Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Busy Ice Fishing Weekend
With the nice weather fisherman got out to try their luck this weekend.
Smelt are still biting good on Crystal Lake off of Lobb Road. Green and Higgins are still slow on smelt so far.
A good perch bite is still on Portage and Manistee Lake by Manistee, also some nice walleye are coming put of Portage Lake.
Wixom Lake has a great crappie bite off the public access with some gills being caught.
Houghton Lake has a great walleye bite in the middle grounds and Long Point. Pike fishing is good off of Lymanville.
Higgins lake has a good perch bite but lots of sorting the last few days. The lake trout are still biting great with limit catches still. Smelt are slow with most fishing Big Creek north to the N. State Park. Also big pike were caught this weekend.
Long Lake by Traverse City is good for walleye this week with blues working best and out at Lake Leelanau they are doing fair on the walleye with greys and tipups working best.
Lake St. Helen has a great bluegill with limit catches on waxworms. Also Lake Missaukee still has a good gill bite also.
Burt Lake reports a good perch bite at Maple Bay.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell have a reputation for “BIG” pike. The legend continues! Steve Hoekwater from Cadillac caught a 41 ¼ inch on a tip-up this week. See picture of his proud catch. It’s the longest we’ve measured this year. Northern pike don’t seem to be bothered by any weather conditions or barometer readings. Tip-up and spear fishermen are successful.
Every year there’s confusion on when pike season closes. In the Lower Peninsula (our area) it ends March 15. It’s the Upper Peninsula that closes the end of February. The Dark House guys must hang up their spears the 29th of February also.
Those targeting panfish usually have mixed catches of crappie, perch and gills. Most common are crappie. Both lakes are producing. Bigger numbers are coming from Cadillac. Fewer but larger specs have been caught in the coves on Mitchell. To be successful you need to be in 8 to 10 foot depths and in the weeds. If you know where the cabbage beds are or are lucky to find them, you’ll catch crappie. Small minnows are traditional but lately red spikes on red and white jigs have been more effective.
Our perch fishery is getting better. Finally, some of those little dinks have grown up you’ll still have to sort but catches of 8 to 10’s are not unusual. Usually they’re found in deep areas. Use dry baits or wigglers to find them. But the largest keepers are eating minnows.
Those with cameras or Vexilars always seem to do best. They are not a guarantee but do reduce the odds. If you don’t fish with electronics you should.
A few walleye were reported this week. If there’s a pattern, all were caught at the east end of Cadillac on tip-ups. See photo of Dean Caddick from Oxford with his friends. Nice pike and walleye mix.
Louise Welch of Cadillac is holding a 9” Bluegill. It’s a poor picture because she’s helping hold 2 limits of gills. Wish you could see the numbers and size.
SMELT - Higgins Lake is getting better but still spotty.
Green Lake, south boat launch is the best.
Crystal Lake, big numbers, big smelt.
Next entry: Platte River Sunset
Previous entry: Lake's have Slush this week