Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
DNR Coolwater Fish Production Strategy for 2008 Announced
After placing a moratorium on coolwater fish production in 2007 because of concerns related to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv) in the Great Lakes, the Department of Natural Resources today announced its fish production strategy for 2008.
The DNR plans to produce approximately 2 million spring fingerling walleye - about 20 percent of the normal production - and up to 50,000 fall fingerling muskellunge. Northern pike will not be produced in 2008, and lake sturgeon will be produced in very limited numbers, up to 5,000 fall fingerlings.
Much has been learned about VHSv in the past year, including experiments on the effect of egg disinfection chemicals on the survival of coolwater eggs, a better understanding of the distribution of VHSv in our waters, and an analysis of scientific literature on similar viruses that was focused on how those viruses are managed, said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Kelley Smith. This new information has been incorporated into the 2008 strategy for coolwater production.
During 2006 and 2007, VHSv was directly implicated in a number of fish kills in Michigan Great Lakes waters, including Thunder Bay in Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and Budd Lake in Clare County. Budd Lake remains the only inland lake in which VHSv has been detected.
Although additional information is needed, particularly the effectiveness of egg disinfection in killing VHSv on coolwater eggs, sufficient information is available to allow the DNR to begin to manage the coolwater production risks surrounding VHSv, said DNR Fish Production Manager Gary Whelan. While not completely risk-free, the proposed coolwater production strategy will greatly minimize risks, allow the limited production of coolwater fish and allow the DNR to learn how to manage this disease issue.
A number of measures will be taken in the DNR production system to reduce the risk of VHSv in Michigans waters and ensure the health of the hatchery system. They include:
VHSv testing of all coolwater broodstocks (all were negative in 2007);
VHSv testing of all coolwater fry prior to moving to rearing ponds and fingerlings prior to stocking;
The destruction of any hatchery fish that are shown to be positive at any stage for VHSv;
Disinfecting all coolwater eggs in an iodine solution (Iodophor);
Raising walleye in non-drainable ponds from which fish can be completely killed off if VHSv is detected in these fish.
Since muskellunge require significantly more fish culture effort and require live feeds, they will be reared in isolated drainable muskie ponds at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. Muskie egg takes are conducted in Lake Hudson and Thornapple Lake, which are far removed from current VHSv-positive locations. When the egg take location is combined with intensive testing of the adults and young fish, a reasonable level of protection against VHSv spread by hatchery operations is provided, Whelan said.
Muskies give us many more opportunities to test for VHSv as they are typically not stocked from the rearing ponds until the fall, unlike walleyes, which are stocked in early summer, Whelan added.
In addition to the fish production biosecurity measures, we are also going to limit the locations to which we stock walleye to further protect our states waters from VHSv, Smith said. Walleyes will only be stocked in waters from which egg takes were conducted (the Muskegon River and Little Bay de Noc); waters in which Muskegon River and Little Bay de Noc walleye broodstock normally move to; and for Muskegon River walleye only in Lake Michigan or Lake Huron inland lakes that do not have any connections to other waters. The risk is much lower and manageable for muskellunge, so they will be stocked in normal stocking locations.
Smith said it was important to note that the 2008 strategy was not completely risk-free.
While the measures we have put in place do reduce our ability to rear and stock coolwater fish, they will also greatly reduce the risk of inadvertently spreading VHSv. We are optimistic that the new testing methodologies and improved disinfection options will allow us to resume full coolwater production in the near future, Smith said.
Additional details on the 2008 coolwater production program can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/dnrfisheries
Monday, May 05, 2008
Wild Flowers in Northern Michigan
Here are a couple of wildflowers I shot today.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Need a Warm-up
Warm Weather is needed to get the bite back on track as most are still reporting a slow bite. Crappie bite in the canals has ended as crappie have moved back into the lakes.
Walleye bite has been slow also as the high winds have hampered lake fishing.
The UP still has high water on it’s beautiful rivers, so trout fishing has been slow things will get better by the opener in eleven days.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Cold, wind and rain has kept most off the lakes and streams.
Since the weather change, the crappies have thinned out. Some good size, but not limits have come from boat anglers fishing the Kenwood Park Area. Shore fishermen are catching some at the City Dock.
Not many are targeting pike. Lake Mitchell has been best for the numbers. Those out have been successful in or at the mouth of the Big and Small Coves. Lately Floating Rapalas have been out fishing live bait.
A few nice walleye have been caught, mainly at night, in front of Mitchell State Park on the Mitchell side. On Cadillac, the Clam River Area has accounted for a few. Either lake, those caught have been in the 20 inch plus range. Like the pike, Rapalas seem to be the best bet.
The one fish everyone seems to be catching a lot of and big are not legal until the Saturday before Memorial Day. Both large and small mouths are in shallow. Strictly catch and immediate release. They’ve been caught on everything for panfish baits to pike or walleye lures. Lots of fun.
The Cadillac area has been good to the turkey hunters.
Mushroom hunters - now is the time! Black morels are up. Currently the ground cover is damp and the temperatures are warming. Some are finding them by the pound. My wife left me for the woods and returned with 2 ½ pounds for 3 hours hunting.
Pike fishermen - Here’s one for you.
Pike Tournament
Lake Mitchell & Lake Cadillac
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Kenwood Park Launch Site
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Fishing Slow this Week
The bite is slow everywhere this week as the huge cold front that swept thought early Saturday morning has shut down the bite so bring on the warm weather to inspire the bite.
Suttons Bay has a good perch bite this week with wigglers working best.
Tittabawassee River - The walleye opener was excellent despite cold windy weather. Limit catches were common. Smallmouth bass are being caught and released and the white bass have started to show up. Walleye fishing should continue to be good for another couple of weeks providing we do not get any storms with heavy rainfall.
River and creeks have been slow but with warmer weather look for things to get better.
Traverse City - In the East Bay, steelhead fishing has been very good off the mouth of Mitchell Creek. Fishing off Dock Road has been good in the early morning for brown trout and steelhead. Whitefish have been caught off the Bluffs and in the south end of the bay off the white wall. Excellent lake trout fishing throughout the bay with limit catches reported. Off Elk Rapids, the fishing was spotty. In the West Bay, fishing was slower for lake trout and whitefish but steelhead were caught off the mouth of the Boardman. Excellent perch fishing in Sutton’s Bay with limit catches.
Onekama - Pier fishing in the evening has produced some pike, largemouth, and the occasional walleye. Perch fishing in front of the channel has been good for the past week but the last couple of days anglers reported smaller fish.
Little Bay De Noc - Perch fishing has been fair with most anglers fishing near Kipling where the deeper water produced more fish. Try jigging or drifting with worms and minnows in 23 to 40 feet of water.
Houghton Lake - The crappie are moving back out to deeper waters. A few walleye were caught when trolling with leeches just off the bottom.
In the Boyne City area, walleye has slowed due to weather but perch (8-13” size) continue to be active off of Raspberry Bay and Lake Charlevoix. Minnows are getting good results. Suckers and steelhead are both active in the Boyne, Bear and Jordan rivers.
Bay City anglers had it’s worst walleye season opener in 21 years due to waves, winds and cold temperatures on Saturday. And unfortunately the cold weather has stuck around through today limiting angling opportunities. A few walleye are being caught, but anglers are working really hard to get them.
Upper Peninsula:
Not great weather for fishing in the Upper Peninsula today. With the temperatures dipping into the 20’s at night the angling activity has slowed.
Around Munuscong Bay, sucker fishing is just starting to pick up. Perch action is fair on Cedarville Lake.
In the Bergland area, the ice is moving around and approximately 20-yards off of the shoreline at this point. Anglers able to get out to the middle of Lake Gogebic are ice fishing where the ice is about a foot thick.
Escanaba fishing is slow due to windy and cold conditions today. Little Bay DeNoc is giving up a few splake on crank bait and Rapalas. Perch action has slowed as well and the fish being caught have been on minnows and wigglers.
Northwest:
In the Gaylord area, Twin Lake is offering up good catches of walleye. Trout action is fair due to weather. Fly fishing is decent on the Boyne and Jordan rivers. Anglers are doing well when using Hendrickson’s, nymph patterns and streamers.
Cadillac anglers are doing really well catching crappie and pike on Lakes Mitchell and Cadillac.
In the Boyne City area, walleye has slowed due to weather but perch (8-13” size) continue to be active off of Raspberry Bay and Lake Charlevoix. Minnows are getting good results. Suckers and steelhead are both active in the Boyne, Bear and Jordan rivers.
In the Kalkaska area, trout action is decent on Manistee Lake and walleye activity is good on Torch, Elk, and Twin lakes. Rapalas are working well. Skegemog Lake is producing some nice catches of small mouth bass on jerk baits and spinners. Steelhead action is decent on the Boardman River and near the Elk Rapids Dam when using spawn, wax worms or wigglers.
Around the Manistee area, pier fishing is slow this week due to the weather conditions, but perch action has picked up on Portage Lake. Tippy Dam is also producing a few perch.
West:
Ludington has limited activity this week since temperatures plunged to 37 degrees yesterday. Fishing action is stalled until the temperature rises.
In the Muskegon area, Lake Michigan is producing decent catches of salmon, plenty of catfish, and anglers are doing well catching and releasing bass. Walleye are active in the channel and near the break arms while perch seem to be slowing down. Muskegon Lake is giving up fair amounts of blue gill, specs and some perch.
Around the Chippewa Lake area, angling action has slowed a bit due to the colder weather, but expect to find decent numbers of specs and blue gill in the channels.
In the Baldwin area, anglers are doing well for brown trout when using spinners and Rapalas, and worms are best on blue gill in the Baldwin and Pere Marquette rivers.
Southwest:
The cooler temperatures in the southwest is causing for limited fishing activity this week.
In the Benton Harbor area, cold temps are keeping anglers off the lakes and out of the bait shops.
Same story in the New Buffalo area where the drop in temperature has caused very limited angling activity this week. A few walleye are being caught off the pier near the rock pile on clown Rapalas, and one angler pulled an 11 pound walleye from Lake Michigan yesterday. Coho should become more active this weekend when the warm weather returns.
Around the Kalamazoo area, the Dowagiac River is very high and the water is dirty. A few steelhead, but mostly walleye are being caught in the Kalamazoo River. Anglers are finding steelhead active in the Pere Marquette River on eggs and streamers. Tippy Dam action is slow this week, and pike are on the rise on Scott Lake.
Northeast:
In the Oscoda area, perch are active near the Boy Scout Camp when using purple or green flies, and eight second leeches and wax worms. Walleye action has slowed due to cooler conditions.
Around Grayling, fly fishing conditions are rated as fair. Lake Margrethe is giving up decent counts of walleye when trolling in 15-feet of water and a few blue gill can be located in the shallow waters.
Houghton Lake activity has slowed this week due to cold weather and gusty winds. It seems that the crappie and blue gill have moved out to the middle of the lake and only a few walleye have been caught when trolling.
Higgins Lake action is slow with only a few rainbow trout being reeled in this morning.
East:
Bay City anglers tell AAA that it was the worst walleye season opener in 21 years due to waves, winds and cold temperatures on Saturday. And unfortunately the cold weather has stuck around through today limiting angling opportunities. A few walleye are being caught, but anglers are working really hard to get them.
In the Linwood area, walleye are active in the Manistee River but most other fish are elusive.
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.