Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Grayling Forest Fire
Here are a few photos I took of the aftermath of the Grayling Forest Fire
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Visitors passing though the Area
Monday, April 28, 2008
Slow Opener
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
This year’s trout/walleye/pike opener we’ve been waiting for, separated the men from the boys. Cold, wind and rain kept many off the water. Boat anglers were faced with white caps and strong winds. Stream fishermen were greeted with high, muddy water. Those that braved the conditions compared it to - ice fishing. Regardless, fish were caught.
Pictured are Mark Hamacher and Rob Ketchum from Cadillac with their limit of brown trout caught somewhere on the Manistee. Drool over their 20 to 24 inchers.
Chuck and Dave Bellsky traveled from Frankenmuth to catch pike ranging from 24 to 31 inches from Lake Cadillac.
Jack Powell is back! He’s after Master Anglers and has another. This one is a Longnose sucker. We’ll see more of him.
Father and son hunters, Mark and Matthew Sambrook from Madison Heights, both harvested their first turkeys. They saw several last fall while deer hunting the Manistee National Forest near Cadillac. They returned to the same area and shot both birds within an hour of each other. Congratulations!
Pike fishermen - Here’s one for you.
Pike Tournament
Lake Mitchell & Lake Cadillac
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Opener was a Washout
High winds cold temps killed fishing opener as many stayed home for better days as the previous nice weather spoiled us.
I have not heard of any good reports as the dastardly cold front shut down the bite on everything it seems.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Platte River Walleye
I’m hearing that there is a pile of big walleye under the M-22 bridge at the Platte River and many are going after them at midnight.
Houghton Lake crappies have slowed in the canals so now you must fish in the lake at the mouth of canals or Cut River.
Good Luck everybody tomorrow.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Fishing Season Opens this Weekend
Fishing season opens this weekend as walleye, pike and trout opens in the lower peninsula, with the UP trout opener this weekend.
Suttons Bay has a good perch bite this week with wigglers working best. Also the pier at manistee has been very good for perch with minnows working best.
Houghton Lake the crappie and sunfish are coming into the canals with minnows working best for crappie and worms for sunfish.
The panfish are coming into the mudfats of many inland lakes south of M-55 and waxworms, leaf worms, and wigglers are working best, minnows for the crappie.
Wixom Lake has a crappie run this week
Streams are down in the lower peninsula, but the UP the rivers are very high.
Most lakes are reporting a good bite on their lakes as fishing season starts this weekend
Hearing lots of walleye in the Saginaw River and the Titibawasse River.
Northwest:
In the Gaylord area, fair activity for steelhead in the Jordan and Boyne rivers. Streamers, nymphs seem to work well. Walleye and trout season opens in the area Saturday.
Good fishing around the Boyne City area, Raspberry Bay and Lake Charlevoix are producing good catches of perch in 45-50 feet of water. Wigglers and perch minnows are working well. Crawlers are working well on steelhead on the Walloon, Boyne and Jordan rivers.
In the Kalkaska area, perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog and Elk Rapids continues to produce decent steelhead catches. Saturday trout season opens in the area.
Around the Manistee area, angling activity has been a bit slow this week for brown trout. Some perch and walleye are being caught off the north pier mostly at night. Steelhead is slow in the rivers.
Alanson anglers are catching salmon in the Bear River and perch in the shallow waters of Crooked Lake.
In the Ludington area, Hamlin Lake is producing good action for blue gill. Pere Marquette River is good for suckers. Lake Michigan is giving up walleye on Rapala count downs, and steelhead, browns near the north pier.
Northern and trout season opens in the area Saturday.
Around the Baldwin area, not much fishing activity this week, but by Saturday the activity will heat up for the opening of trout, walleye and pike season. In the Muskegon area, Lake Michigan is producing good walleye catches near the break arms when using count down Rapalas or husky jerks, perch are active on minnow and wax worms, but expect to do a lot of sorting. Blue gill are plentiful on Muskegon Lake and steelhead are being reeled in when using spawn with floaters inside.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Rogers City - The launch ramp is in. Boats are targeting shallow waters up to 20 feet deep inside Calcite Harbor, Swan Bay and north of Calcite near the Trout River where warmer waters can be found. Try trolling planer boards with long leads and small body baits. Good colors are orange and gold, chartreuse and silver, blue and silver, fire tiger, brown or peach. Use bright colors in the stained water. Casting from the breakwall has been slow.
Rockport - The docks are not in. Boat anglers are just starting launch, but windy conditions have kept most off the lake. A small atlantic salmon was caught in about 16 feet of water just north of the launch site.
Oscoda angling activity is improving with walleye active at the mouth of the AuSable River and steelhead can be found on the beds and high banks. Perch are abundant on Cooke Dam Pond.
Houghton Lake has some great fishing taking place for crappie, and blue gill being caught in the channels. Minnows are working best.
AuGres the mouth of the river is good for walleye fishing.
Higgins Lake - Is very slow this week
Houghton Lake has a great crappie bite this week..
Upper Peninsula
Around Munuscong Bay, Sault St. Marie and the St. Ignace areas, the suckers and steelhead are running in all of the rivers. Minnows and spawn are working well on steelhead. Smelt are running in the Carp and Nunn rivers. Perch remain active on Lake George.
Copper Harbor angling is on the rise with splake being caught out of the Harbor, and a few steelhead being caught off the docks. Trout season opens Saturday in the area.
In the Bergland area, Lake Gogebic is giving up some perch on wigglers. The ice is leaving the shoreline at this point.
Around Escanaba, a bit of ice remains on Gladstone Harbor. Some brown trout are running in the Cedar River, but most of the rivers are running fast and very high so activity is very slow. Trout season opens Saturday for the area.
GRAYLING — Firefighters are working to contain a fire that’s roaring through hundreds of wooded acres west of Grayling today.
The fire started at about 3:30 p.m. 4/24/08 after a spark from a passing train ignited the grass, said Dennis Robinson, assistant director of Crawford County’s emergency management office.
U.S. 127 and I-75 are closed near Four Mile Road and residents are evacuating a nursing home and roughly 100 homes in Karen Woods Subdivision, Robinson said.
Evacuees who need to head south are advised to take M-72 to M-18, he said.
“It’s a large, very large fire,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s as large as the one we had 15 years ago.”
Department of Natural Resources officials said the blaze quickly covered more than 700 acres.ce is out on the lakes in the lower, but some ice still in the UP.
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FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP 231-775-5412
As we predicted last report, the Causeway Area on Lake Cadillac was the first place for crappie. Shore fishermen and boat anglers have been taking advantage of this early bite. Limits have been common. Nothing sophisticated to catching them. Use light line, bobber, Aberdeen hook and small minnows for bait. Nothing tricky.
Other areas are starting for them. The City Dock on the east side of Cadillac is good as are the cove areas on Mitchell. The warm weather is waking up both lakes. As a bonus, some are catching sunfish along with crappie. They’ll be next as the crappie thin out. Lots of pictures this week of crappie catches.
The last Saturday of April things will get serious. Pike, walleye and trout season opens. Get you “Honey do’s” done. Spring fishing begins for real!
Manistee River, even though sucker fishing has started there’s still good numbers of steelhead. See picture of JP Matlak from Tustin. He caught his on a chartreuse wobble glo, a nice 32 incher caught at Tippy Dam. They are still catching monster walleye at the dam. This year they may still be there for the opener. Normally they have a clock in their heads and are gone.
This week those lucky first period turkey hunters will be in the field instead of fishing. More room for us on shore or at the boat launches.
Remember - you now need a 2008 fishing license. The DNR does not accept excuses. No rate increase this year. All Species license are still only $28.00 .
NORTHERN MICHIGAN WEATHER
Apr 24 Tonight
Overcast with showers at times. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Apr 25 Tomorrow
A few showers in the morning then becoming windy with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High around 70F. S winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Apr 25 Tomorrow night
Windy with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 48F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Apr 26 Saturday
More clouds than sun, windy. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 30s.
Apr 27 Sunday
Few showers. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Apr 28 Monday
Rain and snow showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Apr 29 Tuesday
Rain and snow showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.
Apr 30 Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s.
May 1 Thursday
Occasional showers possible. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the upper 30s.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Crappie and Perch on the Bite
Lots of lakes reporting in with great crappie runs with Cadillac, Houghton Lake, and Wixom getting hit hardest.
But most local lakes are reporting good gill and crappie bites. Call your local sport shop for the latest info.
Perch are biting good on Grand Traverse Bay at Suttons Bay, pier off of Manistee, Crystal Lake, Higgins Lake, Lake Charlevoix off the Ironton Ferry.
So it has been a great week for fishing and taking wood duck photos also
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Warm Weather Brings Hot Bite
Most lakes are reporting a great bite this weekend. Houghton Lake, Lake Cadillac, and Wixom report a super crappie bite.
Perch bite in Manistee at the pieir, Higgins Lake at the sunken island, and Crystal Lake
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008
As we predicted last report, the Causeway Area on Lake Cadillac was the first place for crappie. Shore fishermen and boat anglers have been taking advantage of this early bite. Limits have been common. Nothing sophisticated to catching them. Use light line, bobber, Aberdeen hook and small minnows for bait. Nothing tricky.
Other areas are starting for them. The City Dock on the east side of Cadillac is good as are the cove areas on Mitchell. The warm weather is waking up both lakes. As a bonus, some are catching sunfish along with crappie. They’ll be next as the crappie thin out. Lots of pictures this week of crappie catches.
The last Saturday of April things will get serious. Pike, walleye and trout season opens. Get you “Honey do’s” done. Spring fishing begins for real!
Manistee River, even though sucker fishing has started there’s still good numbers of steelhead. See picture of JP Matlak from Tustin. He caught his on a chartreuse wobble glo, a nice 32 incher caught at Tippy Dam. They are still catching monster walleye at the dam. This year they may still be there for the opener. Normally they have a clock in their heads and are gone.
This week those lucky first period turkey hunters will be in the field instead of fishing. More room for us on shore or at the boat launches.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Ice Still on Many Lake in Northern Michigan
There is still ice on Higgins Lake, and most lakes north of M-72 still have ice, but it should be off this weekend. The UP has ice on most lakes with some fishing still the first of the week, but now ice is unsafe.
Suttons Bay has a good perch bite this week with wigglers working best.
Houghton Lake the crappie and sunfish are coming into the canals with minnows working best for crappie and worms for sunfish.
The panfish are coming into the mudfats of many inland lakes south of M-55 and waxworms, leaf worms, and wigglers are working best
Wixom Lake has a crappie run this week
Steelhead are up the river on the west side of the state, I’m hearing the suckers are starting to run also.
Snow in the Upper Peninsula, heavy winds in the east and southeast, and cooler temperatures earlier in the week has slowed fishing activity in many areas of the state. However, by the weekend warmer temperatures are anticipated and fishing opportunities should improve.
Upper Peninsula Northwest West Southwest
Northeast East Central Southeast
Upper Peninsula:
Overall activity is slow in the Upper Peninsula due to the weather.
In Munuscong Bay, Manistique, St. Ignace and Drummond Island the ice is very unsafe and angling activity is basically at a standstill this week during this transition period.
Around Sault Saint Marie, the ice is deteriorating but anglers are still ice fishing for perch on Lake George.
In the Copper Harbor area, the ice is now gone and anglers are in a transition mode with no activity taking place this week.
Around Bergland, Lake Gogebic still has three feet of ice and anglers are ice fishing for perch on wigglers. Ice fishing may hold through May 1.
In the Escanaba area, the ice is unsafe and the shoreline is melting rapidly making it difficult for anglers to get out. Some of the boat ramps are anticipated to open this weekend. Slow action for perch and browns today.
Northwest:
In Boyne City, the ice is finally gone. The Bear, Boyne and Jordan rivers are giving up good amounts of steelhead and perch. Suckers are starting to run and can be found near the mouth of the rivers. Steelhead biting on spawn bags and perch on wigglers.
In the Kalkaska area, good action taking place for steelhead in the Boardman River and Elk Rapids Dam. Spawn working best.
Around the Frankfort area, the Betsie and the Platt rivers are hot spots for steelhead on flies and spawn. The ice is now gone and Lake Michigan has opened up, and anglers are catching some browns and steelhead around the piers.
Anglers in the Gaylord area are finding decent fishing for steelhead in the Boyne and Jordan rivers on nymph patterns, spawn, and egg flies. Any ice in the area should be considered unsafe. Anglers are fly fishing on the AuSable River with mudler minnows and woolly buggers.
West:
In the Muskegon area, decent perch action for anglers fishing on Muskegon Lake but expect to do plenty of sorting. Lake Michigan is wide open and all of the ice is gone, steelhead are on the move and can be found near the piers, in most channels and the break arms. Brown trout action is slow and spotty.
Chippewa Lake is giving up some specs and blue gill in the channels on minnows and wax worms.
Around the Baldwin area, the ice has finally left and steelhead are on the increase in the Pere Marquette River. Spawn seems to be working well.
Southwest:
Good action taking place in the Holland area. Crappie are active on most inland lakes on minnows and twister tails. Lake Michigan is giving up browns, and steelhead. Walleye are active around the Holland piers in the middle of the night. Trolling in 18 feet of water and using Hot-n-Tots, husky jerks, x-wraps and most body baits seem to work well.
In the Benton Harbor area, the ice is gone but the weather and high winds this week has angling activity at a standstill.
Around the Kalamazoo area, the Pere Marquette River is producing decent catches of steelhead. Austin Lake is giving up crappie on the north end, but other inland lakes have very limited activity, as well as the Kalamazoo River which is too high for any action.
Northeast:
In the Oscoda area the fishing is really picking up since all of the ice is gone. Cooke and Foote Dam Ponds are producing good quantities of blue gill and perch. Anglers are getting good results using perch minnows, small red worms and wax worms. Van Etten Lake is giving up decent amounts of perch on minnows and wigglers and in the AuSable River the steelhead are on the move and wax worms, spawn and flies are working best.
Alpena anglers have fair fishing taking place for steelhead and suckers on the Thunder Bay River when using spawn bags.
Slow action in the Grayling area mainly due to the ice, which has finally left for good. Canals are starting to open up with blue gill becoming active.
On Houghton Lake the ice is now gone and anglers are starting to launch boats, fishing in canals for crappie.
Around Higgins Lake the angling activity is slow this week mostly due to the ice that remains, which is not safe, and the shoreline breaking up making it difficult for anglers to get out.
East:
In the Bay City area, the weather has been an issue for anglers all week due to high winds going up and down and pushing the water out in and out. The water is brown, muddy and really stirred up. Activity should improve for the weekend as warmer and milder weather moves in.
Around the Linwood area, pretty much the same story as Bay City where the winds have stirred things up making it rough for anglers to get out. Some walleye are being caught in the Bay in 9-14 feet of water when trolling. Suckers are running in the Rifle River and crawlers are doing the trick.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Spring is Here and Fishing Season Coming Fast
Fishing season will be here in a few days and warm weather will get the ice off the lakes so we can put boats in for the opener. Many spring things starting to show up and it is great to hear birds singing again.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Lake Ice is Slowly Disappearing
It has been a long winter with ice on many lakes still. In the UP they have ice locked to the shore still. It will be a tough opener with many lakes will be just opening this weekend. Also bait will be hard to get as cold weather is hampering leeches trapping along with suckers in Minnesota as they have over two feet of hard ice on their lakes still. We need a warm spell!
There has been a perch bite still on Grand Traverse Bay at Suttons Bay.
Crystal Lake reports trout are being caught from shore by cold creek.
Houghton Lake reports that the crappie have started into the canals this week.
Lake Charlevoix is looking for a perch bite as soon as the ice goes out in Ironton.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Need Warm Weather
We need some warm weather to get the ice out of te lake and get on with a new season.
Suttons Bay has a good perch bite this week with wigglers working best.
Wixom Lake has a crappie run this week
Steelhead are up the river on the west side of the state.
Upper Peninsula:
In the Upper Peninsula, the angling activity is very limited this week, mainly due to adverse weather that included everything from snow, rain, and wind.
In the Munuscong area, the Bay is giving up some perch on minnow and wax worms. The lake is slushy around the edges and thinning, use caution.
Around the Sault Ste. Marie area, the ice is still in good shape. Lake George is giving up good quantities of perch this week.
Near the St. Ignace area, Brevort Lake anglers are catching a few perch, and walleye fishing is still good, but out of season and fish are being tossed back.
In the Cedarville area, the ice is still good and anglers are going from hole to hole to find fish. Anglers following the fish are doing the best.
Northwest:
In the Alanson area the ice is finally gone. Burt Lake has open water and anglers are getting there via the Crooked River. The Cheboygan and Bear rivers are giving up decent catches of steelhead.
Around the Boyne City area, the ice is not safe give it one more week to be gone. Good action for steelhead on the Bear River when using flies, spawn, wigglers, wax worms and orange and green tear drops.
In the Manistee area, anglers are launching boats this week and fishing perch on Manistee Lake with good results. The Big Manistee River from Tippy to Highbridge is good for steelhead, but the Little Manistee River is slow this week. Brown trout activity is picking up along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
In the Kalkaska area, anglers are catching decent amounts of steelhead on wax worms and jigs out of the Boardman River and Elk Rapids Dam.
In the Traverse City area the fishing is decent near the west end of Traverse Bay where whitefish are plentiful. Anglers are getting limit catches on wigglers or jigs.
In Frankfort, good fishing is taking place on the Betsie River for steelhead. Anglers are using spawn, flies, and spinners with great results. Lake Michigan is giving up some steelhead around the piers and in the Bay when casting spoons or using Rapalas.
In the Gaylord area, fishing is starting to improve. Perch are active on streamers in the Manistee. Wigglers, egg flies, and nymph patterns are working well on steelhead when fishing the Boyne, Cheboygan or Jordan rivers.
In the Cadillac area, anglers are waiting for the ice to just plain leave, no activity this week.
West:
Around the Ludington area, fishing is rather slow with some steelhead and brown trout action taking place off of the piers. The Manistee River is giving up a few suckers, and the Pere Marquette River a few browns. Ludington State Park is decent for perch near the bottom of the Dam.
In the Muskegon area, Muskegon Lake is producing decent amounts of steelhead and perch, and a few northern mostly on spikes, minnow and wax worms. Steelhead action is picking up in the river and near the break arms.
On Chippewa Lake ice remains but some channels have opened up. Decent fishing taking place for specs and the best baits include leaf worms, minnows and wax worms.
Anglers in the Baldwin area are finding good luck using spawn on steelhead when fishing around the piers of the Pere Marquette River.
Southwest:
Around Holland the fishing has improved. Lake Michigan is producing good catches of browns and steelhead in deeper waters of 6-18 feet. Spoons and spawn sacks are working well. Near Grand Haven suckers are active in most rivers and the north pier when fishing in shallow water and using body baits, particularly Rapalas. Around Saugatuck a few browns are being caught.
In the New Buffalo area, steelhead and Coho are active. Anglers are launching boats and fishing Lake Michigan with good results in 15 feet of water.
Kalamazoo angling action is picking up this week. Around the St. Joe piers Coho and browns are biting on spawn. Trolling near the piers in 20 feet of water and using flies and small spoons is getting the job done. Just below the Allegan Dam steelhead are biting on spawn sacks, the sucker run is also good with leaf worms and night crawlers working best. Pine Lake is producing good amounts of crappie on minnow and Austin Lake is decent for perch on minnow. Maple Lake is giving up some crappie and blue gill, best location is between the Island and the Dam.
Northeast:
In the Alpena area, fishing this week has improved to fair. The best steelhead action is taking place on the Thunder Bay River around the 9th Street Dam. Anglers are using spawn for decent results.
Around Grayling anglers need to use extreme caution on all ice. Some ice fishing is still taking place, however the ice conditions are rapidly deteriorating. Lake Margrethe and Manistee and Frog lakes are giving up some blue gill and perch.
Higgins Lake still has ice fishing taking place but getting past the shoreline is becoming difficult, however once you get past the shore, the perch fishing is decent using minnows and spikes.
AuGres anglers are finding good catches of steelhead near the east branch of the AuGres River. Pine River is giving up some perch.
East:
In the Linwood area, ice in the Bay is gone, however there are still some large chunks floating so if you are getting out in a boat use caution. Sucker fishing in the area is picking up, but otherwise limited action this week.
Bay City anglers are finding some good size perch near Quanicassee around the iron bridges, and Russell and Thomas roads. Minnows are working well. Pike are decent at the mouth of the Hot Pond.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Lost Lake Loon
Here is a spring visitor that I’m glad to see with the long winter we had.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Get the Boats Out
Ice fishing in Northern Michigan is done with a little still going on in the UP.
I’m hearing of a great crappie run in Wixom Lake with lots of fish being caught. Also hear Suttons Bay has a good perch bite this week. With the rains steelhead should start moving into the rivers, but look for high water the next few days.
Rifle River has suckers and they are using lots of crawlers this week.
Look for Cadillac to be hot for crappie when the ice goes off the lake.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Onekama Sphinx
I shot this photo yesterday evening in Onekama at the lighthouse and the ice formation sure looks like the sphinx.
