Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
It looking at lot like Ice Fishing
The shallow lakes are safe with many shanties out and about. Deep lake like Higgins and Green Lake have ice capped and will be safe for New Years weekend. There is a great bite on most lakes with lots of pike being caught. 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.
Lake Cadillac -has started on the east side, Kenwood Park and and the Causeway area.
Lake Mitchell - the Big and Small Coves, Thirsty’s and Mitchell State Park.
Fife Lake they are catching perch and a few 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
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.
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.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Black Lake is froze with pike and a few walleyes being caught.
Alpena - Long and Grand Lake have safe ice and perch and a few walleye being caught.
Grayling - Lakes in the area are frozen over but not safe yet.
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.
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 many pike with a few walleye being caught
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.
Upper Peninsula
Lake Gogebic - Anglers were catching walleye in Bergland Bay. The ice is not safe yet on most lakes. One angler already fell through the ice on Lake Antoine in Dickinson County.
Little Bay De Noc - Anglers have started to head out ice fishing as there is very little snow cover on the bay. Most of the activity is north of Gladstone near Kipling however a few were also south of the Day’s River. Until the ice has more time to harden, most anglers are traveling on foot.
Indian Lake - Ice anglers were taking some perch, but caution needs to be used.
St. Mary’s River - A few perch were taken in Fowlers Bay.
Newberry has safe ice with many getting out.
Soo is reporting in that they have safe ice and fish are biting.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Small local lakes in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties were starting to get a thin layer of ice on them however no safe ice to report at this time.
Lake Erie - Metro Park Marina is producing some panfish.
Huron River - Still has some steelhead for those willing to brave the cold.
Lake St. Clair - Ice has formed on the cuts and canals in shallow waters only. Not much activity to report yet. It has been too cold and windy.
Lexington - A couple anglers in the harbor caught a few perch and small rainbow trout. They are using the usual ice fishing methods and baits.
Saginaw Bay - A few anglers were creeping out on the cuts, canals and marina basins last week as shallow water fishing seems to be the only safe ice fishing at the moment. Some perch were caught out of a cut near Pinconning. Heavy snow is not helping with the formation of ice but instead pushing the ice down and creating slush. Anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution and stay in shallow waters. Best way to stay dry is to go someplace like a marina basin and fish off the docks. Anglers will use half a cement block tied to a rope to punch a hole in the ice; then sit on the dock and fish through the hole.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Steelhead fishing continues to be fair. Boat anglers continue to do better than shore anglers. Spawn was the favored bait however a few fish were also caught on crank baits. River conditions continue to improve as heavy snow improved depth and flow considerably. Boat launches were still open from Berrien Springs to the lake.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - A good number of steelhead can still be found up near the Sixth Street Dam when floating spawn or near the post office when using a white jig. A few walleye were taken on body baits. Those trolling plugs have caught steelhead and walleye. Water levels are still a bit low so fish the deeper holes. There is ice above the dam.
Lansing - Ice can be found on the smaller lakes but still no safe ice to report in this area of the state. Those anxious to get out should fish in shallow waters only while exercising extreme caution. Snow cover will not only cause slush problems, but will also insulate the ice and slow the freezing process. River fishing is at a stand still.
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