Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Fishing has Been Slow
Fishing Pressure has been slow during the week as many have given up on fishing the hard water waiting for the return of soft water. Looking at the weather it might be a while.
Fishing has been good on many lakes with perch hitting on Portage Lake, Skegemog, Long Lake and some on Higgins Lake.
Smelt fishing is finally picking up on Higgins Lake with in front of Big Creek being the hotspot.
Cadillac reports a good crappie bite early on minnows the after the sun comes up they are biting on waxworms,
Manistee Lake by Kalkaska reports a good gill bite the last few days, also Houghton Lake has been getting better every day.
Upper Peninsula:
Ice remains solid in the harbor, but out in the open lake the ice is cracked and flowing. Angling activity around Copper Harbor is fair for splake on lures.
In the Bergland area, the ice remains at least two feet thick and anglers are still getting out. Lakers and blue gill are becoming more active and anglers are getting best results with wax worms and tear drops.
Around the Silver City area ice fishing is producing some salmon on Swedish pimples.
Plenty of ice remains in the Escanaba area. Little Bay De Noc is producing a few whitefish and near Gladstone some perch are moving.
Anglers fishing in the Manistique area can expect decent catches of perch on minnows. The ice is good but heavy snow is covering it and making it difficult to get around.
In the Sault St. Marie area, angling action remains slow once again this week. Some whitefish are being caught in the upper river on wax worms and teardrops.
In the Munuscong Bay area, the perch fishing is excellent on Cedarville Lake and Munuscong Bay. Wigglers, wax worms and minnows are working very well. The average take is 15-30 in one trip. The ice remains at least two feet thick.
Drummond Island the angling is slow with a few perch biting on Scott and Maxton bays. Whitney Bay is producing fair amounts of perch on minnows.
St. Ignace anglers will find activity slow this week on Brevort Lake, a few perch and blue gill being caught. Burt and Mullet lakes are giving up a few perch as well. The ice is still over two feet thick.
Northwest:
Alanson angling has really slowed this week. A few perch on blues and tip ups are hit or miss. The ice is still strong with vehicles still able to get out on it.
Slow time of the season for Boyne City anglers. Action is minimal on Walloon Lake for perch on wigglers. The best location is off of the State Park and South arm. The Boyne and Jordan River is giving up a few perch and trout.
Not much has changed this week in the Frankfort area angling is hit or miss for steelhead in the river right now. The smelt are decent when using spikes, wax worms, and small minnows. Whitefish are active on jigs and wigglers and perch are plentiful in Crystal Lake.
In the Kalkaska area, some steelhead action is taking place at the Elk Rapids Dam and Lake Skegemog is really good for perch.
Around the Manistee area steelhead are moving and anglers are finding decent results with spawn on the Big Manistee River. Ice fishing is difficult since the ice is jammed along the shoreline and anglers cannot get out. Perch fishing off the pier is very limited at this time.
Gaylord area anglers are still ice fishing, but the activity is slow. Pike and blue gill fishing is fair this week.
In and around the Cadillac area crappie seem to cooperate when using small jigs and red spikes. Blue gill and perch are hit or miss and minnows, wax worms are working best.
West:
Muskegon Lake is giving up some perch on minnows and pike are active near the south shore and anglers are finding decent results with wigglers, wax worms, and golden shiners. Off of Lake Michigan the steelhead are starting to become more active. Spawn works well.
In the Ludington area anglers continue to do well this week for perch on Pentwater and Pere Marquette lakes. Jigs, small minnows and wigglers are working best. Steelhead action is picking up along the Pere Marquette River and best results are found when using spawn sacks.
Southwest:
In the Benton Harbor area, not much action on the lake, but some anxious anglers have launched their boats and are out trolling. Use extreme caution if you attempt this since the ice is flowing in drifts. The St. Joe is giving up some steelhead on spawn.
In the Kalamazoo area, maybe due to rain and some adverse weather this week the fishing activity has slowed.
In the New Buffalo area steelhead are running in the river near the Union Pier. Anglers are casting with spinner4s and spawn is also working well. Near the mouth of the river some salmon have been caught casting with spinner bait.
Northeast:
In Oscoda, the overall the fishing is slow. Some steelhead running in the river and anglers are finding best results with spawn and wax worms. The ice is deteriorating so use extra caution. Some blue gill and perch are being caught in the river and Van Etten Lake on wax worms and wigglers.
Houghton Lake is producing some blue gill when anglers use wax worms or spikes. Otherwise the fishing has slowed this week. The ice is good but the problem is finding a place to get out on to it.
Higgins Lake continues to have over 20 inches of ice and fishing is generally good. Anglers are catching perch on minnows, lakers on grey shiners and a few smelt on wax worms.
East:
The ice is diminishing around the Linwood area, anglers are advised to steer clear of the pressure cracks and use extra caution. Steelhead are starting to run and the shoreline seems the best location in about 3-12 feet of water in reel a few in.
Next entry: Bring on Spring
Previous entry: Horned Lark