Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Happy New Year and Let’s Go Fishing
Check out Buc’s Facebook Fishing Report
95% of the lake are froze with Higgins, Mullet, Burt, and Elk still unsafe till the warm spell passes. Were are getting rain tonight but will not affect the ice conditions. Check out the facebook fishing report
Northwest:
Manistee Lake -Has a good pike bite right now with a few perch being caught
Lake Missaukee - Had reports of anglers seeking panfish in shallow waters and a great pike bite with many 30+ size.
Cadillac Area: Some of the local fishermen are doing well on walleye. Their choice of tackle has been light line tip-ups baited with medium sized blue shiners. Jigging Rapalas are also taking their share. We’ve seen impressive numbers and better then average size for our lakes. Lake Mitchell has been more consistent then Lake Cadillac with even a limit or two.
Fife Lake they are catching perch and pike.
Clam Lake some nice pike being caught.
Manistee Lake by Kalkaska is producing some perch and walleye as the snow has settled.
Little Glen is producing pike and perch.
Lake Leelanau has a good perch and walleye bite on the south end
Long Lake is producing walleye and perch with limit catches of walleye.
Portage lake is safe with lots of pike being caught with some perch and walleye
Skegemog is producing some nice catches of perch and big pike with wigglersworking best.
Lake Bellaire they are just starting to venture out on and a few walleye being caught.
Around Leroy has safe ice with a good pike bite and panfish.
Lake Charlevoix - Anglers are fishing the South Arm for walleye.
Intermediate Lake - In Antrim County also has walleye anglers targeting the south end of the lake.
Manistee River - Look for steelhead movement with warm temperatures and possible rain by the end of the week. Those fly fishing below Tippy Dam were still catching some nice fish.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Black Lake is froze with pike and a few walleyes being caught.
Higgins Lake -Is froze over and should be safe by New Years weekend
Houghton Lake -Has safe ice with lots of small pike and walleye being caught. Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake is catching walleye and will give you info where his shanty is you can call or visit him at his store phone# 989-422-5230. Lyman’s on the Lake has been
Tawas - Skim ice was reported on most of the inland lakes in the area. Some brave anglers were catching a few panfish on Tawas Lake and some of the smaller lakes in the region. Anglers need to use extreme caution.
Lake Margrethe has ice and has a awesome bite this week.
Otesego Lake they are catching pike also some perch, Bradford Lakea few are getting out perch fishing.
Harrison report all the lakes are froze and have safe ice with panfish and pike biting great with first ice.
Lake St Helen has a good pike and panfish bite with a few walleyes being caught.
West Branch has safe ice with many pike and gills being caught.
Wixom Lake has been hot with Muddy Bay reporting limit catches of gills and many pike.
Grand Lake - Some anglers were out ice fishing for perch however catch rates were slow and the fish were running small.
Long Lake - Try tip-ups with a minnow on the bottom for northern pike. Those looking for perch will want to fish along the north and south shores.
Higgins Lake - Is ice covered witha few guys are fishing shallow water
Upper Peninsula
Most inland lakes in this region have ice. Anglers are heading out and fishing but not many reports have come in yet. Anglers are reminded to use caution when traveling on the ice. The fishing is good but most Yoopers like to drive to there favorite spot and the ice is not think enough yet
Newberry - Inland lakes in the area are frozen however ice thickness may not be consistent, so be sure to use extreme caution and the check the ice as you go.
Manistique Lake - Walleye action was fair to slow on both South and Big Manistique Lakes. Most are using tip-ups with minnows.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Most of the lakes in Southeast Michigan have ice. Anglers should stay off the deeper lakes as they are not safe yet. The shallow lakes are producing good bluegill action.
Huron River - Look for steelhead with the warm-up.
Lake St. Clair - Anglers reported fair ice fishing for yellow perch. Most are fishing near the Cut-off access site, Metro Beach, Harley Ensign, and Fairhaven. Some activity at Cotton Road as well, but access there is very limited due to parking issues. There are lots of small perch, but some nice ones were also caught. Anglers are reminded that it is unlawful to leave dead fish on the ice, so put the small ones back.
Lexington - Ice anglers in the harbor were catching some nice rainbow trout however they were also losing a good number of fish as it is hard to land a trout that size through a hole in the ice. Slow bite on windy days and as long as the water is turbid, underwater cameras will not do any good.
Port Sanilac - Ice was still iffy so most are fishing the south end of the harbor.
Saginaw Bay - Ice anglers were catching perch near Standish when fishing off Newman Road and Palmer Road. A few nice fish were caught however be ready to sort out the small ones. There is not much snow cover on the west side of the bay.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
We have reports of good panfish action with limits caught on several lakes in the region. Most are using teardrops with wax worms or spikes. Pike fishing has been good for those using tip-ups with large minnows.
St. Joseph River - The river levels are almost back to normal (for the winter). Anglers continue to make decent catches of steelhead when using spawn or running crank baits. As of this report, there are still several boat launches open and very few ice flows. Some ice is beginning to develop along the shoreline however the river remains very fishable for both boat and shore anglers.
Gull Lake - Ice is starting to form on the south end of the lake only. Anglers are heading out for panfish and smelt.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead were caught on nickel size spawn bags as well as white jigs with a wax worm near the Post Office. Use light line because the water is clear. At Fulton Street, anglers are casting plugs. Walleye have been caught on body baits, twister tails and bucktail jigs.
Grand River at Lansing - Try Moore’s Park for steelhead toward the end the week. Warm temperatures coupled with possible rain may bring some fish in.
Lake Lansing - Ice anglers are getting pike on tip-ups with minnows. Largemouth bass have also been caught however that season closes on December 31st.
Park Lake - Is producing some crappie. Try teardrops with wax worms or spikes.
Muskrat Lake - Is producing some crappie and bluegills. Try fishing deeper water if the bite is slow but use caution and check the ice. Early morning was best for bluegills but the crappies seem to bite better in the evening.
Reeds Lake - Pike were caught 4 to 5 feet off the bottom in 20 to 40 feet of water. Nice perch were caught on minnows and wax worms in 30 to 45 feet of water. For bluegills, fish the first hour or two of daylight. For crappie, try 15 to 20 feet down in 40 feet of water at night.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP 231-775-5412
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Some of the local fishermen are doing well on walleye. Their choice of tackle has been light line tip-ups baited with medium sized blue shiners. Jigging Rapalas are also taking their share. We’ve seen impressive numbers and better then average size for our lakes. Lake Mitchell has been more consistent then Lake Cadillac with even a limit or two.
Lyman’s Ice Shanty Rental
Our shanties are located on the South Shore
weedbed of Houghton Lake.
Northern Pike are very good and the occasional Walleye will be caught in this location.
Shanty rental includes transportation to and from the shanty and a propane heater.
Reservations are recommended.
Rates
From 7:00 am till 7:00 pm. With heat and transportation out there.
2 Man $35.00
4 Man $40.00
6 Man $50.00
Sleeper Shanty Sunday-Friday $80.00 Friday And Saturday $100.00
From 8am/8am
NORTHERN MICHIGAN WEATHER
Tonight
Dec 30 Showers 38° 60 %
Fri
Dec 31 PM Showers 43°/40° 40 %
Sat
Jan 01 Partly Cloudy / Wind 40°/18° 20 %
Sun
Jan 02 Snow Shower 22°/21° 40 %
Mon
Jan 03 Few Snow Showers 29°/23° 30 %
Tue
Jan 04 Few Snow Showers 27°/22° 30 %
Wed
Jan 05 Flurries 28°/22° 30 %
Thu
Jan 06 Few Snow Showers 28°/23° 30 %
Fri
Jan 07 Snow Shower 28°/22° 60 %
Sat
Jan 08 Snow Shower 28°/23° 40 %
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