The bite is still slow with very few good or bad reports coming in, but lots of mushrooms are being picked in Northern Michigan

The perch have scattered on Grand Traverse bay with the high winds we had this week.

Tittabawassee River - Walleye bite has been fair as they move back out to the bay.

Saginaw Bay - Had good to excellent walleye fishing about two miles past Finn Road in shallow waters 4 feet deep. Try using crawler harnesses. Those fishing off Quanicassee reported excellent walleye fishing straight out from the port in 8 feet of water when using crawler harnesses. More and bigger fish were caught here. Pike and largemouth bass were caught off Sebewaing. Not many walleye were caught off Bay Port and Caseville.

River and creeks have been slow but with warmer weather look for things to get better.

Elk Lake - The walleye anglers have not been out. Those looking for smallmouth bass were fishing the southern end of the lake near the Whitewater Township Park. Anglers were casting tubes and rapalas in 10 feet of water but no fish were caught.

Skegemog Lake - Anglers have been targeting walleye north of the Torch River, along the southern end of the lake and near the narrows. Most are trolling, casting or drifting in 10 to 25 feet of water with rapalas, leeches and jigs. Pike and muskie were caught near the public access site and the narrows in 7 to 15 feet of water. The majority of bass anglers can be found along the south end of the lake near the Desmond Marsh area in 4 to 10 feet of water. Try using tubes, spinners or jerk baits. Perch anglers have been drifting or still-fishing near the narrows and the mouth of the river. Try minnows and wigglers in waters up to 25 feet deep.

Traverse City - In the East Bay, those fishing off Dock Road in the early morning have caught some brown trout and steelhead. West winds in this location have improved the fishing. Whitefish have been caught off the white wall along the southern end of the bay. Jigging worked best. Lake trout fishing has been excellent with limit catches taken. Many fish were over 25 inches.

Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark..

Portage Lake - Perch fishing slowed as it appears the bigger fish are done, but lots of small fish are still being caught. Bluegill and crappie are starting to hit, but the action was still spotty. Boat anglers trolling along the north shore have caught northern pike and walleye.

Little Bay De Noc - Perch anglers are going out when the weather permits. The cooler evenings have lowered the water temperatures to about 42 degrees. Most are jigging minnows and worms in the deeper waters 28 to 35 feet deep around the Narrows but few fish have been caught. Those fishing Nelsons Bay were marking a lot of fish but not many were caught. The walleye opener on May 15th looks to be a good one..

Houghton Lake - The crappie are moving back out to deeper waters. A few walleye were caught when trolling with leeches just off the bottom.

Charlevoix - Perch anglers did catch some fish in 50 feet of water along the northwest side of the lake, but the fish seem to be scattered.

Hamlin Lake - Lots of pike have been caught when trolling body baits in the shallows, but most of the fish were small. Some big bluegills were caught on wax worms or leaf worms in the upper lake in 15 to 30 feet of water and crappie are in 10 feet of water. Anglers are catching and releasing a good number of largemouth bass in shallow waters 2 to 5 feet deep. Top water spinner baits have worked best. Good colors have been chartreuse and white. In the lower lake, bluegills are hitting in both the North and the Middle Bayou’s, but many were small.

Upper Peninsula:

Around Manistique, Indian Lake is providing a few perch.

Sault St. Marie anglers are reeling in some really big perch in the 12-14 inch size in the very early morning hours on the upper river. White fish are hot near the power house using wax worms, spawn and flies.

Around Munuscong Bay, not a lot of activity taking place this week other than some splake being caught on Hessell Lake with minnows. Most anglers are anxiously awaiting the opening of walleye season May 15.

Drummond Island anglers are finding fair fishing on Maxton Bay for perch off the docks, but plenty of sorting is needed. For example, 100 fish caught, only 25 keepers. Perch are hitting on minnows in three feet of water. Maxton Bay is also giving up good counts of bullheads on crawlers and minnows. Pike and walleye season opens May 15.

Copper Harbor anglers are doing well with splake in the Harbor when using spoons.

Around Marquette activity has been slow, some brook trout are being reeled in from Little Garlic River on small worms and pan fishing is picking up.

In the Escanaba area, perch action is picking up on Little Bay DeNoc near Gladstone. Fish in the narrows area in 25-40 feet of water and try using minnows and wigglers. Steelhead remain decent on the Rapid River when using spawn.

Northwest:

Gaylord area anglers are finding improving conditions as the streams and lakes warm up. Walleye activity is good on Twin Lake.

Boyne City anglers are doing well using spawn bags for steelhead on the Boyne River. Perch fishing has slowed down and the suckers seem to have left as fast as they came. Pike are doing well on blue minnows.

In the Kalkaska area, brook and brown trout can be found in the creeks using live bait. Smaller inland lakes are good locations for blue gill. Steelhead remain active on Boardman River and Tippy Dam. A few perch being caught on Skegemog Lake.

Around the Frankfort area, angling activity is fair and sometimes hit or miss. Anglers are working hard to find perch in Crystal Lake. Lake Michigan is giving up decent catches of browns casting off the pier with cleos, crocodiles or spawn and when trolling using Rapalas. The Betsie River is producing fair amounts of suckers and steelhead. Walleye are decent around the Big Platt and Upper Herring lakes.

West:

In the Pentwater area, a few salmon are being pulled from Lake Michigan and some walleye around the piers on body baits in the evening hours.

Around the Muskegon area, anglers are doing well on Muskegon Lake for perch near the edge of weed beds when using worms. Blue gill are also abundant on Muskegon Lake in 10 feet of water and near the weed beds. Wax worms, spikes and red worms are working well, and near the east end of the Lake catfish are plentiful on crawlers.

Chippewa Lake is improving for blue gill, canals and channels are best locations.

Southwest:

In the Holland area Lake Macatawa is giving up decent catches of crappie mostly under the docks. Hutchins Lake also has come good crappie fishing taking place, especially around the weed beds. Lake Michigan is spotty this week for salmon, but fish caught have been in 40-70 feet of water.

Benton Harbor anglers are reeling in a few Kings in 80-100 feet of water on spoons, dodgers and flies going out about two miles from the pier. Walleye are a bit slow this week in the area.

Around New Buffalo anglers are finding good results with lakers in 62 feet of water, approximately three miles out. So far Kings are far and few between and steelhead activity has slowed some.

In the Kalamazoo area, bass are on the move on Maple Lake as well as blue gill and crappie. Sugarloaf Lake is also producing decent counts of blue gill and crappie.

Angling in the Three Rivers area is picking up on Harwood, Driscoll and Corey lakes. Blue gill, crappie and perch are active, and red wigglers and minnows are working best. A few walleye are being caught in the St. Joseph River between Constantine and Mottville.

Northeast:

At Houghton Lake angling action is back where it should be and anglers will find the middle of the Lake producing good amounts of walleye, trout, blue gill and crappie. A variety of bait is working well that includes leeches, leaf worms and Rapalas.

At Higgins Lake, the walleye action is improving as the weather improves. Perch action remains decent when using flies, leeches and wax worms.

In the Oscoda area, Cooke Dam Pond and Foote Dam Pond are producing fair quantities of perch and blue gill on crawlers and minnows. The AuSable River continues to give up decent catches of steelhead on spawn and walleye are ample when using wax worms, flies and Tiger Rapalas.

East:

Linwood anglers are doing well for walleye on Saginaw Bay from AuGres to the east end using bottom bouncers and crank bait. Steelhead action has slowed and perch catches are spotty.

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 .

Here are a couple of wildflowers I shot today.

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

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

.

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.

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

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.