Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Higgins Lake is Froze
I shot this photo saturday on Higgins Lake as it is froze with shanties on the south-end. We hope to be on the smelt grounds this week.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009
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Enjoy catching ??Big? fish. Set your tip-ups on either Cadillac or Lake Mitchell and see what happens. This past week tip-up and spear fishermen have been catching pike over the 30 inch mark and some up to 38 inches. We??ve heard stories of even larger but 38 is the largest, we??ve actually weighed and measured.
We??re often asked which lake is the best. Lake Cadillac gets the most pressure because it??s accessible from all sides. Fishermen can be seen and parking is available around most of the lake. Basically bowl shaped the deep water and weed beds are easy to figure out.
Lake Mitchell is almost twice the size of Cadillac, without as much public access. It has the reputation for being shallow and usually takes longer to locate drop offs and deeper depths. Consequently fewer fish Mitchell.
When it comes to pike traditionally the numbers come from Mitchell. Fewer but larger pike come from Cadillac. That said, this winter it hasn??t mattered. Trophy size pike have been caught from both lakes.
Pilgrim Village Spearing Contest:
Some new names have appeared, and some of the past leaders were bumped..
First Place Chris Vander Meulen 38 inches 11.8 lbs.
Second Place Mike Boerma 37 ¼ inches 9.14 lbs.
Third Place Joe Kulhawick 34 ½ inches 9.13 lbs.
Fourth Place Brian Brown 34 5/16 inches 9.1 lbs.
Fifth Place Ralph Henry 32 inches 8.5 lbs.
Sixth Place Scott McConnell 32 inches 7.5 lbs.
Seventh Place Chris Hansen 32 inches 7.4 lbs.
Eighth Place Steve Sikkema 32 inches 7.2 lbs.
Youth Division - 16 years and under
First Place Tyler McConnell 28 ¾ inches 4.12 lbs.
Second Place Donald Hiltz Jr. 26 ¼ inches 3.11 lbs.
Think pike are bony and prefer the sweet taste of panfish. Try the Coves on Lake Mitchell or the east side of Cadillac for a mixed catch. Crappie are predominant but gills and a few keeper perch can fill a limit.
Plan to fish in the 26th NASF Ice Fishing Contest, Saturday February 6, 2010. Register now at the Pilgrim Village, MC Sports or Schafer??s Bait and Sporting Goods. Click here rules.
See you on the ice!
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