Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
We need to Do a Fish Dance
Fishing is still slow so please do a fish dance tonight to get them biting.
It is like a broken record as fish are not biting this week from most of the reports I have heard. Higgins Lake a few smelt are being caught, but no great bite yet. Perch on Big Glenn has been slow this week with just a few being caught, it seems Little Glenn has been better for perch but not as big. Ice fishing continues and we are looking forward to the March run. Those seeking panfish have started to catch some of the bigger fish in deeper waters. Walleye action continues around the state and those seeking pike have done well with tip-ups or when spearing. Steelhead can be found in many of the major river systems. Stay away from areas that are known to have a strong current or run-off from melting snow. Slush is making for difficult travel on some lakes.
The boys have been hitting Big Glenn but they have not got back on the perch tis week, as they are seeing them but lock jaw has set in.
Higgins Lake- Catch rates slowed last weekend with all the activity on the ice. Now that things have slowed down the catch rate should improve. Target lake trout just off the bottom in 80 to 100 feet of water. Perch fishing was slow and the fish are small. Smelt activity continues in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Lake St. Helen is reporting pike and panfish bite.
Down at Wixom Lake they are doing good off the access site with crappie and pike, also by the dam crappie haver been biting
Margrethe and Otsego have good ice and many shanties are showing up on the lakes with a poor bite. A huge muskie was caught on Lake Margrethe also sturgeon are being spotted on Otsego Lake.
Around Leroy, Farwell, Cadillac, Harrison and Sanford they have good ice and are catching fish.
Long Lake and Lake Leelanau by Traverse City have good ice for walking and perch and walleye are biting. Some are getting off the north-end but the best fishing is on the south-end but you need snowmobile as no public access on the south-end
Mullet Lake - Anglers are catching perch more often however they are sorting through lots of small ones to find the keepers. A few pike, cisco, and gar have also been taken but not too many anglers are targeting these species.
Burt Lake - Ice anglers have started to catch a few walleye. Anglers should stay away from the large pressure crack between Colonial Point and Cedar Point. This area had open water last week and the ice that has formed is not safe. Perch fishing has been fair on Maple Bay
Crystal Lake is froze and should be a great weekend for fishing with many getting off of Lobb rd. and doing good on smelt.
Portage Lake has great ice and lots of pike being caught on golden shiners.
Green Lake - Smelt anglers can be found in the northeast corner of the lake between the Music Camp and the Betsie River. For pike, try using tip-ups in the shallows off the State Park.
Cedar Lake - Ice anglers are doing well on pike when using tip-ups with large minnows. Those targeting smelt are fishing day or night with teardrops or Hali jigs with spikes and wax worms.
Lake Missaukee - Has been good for bluegills with a few pike and walleye.
Lake Cadillac -Is producing more crappie than bluegills. Try minnows or wax worms. Those using tip-ups are taking some pike.
Lake Mitchell - Is still a good choice for northern pike or crappie.
Hamlin Lake - Some nice bluegills have been caught but not many. For crappie, try the drop-off along the Narrows in 15 to 25 feet of water with minnows after dark. Perch and a few walleye were caught along the drop-off south of the Narrows. Northern pike were hitting on tip-ups.
Saginaw Bay - Anglers are reminded that EXTREME CAUTION needs to be used when going out on the ice. There are some areas with slush and cracks with water coming up through the ice. The weight of additional snowfall this week will push the ice down and water will be forced up. With that said, walleye were caught in 13 feet of water off Cody-Estey Road and in 6 to 8 feet of water off Newman Road and Erickson Road. Off Linwood, try 18 to 22 feet of water however watch out for pressure cracks. Walleye were caught between the mouth of the Saginaw River and northeast of Spoils Island however anglers have broke through the ice near the mouth of the Saginaw River. Walleye were caught in 20 feet of water off Callahan Road and 24 to 28 feet of water off Thomas Road. Look for perch in 6 feet of water off Vanderbilt Park. At Sebewaing, pike spearing was the main attraction. The marina and the river have started to fill up with shiners. A few nice perch were caught between Bay Shore Camp and the factory. A few anglers have started to fish the ridge and weed beds straight out from the access site at Geiger Road in hopes of finding a few crappie with the melting snow and run off. Anglers still need to pay attention to the crack that runs from Defoe Island to Popp’s Place. A few limits of walleye were caught off the Slot in 15 to 18 feet of water. Bay Port and the Bayshore Marina had rumors of some nice perch caught in the channels and the marina. Near Mud Creek, perch and walleye were small but a few nice pike were speared. There are more areas of open water and slush near North Island and Sand Point. Ice in the channels and marinas along Sand Point has deteriorated and those on machines have gone through the ice.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice remains favorable north of the “Narrows” with the exception of pressure cracks and the warm water discharge near the power plant. The southern bay remains mixed with hidden dangers from the shipping traffic. No anglers in this area are driving vehicles out on the ice. Walleye catches where up near the First and Center Reefs while using tip-ups with large sucker minnows in 8 to 13 feet of water. Anglers off the Escanaba River also did well when jigging rapalas with minnows or tip-ups 25 to 35 feet down along the break. Walleye were caught near the shipping docks when jigging rapalas or minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water. Perch were in 10 to 20 feet of water. Use extreme caution in this area. Many perch have started to move into shallow waters 6 to 11 feet deep. Northern pike are active just off the mouth of the Whitefish River. Good numbers of large fish have been taken off tip-ups with minnows in 10 feet of water. Whitefish anglers have moved in off Sand Point for the first time this year. The ice has not been stable in the area and is still considered dangerous.
Big Manistique Lake - Anglers were catching a significant number of small fish.
South Manistique Lake - Is also producing walleye and a few perch. Both lakes should also start producing some pike.
Cedarville and Hessel - Catch rates for perch picked up in Hessel Bay in 6 to 8 feet of water. Anglers in Musky Bay are fishing in 7 to 12 feet of water in the middle of bay and along the east end however anglers say the fish are moving towards the west side. Government Bay and the Moscoe Channel are providing larger fish, but catch rates were slower. Most are using minnows however wax worms and wigglers are producing as well. A few anglers limited out while spearing pike in Musky Bay.
Houghton Lake -Walleye were caught in about 9 feet of water out near the Middle Grounds and the Cut River. Crappie were hitting about 5 feet off the bottom in 12 feet of water. The bluegill bite has started to improve. Dave at Four Season party Store is out looking for a good spot and has done well the last few days so give him a call at 989-422-5230 for his hot-spot He caught four keeper walleye last night.. Lyman’s on the lake has shanties out and has a weekly pike contest with pike action getting better
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