Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Michigan Free Fishing Weekend Fishing Report
Once again, it is time for Michigan’s annual Winter Free Fishing Weekend. For two days only Saturday February 16th and Sunday February 17th, all fishing license fees will be waived. All regulations regarding fishing in Michigan will apply. Both residents and visitors alike are invited to come out and see how relaxing this winter adventure can be. Those with experience are encouraged to teach someone new the sport of ice fishing.
Higgins Lake has great ice, perch fishing and lake trout are biting, but no smelt to speak of. Very few anglers off the West Access Site for Smelt but no great reports yet. Call Phoenix Park Party Store 989-821-7220 or Higgins Lake Sport 989-821-9517 for the West side. Sport Barn 989-821-9511 for the south-end of Higgins Lake .
Green Lake is froze over, they are vernturing out with good ice finally. Also heard of smelt biting off the Green Lake Access site this week.
Crystal Lake has a good perch and a super smelt bite this week off of Lobb Rd.
Frankfort has a good perch bite on Betsie Bay along with som nice pike being caught.
Portage Lake by Manistee report a great perch bite still with minnows working best.
Anglers heading out onto Houghton Lake ,many are going off off Lymanville where the pike action has been good. The best areas to try and catch walleye are along the north shore, on the east bay or by the middle grounds.
Little Bay De Noc - Blowing and drifting snow has made travel on the ice difficult. Walleye fishing seemed to be improving as anglers reported marking more fish throughout the Bay. The better catches were coming off the Center Reef when using tip-ups with sucker minnows about 2 to 3 feet off the bottom in waters 20 to 35 feet deep. Fair walleye action out from the Terrace Inn in 30 to 40 feet when jigging large minnows or using tip-ups. In the Narrows, several smaller fish were caught when jigging rapalas and minnows in 25 to 33 feet of water. Perch anglers fishing out near the Escanaba Power Plant reported several nice catches in 18 to 25 feet of water when using minnows or wax worms. Fair to good whitefish action off Sand Point when jigging minnows and spawn in 65 to 80 feet of water. A few large northern pike were taken on tip-ups near Brach’s Cabins.
Muskegon Lake - Perch have been caught on the west end of the lake..
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports slow going this week but bigger perch being caught. They have the sturgeon shanties back out and are seeing a few with a 42 incher caught and released as they have to be 50 inches.The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
Burt Lake - For walleye, try the weedbeds in 20 to 30 feet of water in Maple Bay. Some nice perch were caught on the north end of the lake.
By Alpena, fishing fair on Grand and Long lakes. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch and walleye. Fletcher’s Floodwaters - Is producing good numbers of pike up to 10 pounds. As for panfish, mostly bluegills and pumpkinseed sunfish were hitting in the upper end of the reservoir. They ranged from 5 to 8 inches., and they have a contest this weekend.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Around Manistique, Indian Lake have good ice with snow making things tough going
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week ice is ok once you get past shoreline and the ice is real good out in the middle.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is slow on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. We still have safe ice but be careful .
Gladwin Counties has good ice with good reports of panfish and pike biting
Higgins Lake - Smelt can be found just off the bottom in 45 feet of water along the west side of the lake. The best time to fish is at night. Perch fishing has been good but anglers will need to do lots of sorting. Good lake trout action about 10 feet off the bottom in waters 80 to 100 feet deep. Try jigging or using tip-ups with minnows. Whitefish action is picking up. Fish right on the bottom in 80 to 100 feet of water. Rainbow trout can be found near the mouth of creeks and natural springs.
Houghton Lake - Has snow cover however anglers are still able to travel across the ice. Walleye and pike action continues, and warmer weather by the weekend should improve the panfish bite.
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Ice is still good
Upper Hamlin Lake - Is a good place for bluegills and crappie.
Lower Hamlin Lake - Walleye were caught in 20 to 30 feet of water when jigging minnows.
Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - Look for perch in the deeper waters straight out from the boat launch. For pike, go east off the launch site and set tip-ups in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Big Glen Lake - Perch fishing has been good but don’t forget about the lake trout and rainbow trout. Oxygen levels here should be good and the fish should be active because the lake froze over so late in the season.
Upper Peninsula:
Angling action is overall slow around the Manistique area, however the ice is rock solid and plenty of action will take place on MacDonald Lake this weekend for a fishing derby.
Munuscong Bay is producing excellent catches of walleye on minnows with jigs, and good numbers of perch and pike. Perch are being caught in the Cedarville area on wigglers, wax worms and tear drops. The ice measures 1-1 ½ feet thick. In the Sault Saint Marie area whitefish are biting on wax worms and jigs on Mosquito Bay, as well as decent catches of pike. Anglers reeled in a 29-pound pike this week.
Around the Escanaba area, big walleye in the 10-pound range are being caught using sucker minnows on tip-ups. The ice is solid and not much snow cover, trucks are getting out on the ice towards the north end of Little Bay De Noc.
Angling action is once again slow this week in the St. Ignace area where perch and walleye fishing is hit or miss. The ice is more than 17 inches thick and in great shape. A fishing tournament will take place on Brevort Lake this weekend.
Lake Gogebic in the Bergland area is producing good numbers of perch on wigglers and near the east shore walleye are decent when using suckers, or minnows on tip-ups.
Copper Harbor angling is decent with some catches of splake on spinner bait or minnows.
Northwest:
The ice is good this week on Burt Lake in the Alanson area however the fishing is only fair for whitefish and walleye.
In the Cadillac area, crappie fishing is good on Cadillac and Mitchell lakes and anglers are using spikes or minnows and fishing in the evening for best results. Perch action is also good on Lake Cadillac when using tip-ups with golden shiners. The ice is over a foot thick but plenty of snow cover is a concern. The Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center, located near Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, will host a day of activities Saturday, February 16, in conjunction with Michigan’s annual Winter Free Fishing Weekend.
In and around the Frankfort area good angling action taking place. Crystal Lake is producing good catches of perch, smelt and lake trout on minnows and wigglers. Anglers on Green Lake are taking in good amounts of smelt on minnows. The ice is a solid 4-6 inches thick.
West:
Good fishing is taking place in the Muskegon area. Perch is popular when fishing in deeper water and several types of bait are working well with the average size ranging between 4-6 ½ inches. The ice remains good with thickness averaging 8-10 inches. Pike action is constant but limited keepers. Best location is near 2nd Street using golden shiners and in 8-20 feet of water. Walleye catches are decent in 25-30 feet of water jigging with Rapalas. Blue gill are decent off of the State Park in 2-6 feet of water using spikes and wax worms. Crappie action is good on Muskegon Lake near the northeast corner of the Lake.
Southwest:
In the New Buffalo area, the cold weather is keeping anglers at bay. Minimal activity is taking place with anglers catching a few suckers on night crawlers or wax worms from the Glenn River, and a few steelhead on spawn.
Cold weather has created slow activity for anglers in the Three Rivers area. Fishing opportunities are very limited this week for walleye, crappie and pike. Best baits include minnows and wax worms. The ice remains 7-8 inches thick.
Northeast:
In the Oscoda area perch and walleye fishing is very good on Van Etten Lake, while only a few pike are noted. Wigglers, spikes, mousies and wax worms are the bait of choice. Foote Pond is producing good quantities of pike, perch and walleye when using minnows, little jigs and tear drops. The Au Sable River is giving up steelhead on wax worms and flies.
Higgins Lake is a hot spot for perch in 30-60 feet of water on minnows and spikes, while lake trout are abundant in 90 plus feet of water on grey shiners. The ice is plenty thick averaging 10-16 inches.
East:
“Shiver on the River” is taking place in the Bay City area. However, the angling action is slow due to the heavy snowfall and cold weather. Ice is overall safe, but use extra caution when nearing the center of the river.
In the Linwood area angling activity is very slow due to the weather. Proceed with caution on the ice, open water is visible in areas.
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Feb 14 Tonight
Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 11F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.
Feb 15 Tomorrow
Occasional snow showers. Cold. High 14F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 50%. 1 to 2 inches of snow expected.
Feb 15 Tomorrow night
Mostly cloudy with scattered snow flurries and snow showers. Low 6F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Feb 16 Saturday
Windy with flurries at times. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the low 20s.
Feb 17 Sunday
Snow showers possible. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Feb 18 Monday
Mostly cloudy and windy with snow showers. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Feb 19 Tuesday
Chance of a few snow showers. Highs in the mid teens and lows in the low teens.
Feb 20 Wednesday
Considerable cloudiness. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the upper single digits.
Feb 21 Thursday
Snow showers at times. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens.
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