish. Many are fly fishing below Tippy Dam. Pappy’s Bait is open for the season at Wellston shop hours are 7 to 5 right now call@ 231-848-4142 he gets reports daily on Tippy Dam
Crystal Lake Many are fishing off Lobb Rd. for perch, whitefish and smelt. Whitefish in 60 feet of water with a hali jig tipped with a perch minnow or wiggler and 4lb line.
Northeast Michigan
Black Lake- Has good ice with perch being caught. Call Parrots Outpost for the latest ice conditions (989) 733-2472
Mullet Lake– Is producing perch for those using minnows and wigglers call Mullet Lake Party store@ (231) 627-4644 or Topinabee Market@ 231-238-9578
Burt Lake: Catch rates have been good on perch un Maple Bay and the ice is still good. Call Pat & Gary’s Party Store 231-238-6776
Grand Lake: Was producing a few perch. Try 15 to 25 feet of water around Grand Island.
Long Lake: Is producing bluegill and perch. Try a teardrop with a minnow or wiggler.. Call Bucks@ 989-595-2121
Otsego Lake- Fishing has been fair on Otsego Perch fishing has been fair on Bradford, chub Lake trout fishing has been good. Call Northern Sports@ 987-448-2014
Higgins Lake- Still has ice however the shoreline along the west side has started to deteriorate. Anglers can access the ice off the North State Park and the west boat launch however access is now determined on a day-by-day basis. Smelt were caught off Big Creek, the west launch and the North State Park. A few perch were caught out near the Sunken Island. Call Phoenix Park 989-821-7220 or Sports Barn 989-821-9511 for latest ice conditions
Houghton Lake- While many have quit ice fishing, those still going out have caught a few perch and some bluegills. Honeycomb ice is starting to show up along the surface only.
Most are using wigglers and wax worms in 7 to 9 feet of water out by the Middle Grounds.
Lyman’s @ 989-422-3231 says bluegill have been biting along with nice perch and crappie.
Korbinski’s call Rod@ 989-366-9500
Pappa’s Bait reporting great bluegill fishing off the middle grounds on Houghton Lake. 989-429-5780
Cheboygan River: Steelhead started to move into the river however cold water temperatures will slow the bite. Fish the deeper holes until it warms up.
Ocqueoc River: Also has steelhead moving into the river.
Oscoda: Pier anglers caught steelhead on spawn, spoons, spinners or body baits.
Au Sable River: With the warmer weather, melt off is increasing the river flow. Spawn, spoons, spinners and body baits are working well down near the mouth. Upstream, try spawn, spinners, wax worms or flies. Look in the deeper holes as most fish were not on the gravel.
Tawas: Ice anglers inside the state harbor and open water anglers fishing outside the wall are getting brown trout, steelhead and lake trout. Live minnows are best but spoons were also working in open water.
Tawas River: Those casting lakeward off the mouth have caught a few walleye.
Au Gres: Boats trolling off the mouth are getting a few walleye.
Au Gres River: Is high and muddy. A few perch and a good number of steelhead have been caught where there is open water in the river and by those surfcasting.
Rifle River: The sucker runs are just getting started. The action should pick up through the week and peak sometime next week.
Pine River: An ice jam at the mouth was preventing boats from launching. The water is high and muddy. The only thing caught was a couple small perch.
Upper Peninsula Report
Keweenaw Bay: Catch rates for lake trout were spotty. Those fishing on the reefs are using lead head jigs cut bait such as smelt or suckers in 120 to 180 feet of water. Those fishing out from Whirl-I-Gig Road and Pequaming were in 240 to 275 feet of water but catch rates for coho, lake herring and whitefish were hit-or-miss. A nice lake trout measuring just over 37 inches was caught off Big Reef. Anglers say they can see clouds of smelt on the fish finders however it seems they are not feeding because catch rates were slow.
Falls River: Was producing a few rainbow trout.
Marquette: Changing wind directions have been shifting the ice so much that it is no longer safe to venture out. The Lower Harbor and breakwall were still iced in at the launch. The Upper Harbor has one launch open for boat access. Anglers did manage to catch some coho, lake herring and splake near the “Bubblers.” They were using small jigs and spinners tipped with crawlers or cut bait.
Carp River: Those casting from shore had no luck for coho and steelhead.
Chicagon Lake: Whitefish are active in 45 to 65 feet of water most mornings. Perch fishing was spotty.
Iron Lake: The morning bite was good for perch and bluegill. Use minnows or wax worms in 14 to 17 feet of water. Slush is making travel difficult.
Groveland Mine Ponds: Few anglers were out because of deep snow on the lakes. The road getting to the lakes is in poor condition because of the deep snow. Those that could make it out did catch some nice bluegills in 25 feet of water near the boat launch on South Lake. They were jigging wax worms at different depths.
Lake Antoine: In Dickinson County also has a good amount of ice but deep snow continues to make travel difficult. The few anglers that were out did catch a few small perch on wax worms near the middle of the lake.
Little Bay De Noc: Ice was holding across the Bay however large ships have been moving in and out near Escanaba. Angler participation has been low with many removing their ice shanties. All shanties must be off the water by midnight March 31st. Perch fishing was fair between the “Narrows” and the Second Reef. Some jumbo perch were caught on minnows and wigglers in 8 to 30 feet of water. Good catches of small perch were reported around Butler Island in 5 to 10 feet of water. Whitefish anglers off Sand Point were lucky to catch a couple fish in 75 to 85 feet of water when using minnows or spawn.
Keweenaw Bay: The lake trout bite continues to be hit-or-miss out near Big Reef, Newton’s Reef and Farmers Reef in 130 to 180 feet of water. Those fishing off Whirl-I-Gig Road did well when using lead jigs with cut smelt. Try 200 to 265 feet of water.
Falls River: Is fishable. Anglers will find some rainbow trout.
Marquette: Strong northwest winds have opened up areas close to shore. There is still substantial ice flows on the lake and the area from the Chocolay River to Shot Point remains iced in. Both launches at the Upper Harbor are free of snow but the Lower Harbor remains iced in. The breakwalls are still ice covered.
Carp River: Has steelhead moving into the river. Anglers have caught a few when casting real or artificial crawlers and small crank baits.
Groveland Mine Ponds: Ice fishing is still going strong however deep snow is making travel much more difficult. Those fishing Island Lake caught lots of small bluegills when jigging wax worms.
Lake Antoine: Still has ice but the accumulation of snow has made travel difficult. A few perch were caught by those jigging with wax worms or using tip-ups with minnows in the middle of the lake.
Little Bay De Noc: Still has significant ice north of Escanaba. To the south is open water starting at Portage Point. Perch anglers with portable shanties are fishing near Butler Island and the “Narrows.” Catch rates were fair in 18 to 30 feet of water when using wigglers, minnows or mousies. Rivers in the area were still iced over but starting to show signs of breaking up.
Au Train: The bay is still iced in. A few anglers were jigging for coho off the Brownstone Launch but no fish were caught. There is still a good foot of fishable ice however strong northwest winds have created pressure cracks near shore. The Brownstone launch still has close to three feet of snow.
Au Train River: Has open water at the mouth. Those jigging caught no fish.
Rock River: Is slowly opening up but remains frozen at the mouth.
Munising: Fishable ice could still be found from the West Channel near Christmas to Sand Point. Walking conditions improved as melting from the sun followed by cold nights helped to firm up the top layer. Catch rates for coho were slow but a few whitefish were caught by those jigging a single egg or wax worm. Splake were still scattered so catch rates were slow. Good catches of smelt were reported near Sand Point. Anglers were jigging about halfway down. Burbot have been caught in the evening. Those hoping to catch lake trout in the West Channel had no luck. Trout Bay had fishable ice. Those targeting coho reported some limit catches.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Boat anglers are picking up a few walleye in Brest Bay and near Luna Pier. While marking lots of fish the bite was still slow. Most are using Husky Jerks or Reef Runners.
Huron River: Steelhead were caught on flies, small hair jigs and Little Cleo’s.
Detroit River: Perch were caught in the marinas and canals around Grosse Ile however the bite was starting to slow. Try a slip bobber with a minnow. A few walleye were caught in the lower Trenton Channel in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Lake St. Clair: A few perch were taken along the shoreline and in the marinas.
Port Huron: Activity was starting to pick up along the wall as anglers try smelt dipping or fishing for trout and salmon.
Lexington: To Port Austin is transitioning from ice to open water fishing.
Harbor Beach: A couple steelhead and brown trout were caught. The bigger live minnows worked best but hardware is worth a try. For now, try still-fishing with a live minnow on one pole while casting a spoon on another.
Saginaw Bay: The ice off Palmer Road is gone. Boat anglers fishing lakeward of the Saginaw River mouth are taking good catches of walleye. Most are using jigs with minnows. Sebewaing had good perch fishing in the river during the warm-up.
Saginaw River: Anglers between the mouth and Essexville have taken limit catches of large perch. They are using perch rigs with shiners.
Quanicassee River: Was producing limits of large perch for those using perch rigs with shiners between the bay and the M-25 Bridge. Catch rates were not as good off the old State Road Bridge.
Pinnebog River: A few suckers were just starting to show up however it is still early for them at this location.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
St. Joseph River: Coho were starting to show up along the pier.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead were caught between the Allegan Dam and M-89.
Rabbit River: Was producing steelhead near the Hamilton Dam.
Grand Haven: Is producing some steelhead for pier anglers.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Fresh fish are moving in and will continue especially with rain in the forecast next week.
Grand River at Lansing: Anglers are still catching steelhead in Prairie Creek. Rain is needed to bring fish up to Lansing. Now is the time to start targeting catfish.
Muskegon River: Yellow perch were caught at the Davis Bridge.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
Easter has passed and some are still ice fishing. Last year at this time many had made several trips in their boats.
The lakes look empty. Currently expect 16 inches and more. However, the shore lines show evidence of rotting. Great things are suppose to happen at last ice. So far the crappie and gills have been spotty. One day we do well, the next only a few. You just have to be there. On the catching days, it seems the crappie are suspended to the top 4 feet.
Even with the remaining cold weather our safe ice fishing days are numbered. All good things come to an end.
While the ice is declining, river fishing has caught most anglers attention. The Manistee River has turned many anglers into River Rats. Guys and girls both are catching steelhead fever.
The river’s cold but there’s plenty of fish. The parking lot at Tippy Dam is starting to fill up. Lots of stories of numbers caught, several in the 10 pound range. As the snow thaws fishing will only get better.
You’ve been warned. Your 2012 Fishing License expired 3/31/2012. The 2013 licenses are the same price.
No increase. This is the time to get a 15 percent discount if you purchase 4 or more
licenses at one time. Some restrictions apply.
