Northern Michigan Ice Fishing Report 12/19/13
The snow over the weekend hurt the ice in many places many report the ice is 4 inches with slush most places in the snow belt. Please take a spud
Houghton Lake and Margrethe have 9 to 12 inches of ice and many are driving ATV”S out of and shanties are on the lake.
Higgins Lake is completely froze over but the ice is not safe but what a early start this year.
A good report from Manistee Lake by Kalkaska as there is a good perch bite this week
Reports there is good ice on Skegemog and very little slush off of Baggs Rd.
Lake Missaukee has good ice but snow has put some slush up on the ice
Portage Lake has been good for gills and pike.
White Lake by Whitehall has been awesome for gills this week with wax and spikes
Around Traverse Long Lake, Green Lake , Duck Lake have ice and guys are fishing but be careful
Otsego Lake has great ice but some slush with a good pike and perch bite.
Lake Mitchell froze before Cadillac. Expect 5/6 inches of solid, clear ice, some areas more. The first 20/25 yards from shore may be wet. Slush is forming under the snow. Past a certain point its dry. We’ve had snow showers everyday. The lakes have about 6 inches of snow with occassional drifts. Its not recommended but the ice is so solid that some are driving quads and snowmobiles to their favorite places. Fishing has started in the Big and Small Coves on the West side, Thirsty’s and behind Mitchell State Park.
Be more cautious of Lake Cadillac. The West side to Kenwood Park has basically the same ice as Mitchell. The East side, the last to freeze, has areas where a couple of hits with a spud go through.
Wixom Lake has good ice and a great gill and pike pike.
Sanford Lake has been good for gills and pike b y the first fill
Lake St. Helen has great ice and pike, walleye, and panfish have been biting.
Farwell area has good ice and most lakes are producing fish
Harrison Reports good ice on Budd Lake with fish biting also long lake they are fishing. Most area lakes have good ice
Around Baldwin the snow on the ice has hurt ice conditions and many lakes are not safe.
Fife Lake has a few shanties with safe ice and pike, perch, gills and walleye have been biting
Spider Lake and Arbutus Lake have good ice and fish have been biting
Lake Leelanau has ice but be careful as there is slush and thin ice, the South-end perch and walleye have been biting
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing is on for the west side of the lake however the east side takes longer to freeze. Anglers need to use caution and check the ice carefully. Panfish action has been slow to get started. Those using tip-ups are getting some pike. Those jigging small spoons or rapalas are taking some walleye. Those targeting crappie have done well with wax worms or spikes.
Lake Mitchell: Those ice fishing are taking a good number of panfish. Slush is forming under the snow so anglers need to be careful. Fish have been caught in the coves and off the State Park.
Lake Missaukee: Has ice and some good action for panfish.
Manistee River: Those braving the cold have caught some nice steelhead below Tippy Dam. The lower part of the river near M-55 is iced over so anglers will have to fish further upstream.
Pere Marquette River: Fishing was a bit slower but anglers are still taking some nice steelhead and a few brown trout. Some are bottom bouncing flies or spawn while others are swinging flies.
Anglers are reminded that large and smallmouth bass season closes on all waters of the state on December 31st. If the weather holds, anglers should be ice fishing through the holiday season.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Ice anglers are fishing the inland lakes for bluegill, crappie, perch, walleye and pike.
Munising: The bay has ice and some are taking their shanties out. Anglers are reminded to use extreme caution.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Grand Lake: Should have good ice but use caution.
Long Lake: Should have good ice but use caution.
Fletchers Pond: Has fair to good ice and providing some good opportunities for anglers. Those using spikes and minnows have caught bluegill and perch. A few pike were taken on tip-ups.
Hubbard Lake: Takes longer to freeze because it is much deeper. Anglers should wait a bit longer before they start to venture out.
Au Sable River: Has a good number of steelhead. As of this report, the ramps at Rea and Whirlpool were usable but those launching are encouraged to have 4-wheel drive and some rock salt or gravel just in case. The river near Oscoda is forming ice, so floating may be limited to the upper river below Foote Dam.
Higgins Lake: Had some ice out to the drop-off but there is snow on the ice so anglers should stay off. The ice is not ready yet.
Houghton Lake: Ice continues to build thanks to artic temperatures in the region. The lake is snow covered so anglers need to use caution and watch for pressure cracks. Some are starting to take ice shanties out. Most are catching pike and a few walleye however bluegills should also be available.
Lake Margrethe: Has ice and anglers are fishing for panfish.
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing is on for the west side of the lake however the east side takes longer to freeze. Anglers need to use caution and check the ice carefully. Panfish action has been slow to get started. Those using tip-ups are getting some pike. Those jigging small spoons or rapalas are taking some walleye. Those targeting crappie have done well with wax worms or spikes.
Lake Mitchell: Those ice fishing are taking a good number of panfish. Slush is forming under the snow so anglers need to be careful. Fish have been caught in the coves and off the State Park.
Lake Missaukee: Has ice and some good action for panfish.
Manistee River: Those braving the cold have caught some nice steelhead below Tippy Dam. The lower part of the river near M-55 is iced over so anglers will have to fish further upstream.
Pere Marquette River: Fishing was a bit slower but anglers are still taking some nice steelhead and a few brown trout. Some are bottom bouncing flies or spawn while others are swinging flies.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Those fishing in the Metro Park Marina were catching bluegills when using small teardrops with spikes or wax worms. Anglers might want to check out the Banana Dike.
Huron River: Has some shelf ice. The river is fishable but use caution. Steelhead are still being caught. Try Hot-n-Tots or a black jig with a wax worm.
Detroit River: As of this report, anglers were fishing Airport Bay which is along the south end of Grosse Isle. Though catch rates were slow, anglers were starting to catch a few perch. Try small spoons or teardrops with minnows.
Oakland County: Has ice fishing with anglers reported on Green, Oxbow, Cass, Cooley and Long Lake. A few crappie were taken on wax worms.
Lake St. Clair: Has ice but heavy snow is not helping with the freezing process. There are numerous bad spots with thin ice and slush so ice thickness is not uniform by any means. About the only reports coming in were a few perch caught at Fair Haven.
Saginaw Bay: Ice is forming out in the bay and it seems the fish are scattered as those going out had not caught any fish.
Saginaw River: The Coast Guard is bringing an ice breaker up into the river to make way for a barge. Anglers should stay off the ice along the upper river and also in bay near the mouth until it freezes back up.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
There is some ice fishing on the small lakes, mostly in the bays, small channels or along the shoreline. Ice thickness is not uniform so anglers need to use extreme caution.
St. Joseph River: Continues to produce steelhead below Berrien Springs.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead action was fair below the Allegan Dam. Try spoons, plugs or spawn. A few walleye have also been caught.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Continues to produce steelhead and walleye. For steelhead, try white jigs with wax worms or bright colored spawn bags. For walleye try Hot-n-Tots, husky jerks, bucktail jigs or minnows under a bobber.
Muskegon River: Continues to produce some nice steelhead. There is some shelf ice along the banks and access can be tricky as the launch sites are snow covered and slippery.