Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Perch Fishing Good
It seems the year of the Lake Michigan Perch running up rivers into lakes. Bestie Bay, Manistee Lake, Portage Lake, Arcaria Lake, White Lake, and Muskegon Lake seem to all be having a great perch bite this week with many jumbos being caught.
Many of the shallow inland lakes have the winter blus as the O2 levels are low and the fish are lethagic. Houghton Lake still has a great walleye bite but no gills so far.
Higgins Lake smelt are still slow but the perch (small) and lake trout are biting great.
Crystal Lake is still hot for smelt and lots of perch but lots of sorting.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Pike - Pike - Pike, regardless of the weather or time of day, the pike on Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell seem to be hungry. Tip-up anglers who set their lines about half the depth they’re fishing or just over the weeds are getting limits. March 15th the season closes and we’ll go into withdrawals.
Rex Swinehart from Manton is pictured with a 36 ¾ inch, the largest we’ve seen this week. He targets pike on Lake Cadillac on a regular basis and does well. The “Big” pike on the Coves on Mitchell are harder to find. Usually lots of flags but mostly undersized. Lately it’s common to catch big, fat, healthy large mouth bass. Fun to catch but not legal to keep this time of year. Catch and release. Most of the season the largest pike have come from Lake Cadillac. This week was no exception. Fewer flags but bigger fish.
Few walleyes were reported this week. Catch a good one and buy a lottery ticket because it’s your lucky day. Those with cameras often see them but can’t get them to bite. Chip Zantello of Chippewa Outfitters did. He jigs for them using large Salmo lures and is seen with a 27 ½ inches, 6 lb, 10 oz monster for our area.
Perch fishing is picking up as we get closer to spawn. They’re coming to shallower depths. The Junior High area on the north east side of Cadillac has been consistent. The canal area by Mitchell Park is starting. With any perch fishing, there will be a lot of undersized. Stay with it because buckets of 8’s and some 10’s are showing up. Dry baits are working but many use wigglers to locate them, and then change to minnows for the larger ones.
Crappie fishing has been on and off. One day they bite, the next day they don’t. Most regulars tell us late afternoons to dark are best. Many are now lantern fishing in the dark and getting their share. The Causeway area on Cadillac is getting the most pressure. Crappie catches on Mitchell although sporadic usually are larger size. Often they run up to 12 inches.
Bluegills have been hit or miss. Some do well on the east side of Cadillac, others the Coves on Mitchell. Dry baits, waxworms or spikes are their favorite. Usually we see mixed catches of perch, crappie and gills.
See picture of 9 year old Wade Fullerton from Tustin. He’s having a hard time holding up his limit of pike. Good job.
Steve Hoekwater’s back! He recently caught a 41 ¼ inch, the largest we’ve measured this year. This trip he took a 26 and a 28 inch.
OTHER LAKES:
Higgins: Few smelt, good perch, fat pike and lake trout.
Green: Hit or miss smelt.
Crystal: Lots of big smelt, perch, lakers and Burbot.