Buc's Northern Michigan Fishing Report

17 hours ago

Posted @withregram • @lymansonthelake Jeremy McKee from Linden caught a 39 1/2", 14 lb northern by the Cut River on Houghton Lake. He was using a sucker minnow on a tip-up. Good job! #Icefishing #icefishinglife #icefishingnation #lakemissaukee #livebait #livebaitfishing #bucsbait #bucsfishingreport #puremichigan #fishingreports #michiganfishing #icefishingmichigan #northernmichiganfishing … See MoreSee Less

Buc's Northern Michigan Fishing Report

2 days ago

From Lake Skegemog he said the bigger perch bite midday better lots of sorting #icefishing #icefishinglife #icefishingnation #lakeskegemog #livebait #livebaitfishing #bucsbait #bucsfishingreport #puremichigan #fishingreports #michiganfishing #icefishingmichigan #northernmichiganfishing … See MoreSee Less

Buc's Northern Michigan Fishing Report Buc’s Northern Michigan Fishing Report

2 days ago

Announcing:
2020 Winter Fishing Contest
@
The Minnow Bucket @ Exit 222
Contest Runs From 01/13/2020-03/15/2020
Largest Walleye and Largest Pike From Each Week Will
Be Entered Into a Drawing On 03/15/20 At Close of Business.
Drawing Will Be For $200 Gift Card to The Minnow Bucket @ Exit 222, Provided by Buc’s Aqua Farms and The Minnow Bucket @ Exit 222
An Additional $100 Gift Card to The Minnow Bucket @ Exit 222 Will Be Awarded To Winner If The Winner Is A Saint Helen Lake Association Members At Time Of Fish Entry
We Will Be Giving A Free Gift For Every Entry.
Fish must be measured and weighed during regular hours.
The Minnow Bucket @ Exit 222 Reserves All Rights As Exclusive Judge for Contest.
If you see Jack congratulate him on his 37.5 in 13lb 1oz pike! … See MoreSee Less

Buc's Northern Michigan Fishing Report

3 days ago

Pilgrim Village Reports

Ice Report: Thursday, 1/16/2020
Lake Mitchell & Cadillac
Ice thickness seems about the same as last check, but the ice has a harder feel to it. More snow on the lakes for sure, anywhere from 3-6 inches of snow with a crust from freezing rain in the middle with more snow forcasted for the weekend. Be safe out there! … See MoreSee Less

Buc's Northern Michigan Fishing Report

3 days ago

Lake are starting to freeze this week that were open last week. Portage lake has went over along with Hamlin Lake , Higgins Lake, PM Lake as the cold weather moves in but they are not safe yet.

I was at Higgins today and there was a guy out on the south-end fishing as I was leaving the guys buddy was going out there as he caught a 37 inch pike. Two to four inches of ice that is just too thin to be taking a chance.

Lake Margrethe: Ice fishing was going strong. Though the bite slowed, anglers were finding walleye, pike, bluegills and a few perch.

Higgins Lake: Finally froze over; however, the ice was not safe yet, as it will take a good week or more of cold temperatures and very light winds to shore up the ice.

Houghton Lake: The ice was bad in the North Bay near the Muskegon River, near the Cut River and Denton Creek. A quad went through the ice along a pressure crack that runs from Long Point to the Heights area, so stay clear of it. There is a pressure crack between the lighthouse and the DNR launch on the south end. The bite was hit-or-miss along the drop-offs when using a gold jigging spoon with orange or green. Panfish were hitting mousies and wax worms. For walleye, jigging was not working, so most were just putting a small minnow down the hole and leaving it alone. Pike were hitting on anything.

Lake St. Helen: Anglers caught crappie, bluegills and the occasional walleye.

Thumb Lake: Had ice with some water on top near the boat launch. A few were fishing around the island and in the west basin, but ice conditions were unknown. Ice conditions in the east basin were also unknown. A couple splake were caught when jigging minnows or using tip-ups in 5 to 12 feet around the island and near the boat launch. The occasional perch was also caught. Some tried fishing at the public beach; however, there were no reports of any success.

Lake Leelanau: The North Lake recently had areas with open water, and though the lake had locked up, nowhere were ice conditions safe at this time. On the South Lake, the ice off the Park Road access was not safe yet, maybe by the weekend. Most anglers were fishing from the DNR launch on the west side and up to Fountain Point. Though the bite was hit-or-miss, some large walleye were caught.

Traverse City: Had little to report, as both the East and the West Bay were still wide open. Several small lakes in Grand Traverse County had fishable ice where anglers were getting panfish and small pike.

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Ice fishing for crappie, pike and walleye is going strong on both lakes. Lots of fishing activity near Mitchell State Park.

Little Bay De Noc: With the colder temperatures, anglers were fishing the Kipling area and north to the Days River. Though there is ice, many areas were not safe for travel, so extreme caution needs to be used. Catch rates remained steady, with most getting six to 12 fish with a few jumbo perch mixed in.

The best catches were in 17 to 30 feet with minnows and wigglers, though wigglers were taking more. Walleye catches were spotty, and most fish were undersize. Anglers were targeting 20 to 30 feet while using tip-ups with minnows or jigging raps. A couple anglers were taking vehicles out from Kipling; however, this is very dangerous and should be avoided. The best means of travel was by foot. A few have been walking out at Gladstone and fishing the channel. The Escanaba River and south had been unfishable.

Manistique Lake: Anglers were catching several small perch on Big Manistique. Walleye success did increase but was still slow.

Munuscong Bay: Was producing a fair number of perch and a few pike. Due to unsafe ice conditions in many areas, fishing pressure has been low.

Caribou Lake: Near Detour was producing the occasional walleye.

Cedarville and Hessel: There was no fishing activity on Musky Bay or Government Bay in the Les Cheneaux Islands. Conditions were unknown; however, there was no open water compared to last week. In Hessel Bay, ice conditions on the west side were unknown; however, those fishing the east side caught some 8-inch perch when jigging minnows and wax worms in 15 to 18 feet.

Brevoort Lake: Was producing a few walleye and small perch. … See MoreSee Less