Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Last Weekend for Tip-up Town
We’re getting ready for another great Tip-Up Town USA! Michigan’s largest winter festival takes place on January 16th-18th, and 23rd-25th. It is in it’s 59th year and promises to be bigger and better than ever before! Bookmark this site to keep up to date with all the activities planned for 2009. And check the blog regularly for Tip-Up Town gossip and more. Once again you can participate in the best fun that winter can offer for the price of the $5 entry badge (valid both weekends). Mark your calendars now for the last two weekends of January in beautiful Houghton Lake.
We have had brutal weather this week with very little fishing pressure when it is 22 below with high winds. Today was nice with many getting back out and trying there luck. Crystal Lake is froze all the way so look for that lake to be great when we get back to normal winter. Most are reporting lots of slush on many lakes after the storm on saturday.
Higgins Lake- Smelt are still hitting off the North State Park, Big Creek, and south of the west boat launch in 40 to 50 feet of water. Use wax worms or perch minnows between dusk and 9:30pm and again around midnight and fish the entire water column. Smaller perch are hitting on wax worms or perch minnows between the Sunken Island and Treasure Island, off the North State Park, and in front of the Conference Center in 40 to 50 feet of water. Lake trout are hitting grey minnows or a Swedish Pimple with smelt fished just off the bottom in 90 to 100 feet of water. Lots of small perch being caught, but we hope when they get out around the sunken island they will get into the bigger perch You can call Phoenix Park @ 989-821-7220 for info off the west access site and Sports Barn @ 989-821-9511 for info on the south-end of Higgins Lake
Lake Margrethe has good ice and fishing at a standstill with brutal weather. Call Skip??s Sport Shop @ 989-348-7111 for the latest info.
Portage Lake by Onekama has been great for perch and walleye , with some getting walleye during the day. Call Osborn??s Sport Shop in Bear Lake @ 231-889-3775 or Don??s Sport Shop in Manistee @ 231-723-5028
Hamlin Lake Catch rates have been slow. Most of the activity has been on Upper Hamlin off Wilson Hill Park. Some nice bluegills were caught in 8 to 12 feet of water but no big numbers yet. Recent snowfall coupled with strong winds has drifts as high as five feet which makes travel almost impossible. Watch for the areas with open water because of currents. Call Pere Marquette Sport @ 231-843-8676 or Hamlin Grocery @ (231) 843-2058
The Eyes Have It reports great fishing in the Leroy area call Craig @ 231-768-5653
Houghton Lake - Pike are hitting tip-ups with minnows. Some nice walleye were caught in the East Bay and along the north shore when jigging minnows. A handful of perch were taken on minnows or wax worms. The bluegill bite has picked up in 6 to 8 feet of water over the weed beds along the south shore. Use wax worms.. Call Lyman??s Sport and Shanty Rental @ 989-422-3231
Near the Kalkaska area, Lake Skegemog Ice fishing is on but snow on the lake is deep. Anglers are fishing for perch off the Baggs Road access site as well as the northwest portion of the lake near the Narrows. Most are in 10 to 20 feet of water and using minnows, wax worms, wigglers or shrimp. The fish range from very small to jumbos. A few pike have been speared south of the river in 10 to 15 feet of water when using natural baits or artificial decoys. Fish recorded were 30+ inches. Those seeking muskie have only taken a few fish in the 40 inch range.Manistee Lake is producing nice counts of crappie and walleye and Fife Lake is providing nice catches for pike. Pike are biting on suckers or goldens. Call Jack??s Sport Shop for the latest info @ 231-258-8892
Lake St Helen has been good this week for pike, walleye and panfish and has great ice conditions. Call Malcoms Sport @ 989-389-2100 for latest info
Sanford Lake at the first fill has been hot for crappie this week with minnow working best. Call Sanford Sport Shop @ 989-687-5161 for latest info.Otsego Lake has a good perch bite with some walleye being caught and Bradford has nice perch being caught. Also some Stugeon being caught but no keepers yet. Call Stugeon Joe @ 989-732-5866 for the latest info.
Burt Lake has been good at Maple Bay for jumbo perch.
Green Lake by Interlochen has been good for smelt off both access sites with halis and waxworms working best.
Traverse City - Good angling action near Traverse City on Long Lake and most inland lakes for walleye, blue gill and pan fish. Minnows, wax worms and spikes are popular. Anglers need to check the ice before attempting to walk on the ice.
Big Glen Lake - Had several anglers catching perch, but not in big numbers. Most are using minnows in 30 to 45 feet of water. Use caution and avoid the east side of the lake which still had open water.
Betsie River - Those willing to brave the cold could very well hook into an occasional steelhead.
Lake Missaukee - Lots of fisherman out this weekend catching gills and pike with ice conditions great.
Lake Cadillac - Good to excellent fishing conditions for pike on Mitchell and Cadillac Lakes. Anglers are using tip-ups and spearing. Good action for crappie in the day and evening hours. Perch activity is good but plenty of sorting is necessary to find the keepers. Blue gill action is slow. Both Mitchell and Cadillac lakes have good ice ranging between 7-10 inches
East Twin Lake - Fishing pressure is slow as cold weather has stopped the fish bite.
West Twin Lake - Slow this week with the artic temps.
Lake Mitchell - Has good ice also with lots of fisherman heading out after panfish and pike.
Indian Lake by Manistique has a good perch and walleye bite this week. South Manistique Lake - Still has good walleye action when jigging or using tip-ups. For those spearing, try the southeast side between the access site and Norton Island in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for walleye and pike. The pike are hitting on tip-ups with minnows and the walleye are hitting on jigs with spikes or minnows. Some nice bluegills have also been caught.
Munuscong Lake has decent ice at this time but the temperatures are extremely cold. A few brave soles are getting out and fishing for perch using minnows and reeling in some good sized fish.
Around St.Ignace a few anglers are getting out on Christiansen Bay and pulling in a few perch and walleye on minnows.
Lake Gogebic near the Bergland area is giving up a few walleye, pike and perch on minnows. However it has been so frigid that most anglers are staying indoors. Ice shanties are appearing on the north and south ends of the Lake as anglers are getting geared up for ice fishing this weekend.
Little Bay DeNoc Has lots of angler activity with over one hundred ice shanties reported. Walleye and perch fishing are good once you locate some fish. Try 10 to 18 feet of water off Kipling or south of Gladstone.
Near the Alanson and Boyne areas, Burt, Crooked, Pickeral, Mullett, and Walloon lakes are all freezing up nicely, as well as most of the rivers and parts of Lake Charlevoix. Ice fishing should be able to commence this weekend; however anglers should use extreme caution when attempting to walk out on any body of water.
Saginaw Bay - Fishing off Palmer Road was good before the cold set in. Walleye anglers were going south toward the Black Hole or northeast to the Catfish Hole. In general, walleye fishing was slow to fair at best throughout the inner bay. Most parties were getting a few walleyes, but it was far from a red-hot bite. They have been fishing in 17 to 20 feet of water off White’s Beach. Off Erickson Road, head out about three and half miles to waters 16 to 20 feet deep and off Linwood fish about 14 to 16 feet of water. At Vanderbilt Park, which is just east of Quanicassee, anglers have caught a few perch in about 6 feet of water or speared a couple pike. Off Thomas Road, anglers were heading out as far as seven miles to waters up to 20 feet deep however the ice out there is marginal. Others are only going out about two and half miles to the Slot and fishing in 16 feet of water and doing just as well. At Sebewaing, a few small perch and the odd pike were taken in the marina. For Mud Creek, perch fishing was slow and pike spearing was spotty.
Saginaw River - Saginaw River - Has ice fishing from downtown Saginaw to Bay City. Some walleye were caught downtown Saginaw off Hooters’, between Saginaw and Bay City, and downstream from the Independence Bridge. The ice at Essexville and the mouth of the river is questionable and anglers should NOT try to cross the river channel.
Little Bay De Noc - Catch rates have increased as the temperatures climb. Anglers are ice fishing throughout the Bay and as far south as Portage Point. Warmer weather bought good walleye catches off Kipling and the mouth of the Escanaba River. Off Kipling, try jigging in 24 to 35 feet of water with Moon Shines. Near the mouth of the river, try jigging in 25 to 30 feet of water for big walleye in the 6 to 10 pound range. Perch anglers reported fair to good catch rates for jumbos in 11 to 27 feet of water when jigging minnows with orange or blue tear drops. Good pike action just south of Hunters Point in 10 to 17 feet of water. Whitefish action is just getting started off Sand Point.
Muskegon Lake Has ice however avoid the area where the freighters are moving through. Enough perch for a meal are being caught along the south end of the lake in waters 45 to 55 feet deep. Bluegills are hitting on bright colors or anything that glows off the State Park on the northwest corner of the lake. Those setting tip-ups for pike have caught the occasional walleye.
Triple AAA Fishing Report
pper Peninsula:
Indian Lake continues to sport good ice registering upwards of 18-inches, and the perch and walleye fishing is good when using minnows.
Sault Ste. Marie anglers are finding good to excellent angling conditions on Munuscong Bay for walleye on minnows. Mark your calendars for Jan. 30 for the fishing derby on Munuscong Bay. The Upper River and Mosquito Bay are both giving up fair catches of whitefish.
Excellent fishing is available in the Munuscong Bay area, particularly on Munuscong Lake for walleye, and good catches of perch, both with minnows. Cedarville Lake is producing good numbers of perch on minnows.
Good action around St. Ignace for walleye and perch on Brevort Lake, and by the reefs or Christiansen Bay. Anglers are using minnows with good results. Boedne Bay is giving up good catches of pan fish on wax worms, mousies, and wigglers. Get your calendar and mark down Feb. 14 for the ??Brevort Ice Jamboree?, pre-register by calling 906-643-7289 or 906-643-6743.
Copper Harbor is mostly frozen over, and some anglers are starting to get out.
Near Bergland, only fair fishing action taking place on Lake Gogebic. Sucker minnows seem to attract a few walleye, and wigglers and crappie minnows are luring minimal perch. Overall it is still very cold in the area limiting angler activity.
Fair fishing for anglers in the Marquette area, a few walleye are hitting on minnows on Teal Lake. Action is improving as adverse weather and cold temperatures cease.
Good walleye activity near Escanaba on Little Bay De Noc. Anglers are jigging and using Moonshine Shiver Minnows. South of the Escanaba River, anglers are fishing on the bottom for fair to good whitefish catches using dead minnows, and good perch action on minnows.
Northwest:
Cold weather around Alanson this week has curbed fishing activity. A few anglers are braving the elements on Burt and Crooked lakes.
The East and West Traverse Bays are giving up a few steelhead and browns in the shallows. Long Lake anglers are finding fair action for small size perch and walleye when using minnows.
It??s cold around the Frankfort area curtailing many anglers from going out. The brave soles that are fishing are finding good perch action on Portage and Loon lakes. Crystal Lake is producing fair to good amounts of smelt, whitefish, and perch.
Around the Kalkaska area, excellent perch and pike fishing is available on Skegemog Lake. Best results are found when using minnows and wigglers. Elk Lake is giving up good numbers of lake trout on minnows and tip ups. Walleye are hitting in good numbers on Manistee Lake during the evening hours on minnows.
Otsego Lake near Gaylord has some really good fishing taking place for pike, walleye, and perch. Sucker minnows, tip ups, grey and blue minnows and wax worms are all working well. Bradford Lake is producing nice quantities of walleye and pan fish.
Cadillac anglers are finding that it??s a slow go this week due to really cold weather. Poor fishing conditions for pan fish on Mitchell and Cadillac lakes and only a few pike are biting on sucker minnows.
West:
Good action around Ludington for crappie, blue gill and walleye on Hamlin Lake. The upper end is the best location and minnows seem to be working well. The Pere Marquette Lake and River is good for perch and pike on minnows. The back end of the Pere Marquette Lake is great for steelhead on slammers.
Baldwin anglers are finding good action on Big Bass Lake for perch on minnows, and Howe??s Lake is giving up good numbers of blue gill on wax worms, wigglers and spikes. Overall, fishing has slowed due to cold weather and so far no river fishing is taking place.
Muskegon Lake is giving up plenty of nice perch on Demon Glows with mousies and wigglers in 30-50 feet of water on the west end of the lake. Near Second Street walleye activity is good using minnow heads. Tip ups seem to be working well on pike, but don??t expect to get more than two per day.
Chippewa Lake is a great place to fish, good activity for many species. Specks are hitting in good numbers on minnows during the evening hours. Good fishing for blue gill when using wax worms, mousies, and spikes, and walleye action is also good on minnows. Pike activity is fair to good with best results on sucker minnows.
Reed??s Lake in Grand Rapids is producing fair to good numbers of perch, crappie and pike. Anglers are getting good results using minnows, spikes and wax worms.
Near the Grand Haven area, the bayous of the Grand River are giving up good numbers of perch and walleye on minnows.
Northeast:
Around Alpena, Hubbard Lake is good for walleye on minnows. Long and Grand lakes are both spotty for perch and walleye. Activity is slow due to weather conditions.
In the Oscoda area, fair to good action taking place on the Cooke and Foote Dam Ponds. Pike are hitting on tip ups, walleye biting on golden shiners, and perch prefer minnows. On the Au Sable River just below the dam, anglers are finding good steelhead action on wax worms. Overall the cold weather has slowed activity.
Conditions around Grayling are quite varied ranging from poor to good. Lake Margrethe is producing fair numbers of pike on sucker minnows, and poor to fair walleye numbers. Manistee Lake is good for blue gill using wax worms and spikes.
Houghton Lake is producing fair to good numbers of pike and walleye on minnows and tip ups. A few pan fish are hitting on live bait. Overall the action is good on Higgins Lake. Perch are hitting on minnows and smelt on wax worms. Lake trout activity ranges from fair to good with anglers using shiners with decent results. The lake has one foot of clear ice.
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