Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Lakes are in Great Shape
All the lakes in Northern Michigan are is great shape with lots of ice and you can use quads or walk but creepers are a must. The fish are starting to bite again on most lakes with light fishing pressure
Higgins Lake when they can get out is producing perch and smelt. Also the lakers and whitefish are biting with many happy anglers catching fish. The lake is in great shape with trucks driving out on the south-end
Dave on Houghton Lake reports a great fish bite this week. He has shanties to rent also. Call him at 989-422-5230 for current conditions.
Check out the Buc’s facebook fishing report
Northwest:
Green Lake by Interlochen is producing smelt off the music camp and the south access site, glow hali’s tipped with spikes and waxworms working best. Also the last few days lights are a must.
Manistee Lake -Has a good pike bite right now with a perch being caught as they come up from Lake Michigan
Lake Missaukee -Was good for panfish and pike were hitting on tip-ups with a variety of minnows.
Cadillac Area: Lake Cadillac - Is producing some crappie along with a few perch and bluegills. Pike action continues for those spearing or using tip-ups. Lake Mitchell - Is still producing a good number of pike. Mid Season fishing has picked up. Good catches of crappie, often limits are back. Consistent crappie fishermen tell us to concentrate on 8 foot depths, early and before dark. Often they’re just under the ice. Most are fishing the bottom and may miss them. Even electronics may not work when they’re suspended so high.
Fife Lake they are catching perch,pike and some gills on waxworms.
Elk Lake is producing lake trout.
Little Glen is producing pike and perch.
Big Glen has many trying with a few perch being caught but many hope with the warm up things start to pop.
Lake Leelanau has slowed on perch and walleye bite on the south end with some trout and walleye coming off the north-end. For bigger bluegills, try the south lake. Call the Fishook for the latest bite @ 231-256-9496
Long Lake is producing walleye and perch but the catch rate has really picked up this this week.
Portage lake the perch are biting great out in the channel as perch are coming in from lake michigan, with some pike being caught.
Skegemog is producing perch with bigger ones biting finally again.Wigglers and perch minnows working best for the perch.
Lake Bellaire has been good for big walleye.
Around Leroy fishing is good for pike.
Lake Charlevoix - Is providing moderate success for both yellow perch and walleye. The South Arm was producing the best.
Intermediate Lake - In Antrim County also has walleye anglers targeting the south end of the lake.
Manistee River -The thaw last week melted all the snow and the runoff has brought in a few steelhead, but the main run is not here yet.
Some are starting to get back out on Mullet, Black and Burt the lakes are in great shape with fish on the bite again..
Spider and Arbutus Lake by TC have been good for panfish
Crystal Lake-Smelt have been caught at night in 40 to 50 feet of water. Try Hali jigs with spikes or wax worms. Perch off Lobb Rd. but sorting many small perch. Lake trout have been ok off of chimney corners
Hamlin Lake - Should also be giving up bluegill, crappie and perch. For crappie, try the drop-off along the Narrows. For walleye, try just south of the Narrows and fish early morning or late evening.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Higgins Lake Was still producing a few lake trout in 100 to 110 feet of water out from Amvets Lodge. The better smelt action was off the North State Park in 25 to 50 feet of water in the evening. Smelt were also taken off Birch Lodge with halis and waxworms. Good perch bite off the sunken island and sam-a-set. The lake is in the best shape all winter and the crowds are back off the west access site.
Houghton Lake -Has snow on the ice which makes for easy travel. Anglers are still taking a few walleye and bluegills were starting to hit on wax worms and spikes. There are pressure cracks but anglers were still able to cross them. Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake is reporting the fish starting to bite again. Call or visit him at his store phone# 989-422-5230. Also he has started to rent shanties this week so give him a call. Also Dave got a shipment of Otter shanties in for sale.
Tawas - Walleye and perch fishing were generally slow, with some fish being caught in 18 to 20 feet of water. Pike spearing was slow due to murky water.
Lake Margrethe has ice and the fishing is good for perch, with a few walleye and pike are being caught..
Otsego Lake off the state park has been good for pike, perch, and some are trying there luck for strugeon Bradford Lake a few are getting out perch fishing. Chub lake trout have been biting on blues
Harrison report all the lakes in great shape with panfish and pike biting great.
Lake St Helen has a good pike and panfish bite with a few walleyes being caught. 1st and 3rd lakes have been great this week
West Branch pike and gills being caught
Black Lake - Was producing some nice perch but catch rates were slow. A few muskie were also caught..
Wixom Lake has slowed with many fishing off the access site reporting catches of gills and pike. Crappie have started to bite.
Grand Lake - Is producing some perch and panfish. For pike and walleye, try tip-ups in Whiskey Bay or Black Bass Bay.
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.
Mullett Lake -Anglers are getting a few perch using minnows and wigglers in 15 to 20 feet of water and in 40 to 50 feet of water. A few pike were also being harvested. There is no snow on the lake so bring your cleats.
Hubbard Lake - Is producing a few walleye.
McCollum Lake - In Oscoda County, is producing good numbers of panfish.
Sugar Springs, Wiggins and Pratt Lake have been good for pike and a few gills being caught.
Secord Lake has had a good bite this winter for big crappie and pike.
Au Gres - Walleye anglers were fishing a hole in 8 to 10 feet of water just north of the breakwall or heading out to 32 feet of water which requires them to cross several pressure cracks.
Upper Peninsula
Keweenaw Bay: The fish bite was slow again this past week but anglers are picking up a few Coho and Herring at the Head of the Bay, and off of Sand Point in 40 to 60 feet of water fishing 10 to 15 feet down. Anglers have also caught a mix of smelt and perch in the early morning fishing in 25 to 40 feet of water around Baraga Marina. The whitefish bite was up and down during the past week. Anglers have also picked up a few lake trout in the whitefish hole east of Baraga Marina in 70 to 90 feet of water. The smelt bite has been good for the night time anglers around the Baraga Marina.
Little Bay De Noc: Several anglers fell through the ice just off the north end of Butler Island this week. Every one was without harm but vehicles needed professional rescue. Please use caution at all times. Good walleye catches reported this week in the Gladstone area. Many used tip-ups with sucker minnows. Anglers fished in 28 to 33 feet of water using tip-ups and jigging raps. From Center reef north to Garth Point, most used tip-ups with suckers in 22 to 35 feet of water. Best fishing all season was in the Garth Point area with most catches in shallower waters from 8 to 20 feet of water. Perch catches remained fair with deep water producing best catches of jumbos. Most jigged minnows or wigglers in and around 30 feet of water just off Second Reef. Perch anglers in the shallows reported good numbers of small fish all around the Butler Island area jigging wigglers and minnows. Anglers reported many caught but few kept. Fair to good catches were reported by whitefish anglers off Sand Point by weeks end. Anglers were jigging spawn or minnows in 75 to 85 feet of water. Good numbers of northern pike caught all around the mouth of the Day’s River. Most were caught using tip-ups with sucker minnows. The fishing here has gotten much better in recent days. The ice should hold up as temperatures should remain below freezing.
Munising: A lack of recent snowfall continues to make traversing the ice difficult and very slippery. Anglers are advised to wear cleats when fishing in these conditions. The primary focus in the bay remains on whitefish. The catch rates continued to be fair to poor. Single eggs and wax worms have been the bait of choice, with most anglers fishing depths from 50 to 80 feet of water, bouncing baits just off the bottom. Anglers have also begun to catch Menominee using these tactics in shallower water with the primary bait being wax worms. Some of these fish have approached 14 inches. Trout Bay reportedly formed fishable ice for several days over the past week and anglers who made it out reported fair to excellent success rates for Coho. Average size has been around 15 inches. Schools of smelt have also begun to be marked or seen with more regularity. Anglers are having fair success spearing lake herring with some nicer fish being reported recently. Efforts are focused in the early morning hours.
Indian Lake: The lack of snow has made the lake dangerous for those traveling and walking on the ice. Anglers should wear cleats and drive with caution since it is still very slippery when traveling with any motor vehicle. The pressure crack is still bothersome since it continuously shifts and runs north and south for the majority of the lake. Anglers wanting to fish the north east side of the lake should use Danielson’s landing. Anglers fishing the northwest side should try fishing at Lange’s Bay boat launch. The south east/west part of the lake can now be accessed at the State Park boat launch since snow drifts are no longer an issue. The week was generally slow for catch rates of all species. The majority of anglers are targeting yellow perch and they are still fishing with minnows. These anglers are fishing all areas of the lake with all catches being fair to good in numbers but the majority are in the smaller size range. There were some better sized fish closer to the center of the lake on both sides of the pressure crack and near the springs on the north end. Some walleye are still being picked up on the north end of the lake at dusk and later on tip-ups with the larger minnows.
Munuscong Bay - Is still producing a few walleye in 17 to 30 feet of water. A good number of small pike were also caught. Perch activity increased in Fowlers Bay when using wigglers in 3 feet of water. Good perch action was reported between Kemps Point and the Moon Islands. Dan’s Cabins reports the walleye have started to bite again with many fish being caught call (906) 647-8753 for the latest report.
Cedarville and Hessel - Hessel Bay is providing a lot of catch and release activity for anglers with an abundance of undersized perch. Some reported fair catches down towards the east end and along the south shore. Perch action in Musky Bay has picked up. Anglers are fishing the middle of the bay, or the west end in 10 to 12 feet of water with minnows or wigglers and taking a fair number of 9 to 13 inch fish. Moscoe Channel has also picked up for those able to get out there. Catch rates were spotty but the fish were bigger. The ice is very slippery with no snow cover, be sure to wear cleats.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Anglers were fishing bluegill off both the Metropark and Lakepointe Marinas.
Huron River: Steelhead fishing has been fair.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye anglers are fishing 6 miles off Erickson Road. Beware of an active crack off Linwood. Both perch and walleye are being taken in 5 to 10 feet of water off Bay City State Park and between the State Park and the mouth of the Kawkawlin River. Some activity at the mouth of the Saginaw River, but fishing there is generally slow. Some walleye were also taken off Callahan Road 3 miles out, and in the lower Slot off Quanicassee and between there and the tip of Fish Point. Some panfish are being taken from inside the Sebewaing Marina. Perch anglers going out off Rose Island Road were doing a little better. Ice off Mud Creek was reported to be pretty bad, and fishing there was slow. The ice off the mouth of the Pigeon River at Caseville broke up last week, so anglers aren’t getting out. Not much fishing activity in the marina basins off the Pigeon River.
Tittabawassee River: Some small boats are getting out and a few shore anglers are starting to try their luck, but fishing here is still slow.
Saginaw River: Not much fishing activity. Too much ice to launch a boat, but the ice is too weak to stand on.
Pine River/Palmer Road: Some nice perch taken in 12 feet of water, and walleyes from 18 to 20 feet of water.
Au Gres: Most walleye anglers have been going out north of the breakwall, some crossing several active cracks to get to 30 feet of water. A couple of steelheads were caught last week incidental to walleyes.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River: Steelhead are starting to move.
Gull Lake: Smelt fishing is reported to still be going strong.
Lake Lansing: Anglers are finding pike using tip-up minnows, chubs and shiners.
Park Lake: Perch fishing is doing fair to good in 15 feet of water or less with some anglers using wigglers.
Jordan Lake: Bluegill fishing has slowed down after the warm up.
Lake Ovid: Those fishing in shallow waters were taking some bluegill and crappie.
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
Mid Season fishing has picked up. Good catches of crappie, often limits are back.
Consistent crappie fishermen tell us to concentrate on 8 foot depths, early and before dark. Often they’re just under the ice. Most are fishing the bottom and may miss them. Even electronics may not work when they’re suspended so high.
Pike numbers are back. Lots reported under 30 inches. Seems like 28-29 inchers are standard.
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
Next entry: Last Chance Walleye Derby
Previous entry: More contest