Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Super Bowl Fishing Report
Fish Hard Before the Super Bowl
Higgins Lake has Locked up with the south-end reporting 6 inches of ice.. Some anglers are going off the West Access Site tonight for Smelt. Call Phoenix Park Party Store 989-821-7220 or Higgins Lake Sport 231-821-9517 for the West side. Sport Barn 989-821-9511 for the south-end of Higgins Lake .
Green Lake is froze over, they are vernturing out with good ice finally.
Portage Lake by Manistee report a great perch bite this week with minnows working best.
Anglers heading out onto Houghton Lake ,many are going off off Lymanville where the pike action has been good. The best areas to try and catch walleye are along the north shore, on the east bay or by the middle grounds.
Little Bay De Noc - Anglers report good ice in the northern sections of the bay and fair to dangerous conditions on the southern sections all the way down to Breezy Point. Heavy snowfalls have made travel difficult. Though walleye fishing was a bit on the slow side, fish were caught when jigging in 18 to 30 feet of water between Gladstone and Kipling. Some were fishing right on the break off Portage Point, but this is new ice on top of very deep waters so extreme caution needs to be used. Walleye were also caught out from the Terrace when fishing about 8 feet off the bottom in 40 feet of water. Perch anglers have done best when jigging minnows or wigglers in 17 feet of water off Kipling. Those spearing northern pike say the action is starting to pick up. Try 6 to 10 feet of water around the Escanaba Yacht Harbor. No whitefish anglers to report at this time..
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports slow going this week but bigger perch being caught. They have the sturgeon shanties back out and are seeing a few with a 42 incher caught and released as they have to be 50 inches..The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
By Alpena, the ice held up through the warm spell earlier in the week on Grand and Long lakes. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch and walleye. Anglers on Fletcher Pond are catching a few crappie and pike. Fletcher Floodwater is still good for pike but the panfish has been slow.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Around Manistique, Indian Lake have good ice with snow making things tough going
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week ice is ok once you get past shoreline and the ice is real good out in the middle.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is slow on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. We still have safe ice but be careful .
Gladwin Counties has good ice with good reports of panfish and pike biting
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye out at the middle grounds.. Lymanville has good ice around his shanty, pike have been biting very good
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Ice is still good
Hamlin Lake is good with lots going out to try their luck
Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - They have shanties out to the hole by the island and are catching fish this week.
The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good. Mullet Lake has opened up.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Big Glen Lake - Have not heard any reports so that means the fish are biting as they keep a tight lip if action is good.
Upper Peninsula:
Anglers on Copper Harbor are catching a few splake.
Lake Gogebic is producing fair to good perch fishing. The crappie fishing on the lake is fair and the walleye action is slow.
By Marquette, anglers are starting to catch a few splake on the Lower Marquette and Upper Marquette harbors. Anglers on Independence and Teal lakes are catching a few perch.
Munising Bay is now covered with some ice, and anglers are catching a few splake and whitefish.
Out of the Escanaba area, the walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Little Bay de Noc. Two of the best areas to fish are out from the Escanaba River and Portage Point. The marble eyes are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups. Anglers on the bay, fishing south of Gladstone are catching a few whitefish in water 25 to 40 feet deep. Try using minnows as bait, placed at the bottom of the bay.
In the Manistique area, the perch and walleye fishing is good on Indian Lake.
Munuscong Bay is producing good perch and walleye action. The walleye are hitting on spoons and jigs tipped with a minnow.
Around Drummond Island, the perch and pike fishing is fair on Scott Bay. The perch are hitting on a variety of baits, most of the northerns are being pulled up through the ice with spears.
And at St. Ignace, the perch and walleye fishing on Brevort Lake is spotty, at best.
Northwest:
Out of the Alanson area, the perch and walleye fishing is fair on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes. Minnows are the preferred bait. Anglers need to be careful on Burt Lake, due to the poor ice conditions.
By Boyne City, anglers on Lake Charlevoix are catching good numbers of perch. Both minnows and wigglers are working well as bait. The perch, pike and walleye action is good on Walloon Lake. The bluegill action on Deer Lake is good, with waxworms and spikes working well as bait.
Around Traverse City, the walleye action is fair on Long Lake. The marble eyes are hitting on minnows hooked to the end of a tip-up. Anglers on some of the smaller inland lakes are pulling a few bluegills through the ice.
In the Frankfort area, the perch fishing is fair on Crystal Lake. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to be out. Anglers on Loon Lake are catching a few perch. Along the Betsie and Manistee rivers, the steelhead fishing is fair.
Lake Skegemog near Kalkaska is producing fair to good perch fishing. Anglers on Manistee Lake are catching a few pike and walleye.
The pike and walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Otsego Lake near Gaylord. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to be out. The bluegill and perch fishing on both Bradford and Otsego lakes is fair.
And at Cadillac, the pike fishing is excellent on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. The crappie fishing is improving on Lake Cadillac. Both minnows and red spikes are being used as bait, with afternoons being the best time to be out for the crappie.
West:
Pere Marquette Lake near Ludington is producing some very good pike fishing. Most of the northerns being caught are hitting on tip-ups. The bluegill and crappie fishing is good on the upper end of Hamlin Lake. The walleye action on the lake is fair. Anglers along the Pere Marquette River are catching a few steelhead and brown trout.
The perch fishing on Pentwater Lake is very good, with wigglers being the hot bait.
Out of the Muskegon area, the pike fishing ranges from fair to good on Muskegon Lake. The middle and east ends of the lake have the best ice. The perch fishing is fair, a lot of small fish are being caught.
On Chippewa Lake, the panfish action is very good. Minnows are working well as bait. A few northerns are also being caught on the lake. And at Baldwin, the bluegill and perch action ranges from fair to good on most of the local inland lakes.
Southwest:
Fishing activity is on the slow side by Holland. Poor shore ice conditions are keeping many folks off Lake Macatawa. Some anglers from shore or on docks are punching holes through the ice and catching a few bluegill.
In the New Buffalo area, anglers along the Galien River are catching an occasional steelhead.
Around Kalamazoo, the bluegill fishing is fair on Gravel Lake. Spikes are working well as bait. Anglers on Gull Lake at night, are starting to catch a few smelt. Huzzy Lake is producing fair pike fishing. Anglers along the Kalamazoo River, below the Allegan Dam, are catching a few steelhead.
And at Three Rivers, the bluegill and perch fishing is very good on local lakes like Corey and Pleasant. The fish are hitting on a variety of baits.
Northeast:
In the Alpena area, the perch and walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on both Grand and Long lakes. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to be out.
Out of the Grayling area, the perch fishing is fair on Lake Margrethe. The best fishing is found on the south end of the lake, in water about 15 feet deep. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to be out. The bluegill and walleye fishing on the lake ranges from slow to fair.
By Oscoda, the perch fishing is good on Van Etten Lake. The pike and walleye action is fair on both Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds. Anglers along the Au Sable River are catching a few steelhead.
Higgins Lake is finally covered by some ice, anglers are pulling a few lake trout through the ice. Shiner minnows are working well as bait, in water at least 100 feet deep. The perch action on the lake is fair.
Houghton Lake is producing some good pike and walleye fishing. The northerns are hitting on tip-ups, the walleye on jigs. The best walleye action is found on the east bay, north shore or in the “middle grounds.”
And at Au Gres, the walleye fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay, in water about 25 feet deep. The marble eyes are hitting on minnows hooked to the end of a jig. Along the Au Gres River anglers are catching a few perch.
East:
By Linwood, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The ice has returned and the best fishing is found near the “black hole” in water about 20 feet deep.
Around Bay City, the walleye fishing is fair on both the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay. The best fishing on the bay is found out from Thomas Road. The perch fishing on the bay ranges from fair to good, with minnows working well as bait.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Blizzard Birds
Couple Photos of some birds around the pond today in the blizzard
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Portage Lake has a great Perch Bite
Portage Lake has been hot this week with perch and many have been jumbos. Call OSBORN’S SPORT SHOP Bear Lake @ 231-889-3775, or Don’s Sporting Goods Manistee 231-723-5028
Monday, January 28, 2008
Fishing Great
Higgins Lake has a great perch right now as many have caught limits this weekend. The smelt have not started or I have not heard any reports yet. They are catching some Lake Trout with greys working great.
Some are getting out on Green but the smelt fishing has been slow.
Houghton Lake has been good for walleye still of the middle grounds and Harvey Marina.
Pike fishing at Lymanville has been great with a 13, 14.5 and a 18 pounder brought into the pike pole. Here a couple of photos
Wixom Lake off the DNR launch has been hot with lots of panfish being caught.
Lake St. Helen has been good this weekend for panfish, pike and walleye.
Wiggins and Pratt lake have been hot in Gladwin county with some success at Secord Lake also.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Current Ice Conditions are 10 to 12 inches of ice, heavy snow and slush is building up in some places. Bring your gas auger or you won’t cut many holes.
The warmer weekend helped fishing. Some found the missing crappies and gills that we lost during the previous cold spell. It appears they’ve moved in shallower to 7-8 foot depths, and late afternoons to darks has been best. The cause way and high school area on Cadillac started again. A few also caught some decent perch in 20 foot depths on Cadillac. We’re so used to catching those skinny 4 or 5 inch that this is good news.
As is normal, see all the pike pictures from this week. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell have been good to the tip-up and spear fishermen. Pike aren’t age or gender conscious.
Tim Haysmer, known for big pike, speared this years first 40 inch, 17 pounder from Lake Cadillac, that we’re aware of. Earlier in the season he caught a 38 inch on a tip-up. He’s the one to beat in our contest. Bill Beaver is close with a 38 ½ inch, 13.6 pounder, speared over his lucky homemade decoy.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Big Glenn has Ice
Big Glenn is froze over with 2 to 4 inches of ice with man y going out tomorrow to give the perch a try.
Also Crystal Lake is Froze over with many planning on trying the perch grounds this weekend out from Beluah, the deep lake trout water has some open spots still.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Weird Weather has Weird ice conditions
The ice conditions vary as snow has screwed up the ice and in the middle of the state they got hammered and ice conditions are iffy with heavy snow.Higgins Lake has Locked up with the south-end reporting 6 inches of ice. It was 11 below in Grayling this morning but 10 above when I left Traverse City but we were getting lake effect snow.
Some anglers are going off the West Access Site tonight for Smelt. Call Phoenix Park Party Store 989-821-7220 or Higgins Lake Sport 231-821-9517 for the West side. Sport Barn 989-821-9511 for the south-end of Higgins Lake .
Green Lake is froze over, they are vernturing out but all the snow we had has made it weird with slush and two layers of ice.
Anglers heading out onto Houghton Lake for the second weekend of the 57th annual Tip Up Town celebration are finding fair to good pike and walleye action and good ice. The best areas to try and catch walleye are along the north shore, on the east bay or by the middle grounds.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are improving but the north end of the bay still has the best ice. The waters off Escanaba have frozen over but this is new ice which is always dangerous ice. Travel on most of the ice is good but drifting snow has caused some problems for those on quads. Severe cold over the last week has limited angler participation. A few walleye were taken off Hunters Point when jigging 3 inch minnows in 14 feet of water. The better catches came in shallow waters 6 to 14 feet deep in the early morning. Perch action off Butler Island has been good but the fish were small. Several nice perch were caught in front of the Terrace Bay Inn when using spikes in 25 feet of water. Good northern pike action straight out from Bach’s Cabins when using large minnows. Several were keepers but many were undersize.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports slow going this week but bigger perch being caught. They have the sturgeon shanties back out and are seeing a few with a 42 incher caught and released as they have to be 50 inches..The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
By Alpena, the ice held up through the warm spell earlier in the week on Grand and Long lakes. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch and walleye. Anglers on Fletcher Pond are catching a few crappie and pike. Fletcher Floodwater is still good for pike but the panfish has been slow.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Around Manistique, Indian Lake have good ice with snow making things tough going
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week ice is ok once you get past shoreline and the ice is real good out in the middle.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is slow on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. We still have safe ice but be careful .
Gladwin Counties got hammered by snow with thin ice so it will take a couple of days for it to gt better
Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson are all producing fair perch and walleye action. The ice is in good shape on both Crooked and Pickerel lakes, there is some shaky ice on Burt Lake.
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye out at the middle grounds.. Lymanville has good ice around his shanty, pike have been biting very good
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Ice is still good
Hamlin Lake is good with lots going out to try their luck
Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - They have shanties out to the hole by the island and are catching fish this week.
The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good. Mullet Lake has opened up.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Little Glen Lake - Slow this week, but a great perch bite on Loon Lake the last two weeks, but it seems to be winding down this week. Have not heard if Big Glenn is froze.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Female Hooded Merganser
Shot this photo today as a Female Hooded Merganser that showed up in the pond
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Green Lake Unsafe
The reports I got about Green Lake today was ice is bad with two bad layers of ice with slush so they turned back before they reached the smelt grounds.
Photo of mallards was taken today in my pond
Monday, January 21, 2008
Higgins Lake is Froze Over
Higgins Lake has a couple of open spots off the North State Park, but off the West Access it looking good. Some are going out tonight for smelt and hope to have good results. They are catching rainbows in the shallow water off the west access site and in front of Big Creek. It will be good by the weekend for perch and smelt fishing.
Call Phoenix Park Party Store 989-821-7220 or Higgins Lake Sport 231-821-9517 and they have their ear to the ice.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Higgins and Green Lake Lock Up
Higgins and Green Lake have locked up and now we hope the snow tails off to let the ice form so we can be smelt fishing this weekend. The wind has been a factor as it keeping some spots open. Shorelines are healing and when the weather moderates many will be out.
Tip Up Town had lots of snowmobilers, with very few fisherman as the weather was just to bad.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
This weekend separated the men from the boys, women from the girls. Extreme cold and wind kept holes frozen. Hope you caught fish it you were out because you deserved them.
The soft shore lines on Cadillac and Mitchell have or are tightening, making any area of the lakes accessible. Snowmobiles and quads are back on the lakes.
Skiers and snowmobilers are very happy. The trails are in excellent shape. The cold has not stopped them.
The minus wind chill temperatures have helped the ice but the fisherman are not enjoying it. The weekend was slow. The storm affected the panfish more than the pike. Nothing bothers them.
We were able to photograph equal numbers of 30 inch class pike from both Cadillac and Mitchell lakes. Earlier Cadillac was best. Lately either lake has been good.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sanford Lake Muskie
Justin Wood caught this huge muskie out of Sanford Lake on 1/2/08. It weighted 42 pounds and was 48 inches long. Nice fish Justin
Friday, January 18, 2008
Chickadee and Waxworm
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Tip Up Town Fishing Report
Anglers heading out onto Houghton Lake for the first weekend of the 57th annual Tip Up Town celebration are finding fair to good pike and walleye action. The best areas to try and catch walleye are along the north shore, on the east bay or by the middle grounds.
Little Bay De Noc - Warm temperatures and rain from last week caused the ice to break up in some areas, but colder weather is once again firming the ice back up. The better ice can be found north of the Narrows at the head of the Bay but caution still needs to be used especially in the Saunders Point area and along the breaks. Avoid the area around Escanaba because of all the open water. Those fishing out from the Terrace Bay Inn reported unsafe ice. Walleye have been caught but many were on the small side. The best reports were coming from 30 to 40 feet of water near Kipling. Perch fishing slowed except for the all the small fish taken around Butler Island. A few big ones were caught when jigging spikes straight out of Kipling in 23 feet of water. Anglers have marked good numbers of perch and walleye throughout the bay, but the bite has been slow. Those spearing pike around the Escanaba Yacht Club need to use caution..
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports a good walleye bite also with some perch being caught. They took the shanties off of Otsego Lake so no Sturgeon Fishing.The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
By Alpena, the ice held up through the warm spell earlier in the week on Grand and Long lakes. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch and walleye. Anglers on Fletcher Pond are catching a few crappie and pike.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Around Manistique, Indian Lake was covered with water earlier in the week due to all the melting snow. The anglers who are wandering out on the lake are catching a few perch.
Green Lake the ice is still out with just some shore ice.
Ice conditions in much of the Lower Peninsula have deteriorated but anglers in the Upper Peninsula are ice fishing. Warm temperatures have increased the steelhead action in many of the rivers however anglers will need to use caution because of the high water levels.
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week ice is ok once you get past shore
Higgins Lake north-end is still wide open, but the south-end was iced over today.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is slow on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. We still have safe ice but be careful .
I’m hearing most are staying off the ice around Gladwin, and Harrison. Wiggins Lake ,Sugar Spring is good for pike and bluegill, also Secord Lake reports a good crappie and pike bite. but be careful of changing ice conditions.
Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson are all producing fair perch and walleye action. The ice is in good shape on both Crooked and Pickerel lakes, there is some shaky ice on Burt Lake.
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye out at the middle grounds.. Lymanville has good ice around his shanty, pike have been biting very good
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Ice is still good
Hamlin Lake near Ludington they have planks out to get out on the ice.
Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - They have shanties out to the hole by the island and are catching fish this week.
The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good. Mullet Lake has opened up.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Little Glen Lake - Slow this week, but a great perch bite on Loon Lake the last two weeks, but it seems to be winding down this week. The ice on Loon Lake is bad with Little Glen ice is OK
Upper Peninsula:
Lake Gogebic is producing fair perch and walleye fishing. The walleye are hitting on sucker minnows hooked to the end of a tip-up. The perch prefer shiner minnows as bait.
Out of the Marquette area, fishing activity is spotty on most lakes, the exception being Sporley Lake where the splake action is fair.
In the Gladstone area, the walleye fishing is fair on the north end of Little Bay de Noc. Most of the fish being caught are hitting on jigs.
By Manistique, the perch and walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Indian Lake. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to be out.
On Munuscong Bay, the perch, pike and walleye action is fair. Ice conditions are a little shaky, due to the recent warm spell.
Anglers out of Cedarville are pulling a few perch up through the ice by the Les Cheneaux Islands.
And at St. Ignace, the panfish and walleye action on Brevort Lake is fair. The ice on the lake held up well through the January thaw last week.
Northwest:
Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson are all producing fair perch and walleye action. The ice is in good shape on both Crooked and Pickerel lakes, there is some shaky ice on Burt Lake.
Poor shore ice conditions on the lakes around Boyne City has slowed fishing activity in the area.
In the Traverse City area, anglers along the Boardman River are catching a few steelhead. The panfish and perch action is spotty on Glen Lake.
Out of the Frankfort region, the steelhead fishing is fair on the Betsie River. Both spawn and waxworms are being used as bait. Anglers fishing in boats on Crystal and Loon lakes, are catching a few perch.
By Kalkaska, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Good numbers of perch and pike are being caught by anglers on Manistee Lake. The walleye fishing is fair on Fife Lake.
Around Gaylord, the pike and walleye fishing is fair on Otsego Lake. Anglers need to be very careful on the ice.
And at Cadillac, the ice conditions vary on lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. There are several areas where the shore ice is in poor shape. Anglers who find a safe path to walk out on the ice will find the pike fishing is very good on both lakes.
West:
Around Ludington, the steelhead fishing is fair off the breakwall on Lake Michigan. Spawn bags are being used as bait. Anglers on the upper end of Hamlin Lake are catching a few bluegill. However, anglers need to be extremely careful on the ice following last weeks warm weather.
Out of the Muskegon area, anglers in boats on Muskegon Lake are catching good numbers of perch. Both minnows and spikes are working well as bait. The pike and walleye fishing on the lake is fair. Again, anglers are fishing from boats. Evenings are the best time to be out for the walleye. The best area to cast a line in the water for the northerns is on the east end of the lake. The steelhead action is fair on the lower end of the Muskegon River and off the pier on Lake Michigan.
On Chippewa Lake, fishing is slow this week due to the poor shore ice conditions created by last weeks warm weather.
And at Baldwin, fishing activity is at a standstill with no safe ice found on the local lakes.
Southwest:
In the Holland area, fishing activity is at a standstill with no safe ice on the local lakes. By Benton Harbor, fishing activity is slow this week due to all the rain and snow melt from last week that has raised the water levels in the St. Joseph River.
Out of the New Buffalo area, there are some steelhead in the Galien River, but very few people have been out.
Around Kalamazoo, fishing activity is pretty slow. Earlier in the week, some anglers launched their boats in Austin Lake and were catching a few perch. Anglers in boats on Fish Lake reeled in fair numbers of bluegill. The steelhead action on the Kalamazoo River, below the Allegan Dam is fair. The steelies are hitting on Hot-N-Tots, with gold, black and copper being the hot colors.
And at Three Rivers, fishing activity has been slow with no ice on the local lakes. A few anglers dropped boats into some of the lakes at the beginning of the week, but this weekends arctic blast of air will put a stop to any more boats being launched.
Northeast:
Around Alpena, the ice covering Grand and Long lakes weathered last weeks warm spell, and anglers on the lakes are catching a few perch and walleye. Anglers need to be careful on the lakes, especially near the open water on the lakes.
Out of the Grayling area, the walleye fishing ranges from slow to fair on Lake Margrethe. The marble eyes are hitting on various jigs tipped with a minnow. The best fishing is found in water 12 to 20 feet deep.
In the Oscoda area, Van Etten Lake is producing good perch and pike fishing. The bluegill and walleye fishing on the lake is fair. Anglers along the Au Sable River are catching a few steelhead. The perch, pike and walleye action is fair on Foote Dam Pond. Anglers on Cooke Dam Pond are pulling up a few bluegill and perch through the ice.
Fishing activity this week is slow on Higgins Lake, which still has plenty of open water and very little ice cover.
Anglers heading out onto Houghton Lake for the first weekend of the 57th annual Tip Up Town celebration are finding fair to good pike and walleye action. The best areas to try and catch walleye are along the north shore, on the east bay or by the middle grounds.
And at Au Gres, anglers are catching a few bluegill and crappie in the cuts along Saginaw Bay. Ice conditions are very poor in the area.
East:
By Linwood, anglers are catching a few perch along the cuts and rivers off Saginaw Bay.
Around Bay City, the perch fishing is good on the Quanicassee River. The river is open, and anglers are casting lines in from shore. A couple of people launched boats into the Saginaw River to go walleye fishing.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tip Up Town USA
The 58th Annual Tip-Up Town USA®
Whatever the weather, TUT will be fun, fun, fun all the way. There will be all the usual popular attractions - the carnival, parade, Polar Bear Dip, Family Fun Tent, Beverage Tent, crazy games and more! Plus, the Ice Fishing contests will be bigger and better than ever and we’re adding Broomball this year! And it’s still all for the great value of $5 for a TUT badge!
Lyman Foster, owner of Lyman’s on the Lake, and a Board Member of the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce explains why ice fishing is so popular: “Being relatively shallow, Houghton Lake freezes quickly and it’s not unusual to have 12” or more of solid ice covering the lake by the time Tip-Up Town rolls around. There is a great variety of fish in the lake – Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch, Crappie, Bluegill – something for all fishermen, young and old. And the festival got its name from the equipment that Ice Fishermen like to use while enjoying the sport – Tip Ups! In fact, Houghton Lake grows into a bigger town in the winter, thanks to all the shanties parked out on the ice.”
And what do you get when you put together great fishing conditions and Tip-Up Town? Well, for one thing you get the TUT Ice Fishing Contests, for adults and children. Ivan Bassett, volunteer organizer of the TUT Ice Fishing Contest explains: “This year, there will be cash prizes in both the individual and largest catch categories for adults. Plus, for every entry into the contest, you get a chance to win $100 in the grand draw, held once each weekend. Each of the six individual catch classes (Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch, Crappie, Rock Bass and Bluegill/Sunfish) offers a $25 first prize for the largest fish brought in by 1:00 on both Sundays. It’s great fun to stand and watch the official ‘fish board’ as the fish start to come in and you wonder which fish will be the winner. Or, if quantity, is more your style, plan on entering the largest catch contest, with two categories – Walleye/Northern Pike or the Pan Fish combo class with $50 first prizes.”
The younger fishermen (14 and under) get a chance to compete too in their own contest run both Saturdays. There are prizes for the largest catch in the same individual classes as the main fishing contest.
All that is required for entry into either fishing contests is a 2008 Tip-Up Town USA badge, still great value at $5.
And, if that isn’t enough, watch out for Wally and his friends and you could be fishing for big dollars. In fact, if you go fishing on Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, or Lake St Helen any time between now and March 15th and are skilful enough to pull out one of the 19 specially tagged fish (including Walleye, Blue Gill, Pike, Bass, Crappie or Perch) you will get a chance to win $25,000 and a minimum of $1,000 at the grand draw on April 1st, 2008. (At the time of writing, only one tagged fish has been caught).
What’s New
Broom Ball – yes, this popular sport will ‘sweep you away’; TUT Tailgate party - come down to the Entertainment Tent on both Fridays from 6:00-10:00pm and toast TUT in style! Plus, we’ve extended the Entertainment Tent hours on both Saturdays. Both tents will now be open from 10:00am to 6:00pm; Ice Fishing for Kids.
What’s Familiar
Ice Fishing contest – join an army of fishermen (and women) out on the ice vying for first place
Carnival – how many places can you look over a frozen lake from the top of a Ferris Wheel in freezing temperatures?
Polar Bear Dip – yes, you too, can strip down to the bare essentials and jump into the freezing cold water!
Ice Slide – it’s fast, it’s slippery, it’s cold, it’s great fun
Winter Parade – get creative, get building and get on parade!
Family Fun Tent – the most family entertainment you can get under canvas
Entertainment Tent – adult entertainment day and night
Horseshoes and Red Neck horseshoes – how far can you throw a toilet seat
Games galore – whether you prefer pie eating, bubble gum blowing or tire rolling, check out the stage and join in the fun
Turkey and Chicken Bowling
Tug-O-War – on your marks, get set, pull, slide, pull!
Prize Wheel – match your numbers and spin to win!
Plus ice sculptures, the medallion hunts, lots of fun food, ice and wood carving demonstrations, antique snowmobiles and much much more!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Woodpecker Photo
