The bad weather returned for a couple days and dumped snow on Northern Michigan and some lakes are slushy;
Pentwater Lake has ben good for perch this yearend many say thew best in years. Call Pentwater Angler for the latest info@ 231-869-5357
Tip-up town starts this weekend
Higgins Lake has a great perch bite with keepers being caught with a few jumbo’s, lake trout and pike are also biting.
Ellis and Boardman lake by Traverse have been good this week for pike and gills on Ellis.
Green Lake is still good for smelt off the south access
Bradford Lake by waters has been good for perch this week with minnow and wigglers working best
Crystal has been slow
Big Glen has been good for perch
Northwestern Michigan
Green Lake: In Grand Traverse County is producing some smelt and big pike. The better fishing has been late afternoon this week with reports of 100 or more of smelt the last few days. red spikes, white spikes, waxworms with a hali jig have been the best bet. Ice is good at both landing with many shanties out off the south access .
Skegemog- Perch have been biting and many fisherman have been out trying. here luckCall Jack’s Sport Shop@231-258-8892
Fife Lake- People are back out and catching some nice perch Call Lakeside Party @ 231-879-3341 for latest info
Portage Lake- Osborn’s says big perch are biting and pike, walleye, and gills are biting Call Osborne’s@ 231-889-3775 for latest fishing report. Also Don’s Sporting Goods@ 231723-5028
Hamlin Lake- Thet are getting back out on the lake with pike, walleye, gills and crappie biting Hamlin Grocery@(231) 843-2058 and Capt. Chucks @ (231) 843-4458
Lake Missaukee- Is producing bluegill, crappie and the occasional perch. The better fishing is usually along the weed beds on the west side of the lake. Call Miller Corner@ 231-839-0440.
Crystal Lake: Anglers are starting to fish for smelt however extreme caution needs to be used. This is a very deep lake and takes much longer to freeze.
Lake Cadillac: Has been good for pike, panfish and the occasional walleye. For panfish, try small jigs with minnows or spikes and for walleye try jigging rapalas or using tip-ups. Pike are being taken by those using tip-ups and by those spearing. Call Pilgrim Village 231-775-5412 latest info
Lake Mitchell: Is good for pike and panfish. For bluegill, try the coves on the west side of the lake with teardrops and wax worms. Crappie are good off the State Park. Call Pilgrim Village 231-775-5412 latest info
Manistee River: Still had some shelf ice in the lower river however the upper section had open water and was producing some steelhead. Pappy’s Bait is open for the season at Wellston shop hours are 8 to 5 right now call@ 231-848-4142 he gets reports daily on Tippy Dam
Pere Marquette River: Steelhead and brown trout fishing slowed with the extremely cold temperatures. Fish the deeper holes until it warms back up.
Long Lake, Lake Leelanau had a good bite going last week so with the warm-up things should be good.
Big Glen is froze and big perch have been biting.
Duck Lake by Interlochen has been good for pike and some gills off of Strawberry Point
Lake Bellaire has been fair for walleye and pike.
Clam LaKE HAS BEEN GOOD FOR PIKE
Northeast Michigan
Black Lake- Has good ice with perch being caught. Call Parrots Outpost for the latest ice conditions (989) 733-2472
Mullet Lake- Is producing perch for those using minnows and wigglers call Mullet Lake Party store@ (231) 627-4644 or Topinabee Market@ 231-238-9578
Burt Lake: Catch rates have been slow on perch un Maple Bay. Call Pat & Gary’s Party Store 231-238-6776
Grand Lake: Was producing a few perch. Try 15 to 25 feet of water around Grand Island.
Long Lake: Is producing walleye and perch. Call Bucks@ 989-595-2121
Otsego Lake- Fishing has been fair on Otsego Perch fishing has been fair on Bradford, chub Lake trout fishing has been good. Call Northern Sports@ 987-448-2014
Higgins Lake- Had water on the ice but it is going down. Lake trout are being caught in 100 feet of water by those jigging Swedish Pimples or using tip-ups just off the bottom. A few pike were taken in 30 feet off Sam-O-Set which is off the southern part of the north end. Perch were caught off Big Creek in 40 feet. Try minnows or wax worms. Pike were also caught by those jigging a spoon that resembles smelt. Rainbow trout could be found in shallow water near the Conference Center and Big Creek. Anglers are setting up for smelt as they begin to move their shanties off the west launch. Perch bite has been great on the lake
.Call Silver Dollar Express (989) 821-6227 or Sports Barn 989-821-9511 for latest ice conditions
Houghton Lake- Ice continues to build thanks to artic temperatures in the region. Strong winds were blowing the snow around. Before the cold spell, anglers were catching pike and perch. Walleye action was fair to good along the south shore in 6 to 8 feet of water. The better fishing was after 6pm. Anglers still need to use caution and watch for snow drifts and pressure cracks. Angelo’s Party Store has shanties call for the latest info@ 989-202-4422
Dave at Four Season Party Store has his shanties out and they were catching fish before the big freeze, guy are getting back out today call Dave @989-422-5230
Lyman’s @ 989-422-3231 says pike walleye and perch
Korbinski’s call Rod@ 989-366-9500
Pappa’s Bait reporting walleye fishing off the middle grounds on Houghton Lake. 989-429-5780
VanEttan Lake: Has ice and good access at Ratliff Park and the campground off F-41. Anglers caught perch, bluegills, brown trout and steelhead.
Au Sable River: With the cold temperature, most of the river has ice making it difficult to fish. There are steelhead from the mouth to the dam. Most of the fish are lying in the deeper holes which are on the bends and layered with ice however it is possible to drift bait under the ice. Access to the river was limited after all the snow and the only sites that were cleared to launch boats were the River Store and the Whirlpool.
Lake Margrethe: Is producing some walleye. Call Skips Sport@ 989-348-7111 for latest info
Tawas: Snow and slush is making for difficult travel on the bay. They’re getting some small perch in 15 feet and walleye in 20 feet off Jerry’s Marina. Those not able to get out on the bay have also caught perch and walleye inside the State Harbor.
Au Gres: Anglers have caught some walleye three to four miles off Santiago Road in 20 feet of water. Some are heading south and going off the end of Hale Road.
Au Gres River: Is mainly producing sub-legal walleye with a few keepers.
Wixom Lake has been great for gills, pike and lots of crappie.Ice fishing is great here on Wixom Lake, Gladwin County. Be sure to stop at Sandys Market to get your bait!call (989) 435-9688
Sanford Lake has been fair call Sanford Sport for info on Wixom and Sanford @ 989-687.5161
Secord Lake has been great for big crappie.
Wiggins and Sugar Springs have been good for pike and panfish
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Menominee: A few whitefish were caught in front of Hennes Park however the ice is very rough which makes for difficult travel.
Menominee River: Anglers had fair to good catch rates when jigging for panfish at the Menekaunee landing area and off the Foundry parking lot. They are using wax worms and minnows. In front of the Mystery Ship Marina and boat launch, anglers were targeting pike and walleye but the bite was slow. Steelhead were caught in the open water near Stephenson Island when casting spoons and rapalas or drifting spawn. Open water on the Michigan side near the Hattie Street Dam was also producing some steelhead. Anglers are fly fishing, casting rapalas or drifting spawn and wax worms. Some nice walleye were caught through the ice on the Wisconsin side. Anglers are jigging minnows or wax worms and the bite improved after dark.
Little Bay De Noc: Still has ice but the warm weather caused the pressure cracks to open up and getting across them is causing some issues especially for those taking motorized vehicles out. Anglers still need to use CAUTION especially in the southern part of bay where the ice varied more than the northern end. Walleye catches were fair to good between Aronson Island and Portage Point for those jigging rapalas or using tip-ups with a minnow in 25 to 35 feet. Fish were also caught near the mouth of the Escanaba River in 20 to 35 feet. The perch were active but most caught only small fish. Try out from Brach’s Cabins in 15 to 24 feet with wigglers or minnows or out from the Day’s River in 8 to 26 feet. Good catches of whitefish were taken at Gladstone in 30 to 40 feet with minnows or spawn.
Munising: Anglers are catching splake and whitefish in the bay.
Manistique Lake: Is producing some yellow perch and pike. Walleye were slow, but a few have been caught.
Munuscong: Has more snow on the ice than Cedarville and Hessel. Perch fishing was fair but the walleye were spotty for those fishing tip-ups with minnows in 3 feet of water near Grassy Island.
Cedarville and Hessel: Musky Bay and Hessel Bay are slow. Anglers are seeing fish and trying a variety of baits but catch rates were slow.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Perch fishing was steady late in the day when using small jigs tipped with a minnow or red spike at the Metro Park Marina. Some did well with mousies. Perch and the occasional walleye were caught in 19 feet off the Banana Dike. Walleye were caught in Brest Bay in the morning and evening. Anglers are jigging rapalas or a spoon with a shiner minnow.
Huron River: Shelf ice is limiting access and fishing.
Detroit River: Has a lot of ice coming down the river. Airport Bay was producing some jumbo perch and those fishing up near the Ecorse River caught perch off the seawall at Bellanger Park.
Lake St. Clair: Still has ice. Water clarity has been very good for spearing. Catch rates for perch were spotty with lots of small ones caught.
Saginaw Bay: Rain left the ice covered with anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of slush and standing water which made travel difficult. Linwood had a lot of anglers. They are going three to four miles out and getting walleye near and beyond the first pressure crack. Walleye are being caught in the old shipping channel off the Bay City State Park. Open-water anglers fishing at the mouth of the Hot Pond are taking some walleye and pike when casting any lure with a chrome or silver finish. Over at Quanicassee, those spearing off Vanderbilt Park are getting a few pike. Anglers off Thomas Road are going to the middle of the Slot and taking walleye in 15 feet. The only activity at Sebewaing is pike spearing. At Mud Creek, persistent perch anglers are getting an average of 10 keepers per trip and those pike spearing are taking a few fish. Perch were caught at Caseville.
Saginaw River: A few limit catches of walleye were taken near Wickes Park by those using a white jig with minnows or a blue and silver rapala in 10 feet of water. There was a lot of fishing activity in front of the St. Mary’s Health Building on Washington Avenue. Walleye were caught on a chartreuse jig with minnows in 25 feet of water in the mid-channel. Walleye caught between the Zilwaukee Bridge and Bay City were smaller. There was a lot of fishing pressure downstream of the Independence Bridge. Walleye were caught but anglers had to sort out the small ones. Perch were taken on perch rigs. Some decent catches were taken near the railroad bridge down by Essexville and the mouth.
Tittabawassee River: Anglers are being warned to stay off because of increase flow with all the rain. The ice is not safe anywhere.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
The ice is holding in this region but there was a lot of slush which should firm back up with colder temperatures. Anglers are still doing well for bluegills on most lakes with the better fishing in the evening and at day break. Wax worms were the ticket. A few northern pike have been taken near the inlets by those using tip-ups and minnows.
St. Joseph River: Is producing some steelhead however the bite is slow which is typical for time of year.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead were caught below the Allegan Dam. Try small plugs or a jig and wax worm.
Gull Lake: In Kalamazoo County has some nice pike for those using tip-ups.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Water levels are up and steelhead are still being caught. Try a jig and wax worm, wobble glows or spinners.
Lake Lansing: Was producing a few crappie. Try tip-ups for pike.
Round Lake: Was producing some nice bluegills but catch rates were spotty.
Muskegon River: Water levels are up and the steelhead fishing improved with the warmer weather.