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3/19/10
Michigan Fishing Report
Ice Fishing is Done and a couple images I shot wednesday
Ice fishing is done so lets hope for warm weather so we can get the boats out.
ce fishing is pretty much done for this year. Anglers are encouraged to stay off any remaining ice especially in the Lower Peninsula. Now that walleye and pike season is closed on the inland waters, boat anglers are starting to fish along the Great Lakes for trout.
Lakes that feed into Lake Michigan are getting a perch run with minnows working best.
Over in the thumb the perch are running in the rivers and ditches and limit catches are reported.
Northwest:
Traverse City - Lake trout have been caught in the West Bay. The launches are open however the docks may not be in.
Boardman River - Is still producing some steelhead.
Betsie River - Fishing has started to heat up. Those wading are fishing just below the Homestead Dam and catching steelhead on yarn, streamers and flies. High water levels all the down to Betsie Lake.
Lake Cadillac - Has black or discolored ice which is not safe ice. Shoreline ice is going fast. Anglers are encouraged to stay off the ice.
Manistee River - Steelhead fishing is the main game now. The rivers are high and muddy at the moment, but as they drop and clear fishing will be very good. Fresh steelhead are moving in daily. Anglers are catching steelhead and a few brown trout up at Tippy Dam and downstream of Bear Creek.
Ludington - Pier anglers are targeting steelhead and brown trout. Boats are heading out and trolling along the shoreline.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Mullet Lake - A few perch were caught in Pigeon Bay however ice conditions have deteriorated quickly.
Alpena - Has open water and fishing opportunities for steelhead and brown trout.
Thunder Bay River - The launch ramp near the Post Office is open so anglers are steelhead fishing.
Higgins Lake - Anglers need to stay off any remaining ice. There are large pressure cracks and the ice is no longer safe. After the strong winds last weekend, ice was blown up into the boat launch on the west side of the lake and caused damage to some vehicles that were parked there. There is open water along the shoreline so anglers could try fishing in shallow waters only.
Houghton Lake - Still has ice however it is not safe ice. Anglers are encouraged to stay off the lake. Fishing is pretty much on hold until the ice is gone.
Tawas - Pier anglers are catching a few walleye and trout. Boat anglers were trolling off the mouth of the Tawas River. This is one of the few locations where they could get a boat out to open water.
Au Gres - Had no activity to report. The ice is deteriorating rapidly however it was not possible to get a boat out yet. Those fishing the surf off the Singing Bridge were catching steelhead and brown trout.
Rifle River - Sucker runs are just getting started.
Upper Peninsula
Lake Gogebic - Fishing has been slow with few fish caught. Anglers have been moving around and drilling a lot of holes. Ice conditions are getting worse every day. Extreme caution needs to be used.
Keweenaw Bay - Ice conditions are not good as it is now honeycombed and getting worse each day. Steelhead, coho and smelt were caught near the mouth of the Fall's River however the forecast does not look good for what remaining ice there was. Anglers are advised to stay off the ice and wait for open water fishing. The ice out from the Whirl-I-Gig, Pequaming, and Old Mission is very dangerous. Do not attempt to go out from these points.
Fall's River - Has open water. Anglers have caught some steelhead.
Marquette - Ice fishing season is over as there is no ice in the upper harbor and the lower harbor has started to open up. Boat, shore and pier anglers are targeting salmon, steelhead and whitefish. Shore anglers can be found near the Carp River and the power plant while fishing for coho, steelhead, whitefish or splake.
Menominee River - Has open water and black ice with water on top near the mouth. There is open water with large ice flow near the Sixth Street Slip, Boom Landing and the Mystery Ship. There is also open water around Stephenson and Boom Island and all the way upstream to the dam where steelhead and brown trout have been caught. Some are fly fishing while others are casting rapalas or drifting yarn and spawn. Boats were launching but the docks were not in.
Green Bay - There is no safe ice in the area. Ice in the bay is honeycombed and cracked. Anglers should stay off it.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are extremely dangerous. From the Escanaba River south is open water or pack ice. Still some ice in the northern parts but getting on and off has become difficult due to open water along the shoreline and pressure cracks. The remaining ice is thin and deteriorating rapidly. If you must fish, fish in shallow waters only. Anglers are reminded that ice shanties need to be removed from state property within a 24-hour period.
Au Train - Ice conditions were marginal with large sections of floating ice creating dangerous conditions.
Au Train River - Was 80% open but water levels were low. Boat access was not possible at Brownstone due to snow in the parking lot and ice in the bay.
Rock River - The access site is open and some steelhead were caught.
Munising - Anglers were ice fishing in sheltered areas only but few fish were caught.
Munuscong Bay - Those heading west of Dan's Resort were staying close to shore and catching perch.
Cedarville and Hessel - Ice on the eastern end of Hessel Bay is not safe. Those fishing off Little Joe Island caught some nice perch. The west end of Musky Bay is also producing some good perch fishing however anglers should walk out due to deteriorating ice conditions. Extreme caution needs to be used.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Boat fishing for walleye has started.
Huron River - More steelhead are moving in and fish have been caught throughout the river including Flat Rock and below Rockwood. Shore anglers are using jigs under a bobber and boat anglers are using rapalas or Hot-n-Tots.
Detroit River - There is open water fishing however there is still ice coming down. Boats are perch fishing with perch rigs and shiners in the canals of Gibraltar and off the south end of Grosse Ile. Those fishing near the bridge on South Gibraltar Road also caught perch. Anglers need to park on Kings Bridge Drive. A couple walleye were caught out near Horse Island.
Clinton River - Steelhead are starting to move in.
Saginaw Bay - Did not have much in the way of fishing activity. Ice conditions are bad with areas of open water and so-called ice mountains popping up everywhere. Anglers are reminded that the Hot Ponds are considered to be "inland waters" which closed to walleye fishing on March 15th. Lakeward of that point where the Hot Pond channel flows in is open all year for walleye fishing.
Tittabawassee River - Heavy rain caused high and muddy water. Some suckers were caught by those fishing off the bottom.
Quanicassee River - Was giving up a few perch.
Sebewaing River - Has just opened up but no reports on perch.
Pigeon River - Has also opened up.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
New Buffalo - Coho are starting to make their way up the coast and that means pier anglers will be out fishing.
Galien River - Has good steelhead action.
St. Joe River - Pier anglers will be targeting coho and steelhead.
Kalamazoo River - Reports good steelhead action.
Grand Haven - Anglers are steelhead fishing off the piers.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels are up however visibility was starting to improve. Good numbers of steelhead have been caught up near the Sixth Street Dam when using spawn bags and yarn with a good deal of weight to hold it in place.
Grand River at Lansing - With walleye and pike season closed, anglers are steelhead fishing. While the fish have made it up this far, not many were caught.
Rogue River - Also has good steelhead action.
Muskegon - Pier anglers are catching steelhead and brown trout on spawn bags.
Muskegon Lake - The ice is gone and the launches are open. Perch anglers are fishing the deep water off the Bear Lake Channel. Fish in the 7 to 10 inch range were caught however be ready to sort. Spikes and mousies seem to work best.
Muskegon River - Anglers are catching steelhead. A few were caught in the lower stretch but the better fishing was between Bridgeton and Maple Island Road.
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
Spring rain and warm temperatures are signaling the end of winter. Some are testing fate and still ice fishing both lakes. They just haven’t had enough.
Conditions as of Sunday Marcy 14th are:
Lake Cadillac has 8 to 10 inches of black ice. The shore line is opening and widening daily, especially the north shore. The looks of the lake just screams “stay off”.
Lake Mitchell has more ice, 10 to 13 inches, with a layer of about 6” of clear ice under the junk. Some are fishing the Big Cove, catching crappies, often just under the ice. The shore line in this area is still good.
Die Hards, give it up! Where ever you go, the ice will be honey combed. If you must, use your spud and check your way. Old holes may be under cut. Push the envelope and you’ll get wet!
Smart Anglers are turning their attention to steelhead fishing. The Manistee River has fresh fish moving in daily. Best bite has been from Bear Creek downstream, but some catches reported at Tippy Dam.
Before the close of the season several good pike were taken.
Don Ouwinga caught a 34”, 10 pounder when Lake Cadillac still had safe ice.
Chris Antkoviak and Cody Day caught a pair of healthy pike on Lake Mitchell.
Rick Nye and his son Ricky took a break for pike fishing and caught several crappie in the 10 to 12 inch range.
Seth and Leif Olson are shown with some 12’ perch caught on Portage Lake.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN WEATHER
Think Ice Fishing
You've just discovered the most extensive information available to the Great Lakes Angler and Charter Fisherman I've been able to put together so far. Please keep in mind, there's well over 150 different pages, full of my original content containing an a complete encyclopedia fishing tips, past results, photos, tricks and "how to's." Only here, are the techniques to consistently catch more and larger fish are revealed in an easy to read and understand format""
E-mail me at kingscharter@yahoo.com Capt. John
Capt. Jack Duffy is the kind of licensed charterboat skipper who has a zest for life, a burning desire to make every fishing trip memorable and the stuff of which fishing dreams and legends are made. He is outgoing, wildly in love with fishing Lake Michigan for trophy Chinook and coho salmon, and the creamy-spotted lake trout that makes anglers enjoy catching fish. He also catches brown trout and high-jumping steelhead.
Call Capt. Jack at 231-883-7530 to book your next fishing adventure.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON BUDD LAKE AND LONG LAKE AND SURROUNDING LAKES IN THE HARRISON REGION CALL MIKE AT K. D. QUIK STOP IN HARRISON . 989-539-1269
