Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Fishing Slow This Week
It has been slow this week from most of the reports I have heard. Higgins Lake a few smelt are being caught, but no great bite yet. Perch on Big Glenn has been slow this week with just a few being caught, it seems Little Glenn has been better for perch but not as big. Ice fishing continues as we move into the second half of February. Those seeking panfish have started to catch some of the bigger fish in deeper waters. Walleye action continues around the state and those seeking pike have done well with tip-ups or when spearing. Steelhead can be found in many of the major river systems.
1st ANNUAL 2010
OSBORN’S BIG ICE FISHING CONTEST
(231) 889-3775
FEB.19TH,20TH, 21ST. MANISTEE-BENZIE AREA LAKES BIG PRIZES FOR BIG FISH!!
Rules:
$5.00 Registration and weigh in at Osborn’s Sports Shop
Registration qualifies you for any and all classes.
Largest fish will be determined by weight only, except smelt will be by length.
Only one prize per person will be awarded.
Children s class will be 12 years and under.
Higgins Lake- Perch can still be found in 20 to 40 feet of water during the day and switch to smelt in the evening and after dark. Be ready to sort out the small perch. Lake trout action has been very good with fish caught on blues and greys in 85 to 100 feet of water. A nice 45 inch pike was caught recently.
Lake St. Helen is reporting pike and panfish bite.
Down at Wixom Lake they are doing good off the access site with crappie and pike, also by the dam crappie haver been biting
Margrethe and Otsego have good ice and many shaties are showing up on the lakes with a fair bite. A huge muskie was caught on Lake Margrethe also sturgeon are being spotted on Otsego Lake.
Around Leroy, Farwell, Cadillac, Harrison and Sanford they have good ice and are catching fish.
Long Lake and Lake Leelanau by Traverse City have good ice for walking and perch and walleye are biting. Some are getting off the north-end.
Mullet Lake - Fishing remains consistent. A few nice perch were caught on minnows in 10 to 45 feet of water, but many were small. Those targeting pike have not had much luck with spearing or still-fishing. Some have started to target lake herring.
Burt Lake - Ice anglers have started to catch a few walleye. Anglers should stay away from the large pressure crack between Colonial Point and Cedar Point. This area had open water last week and the ice that has formed is not safe. Perch fishing has been fair on Maple Bay
Crystal Lake is froze and should be a great weekend for fishing with many getting off of Lobb rd. and doing good on smelt.
Portage Lake has great ice and check out Osborn’s Fishig contest for the lakeAlso lots of pike being caught on golden shiners.
Green Lake - Ice fishing continues and smelt are hitting at night. Try Hali jigs or teardrops with wax worms or spikes.
Cedar Lake - Ice anglers are doing well on pike when using tip-ups with large minnows. Those targeting smelt are fishing day or night with teardrops or Hali jigs with spikes and wax worms.
Lake Missaukee - Has been good for bluegills with a few pike and walleye.
Lake Cadillac - Ice anglers continue to catch walleye, pike and crappie. Try the smallest jigs with a single spike and not much movement. Those with cameras are seeing panfish however they were not interested in biting.
Lake Mitchell - Has been good for pike and a few crappie. Look for bluegills when fishing near the coves on the west side of the lake.
Hamlin Lake - Some nice bluegills have been caught but not many. For crappie, try the drop-off along the Narrows in 15 to 25 feet of water with minnows after dark. Perch and a few walleye were caught along the drop-off south of the Narrows. Northern pike were hitting on tip-ups.
Saginaw Bay - Anglers need to use extreme caution when venturing out. Ice rescues are still taking place on the east side of the bay after people, machines and even a dog went through the ice. The west side of the bay has anglers crossing two major pressure cracks. A few perch were caught in 8 feet of water off White’s Beach. Walleye anglers were going out from Erickson Road and off Linwood to waters 18 to 22 feet deep. No word on ice conditions at those two locations but it would be wise to assume there are active pressure cracks. A few walleye were caught out by Spoils Island and off the mouth of the Saginaw River however the action has since slowed. Look for perch off Vanderbilt Park near Quanicassee. Some walleye anglers were heading out 10 miles off Callahan Road and Thomas Road. At Sebewaing, water in the marina remains cloudy. A few nice perch in the 9 to 11 inch range were caught near Bay Shore Camp and in front of the Sugar Plant. Perch were caught by those jigging beads in 4 feet of water out near Lone Tree Island and Defoe Island however catch rates were not consistent. Anglers need to pay close attention to the pressure crack that runs from Defoe Island to Pap’s Place as anglers have fell in trying to cross it. New pressure cracks along with areas of open water have been reported between North Island and Sand Point. At Caseville, a few walleye were caught after dark from the marina and out along the breakwall. Be careful on the ice out past the Christmas tree along the breakwall as it has not had time to firm up after the thaw and high winds a few weeks back.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions remain about the same with most anglers fishing between the Escanaba River and the head of the bay. Some are fishing as far south as Portage Point however the ice is dangerous in this area and should be avoided. Pressure cracks are still a problem so caution needs to used at all times when crossing or traveling around them. Lots of fish were marked throughout the bay however catch rates were slow. A few walleye were caught near the Escanaba River on tip-ups with minnows or jigging rapalas in 25 to 35 feet of water. Some large walleye and a few perch were caught at the head of the bay when using tip-ups with minnows in 10 to 23 feet of water near the Day’s River. Perch anglers were marking good numbers of small fish in the Butler Island area in 6 to 12 feet of water. Some large perch were caught south of the Narrows when jigging minnows in 20 to 33 feet of water. Good numbers of whitefish remain in the flats out from the Terrace Bay Inn however few anglers were taking advantage of this fishery.
Big Manistique Lake - Anglers were catching a significant number of small fish.
South Manistique Lake - Is also producing walleye and a few perch. Both lakes should also start producing some pike.
Cedarville and Hessel - Perch fishing has picked up and so has the size of fish caught even though there is still a lot of undersized perch and pike present. Anglers are using wax worms and minnows in 6 to 12 feet of water. The Moscoe Channel and Government Bay were hit-or-miss however bigger fish were caught when the bite was on. Pike were speared in Musky Bay.
Houghton Lake -The bite has picked back up and so have catch rates for walleye and bluegills. Anglers will want to target waters 12 feet or deeper to find the bigger fish. Good numbers of pike have been caught on tip-ups however few were keepers. Dave at Four Season party Store is out looking for a good spot and has done well the last few days so give him a call at 989-422-5230 for his hot-spot He caught four keeper walleye last night.. Lyman’s on the lake has shanties out and has a weekly pike contest with pike action getting better
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