It is the kick -off to Tip-Up Town Usa and the lake has safe ice and the fish have been biting so check it out. Here is the link to Tip-Up Town.
It has been a crazy week as the wind and rain played hell on many lakes, but things are great with cold temps and our deeper lakes should go over next week.
Safety is a must if you’re going ice fishing. Be sure to use the buddy system and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. Wearing a life jacket may seem silly however it will not only help keep you afloat should you fall through the ice but more important, it will save your life.Northwestern Michigan
Leroy- Reports are guys are getting out on the shallow lakes with good pike action Call Eye’s Have It for latest info 231-768-5653
Baldwin- The little lakes around Baldwin are safe and pan fish has been fair. Call Baldwin Bait @ 231-745-3529 or Ed’s Sport @ 231-745-4974
Big Glen- open water
Little Glen- Has ice and maybe the perch will start biting the perch are biting Call Fishhook@ (231) 256-9496.
Lake Leelanau: North Lake Leelanau is wide open still, South Lake Leelanau is froze with 3 to 5 inches of ice and fair walleye, perch and pike. Call Fishhook@ (231) 256-9496 for latest info
Manistee Lake by Kalkaska- Good fishing this week with perch, pike, walleye and a few gills in the canals ice is 3 to 5 inches Call Jacks Sport Shop 231-258-8892
Spider Lake and Arbutus- Five to seven inches of ice with pike and pan fish biting, a huge pike was caught out of there last week Call Roy’s General Store @ 231-946-5633
Lake Dubonnet- Lots of fisherman fishing this lake with great pike action with some pan fish
Duck Lake: Lots of fisherman off of Strawberry Point
Green Lake: Is wide open again
Long Lake: They are fishing on the North-end and catching fish, but lots of small walleye being caught. Over a hundred fisherman out last week. Call MC Sports @ 231-933-6158
Skegemog-Has completely froze over and lots of people are walking out not safe for atv’s yet and good pike and perch fishing. Had an open spot in the middle Call Jack’s Sport Shop@231-258-8892
Fife Lake- Has ice and a few big pike have been caught, along with perch Call Lakeside Party @ 231-879-4346
Portage Lake- It froze over but have not heard of any body trying there luck. Call Osborne’s@ 231-889-3775
Hamlin Lake- Has 2 to 3 inches on Upper Hamlin and things have got shaky they hope to be out this weekend . Call PM Expeditions@ 231-425-8913 or Hamlin Grocery@(231) 843-2058
Bear Lake- Has 3 to 5 inches of ice today with a few getting out catching pike. Osborne’s@ 231-889-3775
Lake Missaukee- Has safe ice Today a few guys were venturing out and report 5 to 8 inches of good ice with pike and gills are biting good Call Miller Corner@ 231-839-0440 or Hopkins Outfitters@ 231-839-FISH (3474)
Cadillac and Mitchell- Has Safe Ice!!!!, Lake Cadillac they are fishing off the causeway and it has looked like a city on the ice this week Call Pilgrim Village for latest info@ 231-775-5412
Betsie River: Continues to produce some steelhead.
Big Manistee River: Is fishable and should have a fair to good number of steelhead including some fresh fish. Many are fly fishing below Tippy Dam.
Little Manistee River: Is producing steelhead and the occasional brown trout however the river will close to fishing on January 1st and will reopen on April 1st.
Pere Marquette River: Should still have some good steelhead fishing. Those fly fishing seem to catch more fish.
Pentwater: Pentwater Lake is open Call Pentwater Angler for the latest info@ 231-869-5357
Whitehall: White lake is open and they have a perch tournament Call armstrongs@231–894-6753 or Johnson’s Outdoors @ 231-893-6688
Northeast Michigan
Lewiston- Both East and West Twin are froze and perch, pike and walleye are biting Call Mid Lakes Market @ (989) 786-3227
Mio- Mio Pong has froze and a few are getting out on the lake. Call Jig’s Bait Shop@ (989) 826-3467
Lake St. Helen- Fishing has been good with 5 to 8 inches of ice lots of pike, with pan fish on the bite with a few walleye being caught. Call Macomb’s Tackle Box @ 989-389-2100
Pratt Lake and Wiggins Lake– has safe ice and many have been doing good on pan fish and pike. Call Chappel Dam@ 989-426-7503
Wixom and Sanford Lake- Reports are the lake is froze and fisherman have been getting out on the shallow bays catching crappie, gills and pike. Call Sanford Sport Shop@989-687-5161 or Sandy’s Market@ (989) 435-9688
Secord Lake has had a great bite this week Sandy’s Market@ (989) 435-9688
Fletcher’s Floodwaters- Reports are the ice is safe to walk out on and the pike fishing has been fantastic the last two days but very few people out yet. Call Bill’s @989-742-4874
Black Lake- Has 3 to 5 inches of ice. Call Parrots Outpost for the latest ice conditions (989) 733-2472
Grand lake and Long Lake- Both lakes are froze over and a few fisherman are venturing out catching perch and pike on the shallow bays, also Saturday seems to be the day that most feel it will be safe. Call Bucks@ 989-595-2121
Otsego Lake- The ice is safe and many shanties are on the lake. A few sturgeon have been caught off the State Park and good perch, pike and a few walleyes on Otsego Lake. Perch fishing has been fait on Bradford, chub Lake trout fishing has been good. Call Northern Sports@ 987-448-2014
Lake Margrethe- The lake is completely froze with 4 to 8 inches of ice and good fish being caught. They put there shanties back on today so hope things will pick upCall Skip’s Sport @ 989-348-7111
Higgins Lake- is wide open again hopefully it will freeze with the next cold spell. Call Phoniex Park 989-821-7220 or Sports Barn 989-821-9511 for latest ice conditions
Houghton Lake- Ice fishing is on and anglers are setting up their shanties. Be sure to use caution around the chunk ice on the south shore as well as near any inlets or outlets. Walleye fishing was good in in 4 to 8 feet of water. Lyman’s has started putting their shanties out call them for your resevations@ 989-422-3231 Also Dave @ Four Season is getting ready to put his Shanties out and said last night they did good on the walleyes and pike. Call him @ 989-422-5230. Angelos Party Store also has shanty retail call him @ 989-202-4422 ask for Lou. It is Tip Up Town Weekend
Lake Avalon: In Montmorency County is producing a few bigger splake.
Alpena: The boat ramps are frozen in. A few perch were caught in the harbor.
Au Sable River: The ramps are usable. Steelhead were caught from Foote Dam all the way down to Oscoda and the mouth. Boat anglers are back drifting plugs or casting spawn.
Higgins Lake: The boat launches are iced in but not enough ice for ice fishing yet.
Tawas: Anglers are getting some perch out of Jerry’s Marina basin as well as off Jerry’s in 10 to 15 feet of water. Walleye anglers are inching out to 15 to 17 feet and getting a few. No pike spearing yet.
Au Gres River: Has ice fishing in the lower river. Anglers are getting a few perch and sublegal walleye.
Upper Peninsula Report
Newberry- Has good ice on most the small lakes with pike biting fair.
Munuscong Bay –Dan’s Resort in Pickford reports Four-wheelers are going out on the ice now. Perch are biting near the rock piles. The walleye have been biting well the last few days on blues. Anglers pulled their ice shanties to shore after the warm weather. Be careful especially with all the holes in the ice. The area east of Roach Point is off limits, anglers should avoid the area. Call Dan’s Resort @ (906) 647-8753
Manistique– Ice is forming good on Indian Lake and Big Manistique and they look to be fishing this weekend Call Top O Lakes Sport@ 906-341-5241
Many lakes in Keweenaw, Houghton, and Baraga County had too much slush for ice fishing. The slush makes for difficult travel as well as slow fishing.
Lake Gogebic: Ice anglers caught perch in Bergland Bay. A few walleye were also caught along the north end.
Lac Vieux Desert: Ice anglers are catching good numbers of pike ranging 16 to 24 inches. Most are using tip-ups with golden shiners over the weed beds in 6 feet of water. Only a few anglers have caught walleye. A good number of bluegills were caught on wax worms in 6 to 10 feet of water. The fish range 6.5 to 7.5 inches. Some caught crappie. As for perch, anglers are catching them however most of the fish caught were 8 inches or smaller.
Portage Lake: In Houghton County has ice. Anglers caught crappie near Chassell.
Keweenaw Bay: Has no ice. Huron Bay has shore ice only.
Groveland Mine Ponds: In Dickinson County have ice. High winds and rain made fishing difficult on Island Lake as it turned into an ice rink. Anglers may want to bring cleats for easier access. Bluegills were hitting on minnows, wigglers and wax worms in 8 to 12 feet of water. Many were small but a good number of 7 inch fish were also taken. A few perch and black crappie were also caught. Both the East Lake and the West Lake had few anglers. The bite was slow with only small panfish caught by those jigging or using tip-ups.
Lake Antoine: Was producing bluegill and perch for those jigging minnows and wax worms however many were small. Most are fishing on the northeast side. Those targeting northern pike were spear fishing and using tip-ups with large minnows on the north end of the lake.
Little Bay De Noc: Rain and warmer temperatures deteriorated the ice. The weak spots, pressure cracks, shoreline and river mouths were all in rough shape. Most are traveling on foot if they go out. Almost all the fishing has been north of the Narrows. A Safety Reminder: The pressure crack that runs across the north end of Butler Island is ALWAYS DANGEROUS. Anglers should avoid this area at all times even in good conditions. Several four wheelers and snowmobiles have already done through the ice. Overall, fishing was slow due to fewer anglers and no snow cover. The better catches were reported up at the head of the Bay near Garth Point when jigging wigglers and minnows in 10 to 13 feet of water. For walleye, those fishing well past dark did the best near Kipling, the Second and the Third Reef when jigging rapalas with minnows in 18 to 26 feet of water.
Cedarville and Hessel: Those off Cedarville have pulled their ice shanties to shore. Musky Bay had a few shacks remaining, but no catch reports came in. Perch in Musky Bay were picking up before the warm up so colder temperatures should help with catch rates.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Those fishing in open water off the docks in the Metro Park Marina have caught a couple perch or bluegill. Ice in the area is not safe. There is still one dock in at the Metro Park launch.
Huron River: Is producing steelhead for those using wax worms or small spoons. Colder weather may have the fish holding in the deeper holes.
Detroit River: Is producing some jumbo perch in front of Gibraltar and along Grosse Ile. Anglers are using perch rigs with shiners off the docks, breakwalls and seawalls. A few perch were caught in the canals around Gibraltar.
Saginaw Bay: After heavy rain and near-record high temperatures last weekend, ice conditions were unsafe in most places. Anglers are cautioned to stay off the ice until the colder weather has a chance to make new ice. Perch fishing in shallow water should be possible again after a few days of frigid weather. A few pike and walleye came out of the Hot Pond by those using jigs or crank baits.
Kawkawlin River: Was high and muddy. Those using long-rods caught perch but they were small.
Saginaw River: Walleye fishing was pretty good before the rain and snow melt. Rising muddy water and floating ice chunks made fishing nearly impossible.
Tittabawassee River: Walleye fishing was good before the muddy water.
Quanicassee River: Fishing was slow however small perch were caught on minnows or wigglers.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Rain and warm temperatures took out most of the ice. Any remaining ice at this time would not be safe.
St. Joseph River: Anglers are catching steelhead. The bite is slow which is typical for this time of year. Try drifting Hot-n-Tots or floating a jig and wax worm.
Kalamazoo River: Those hitting the river have caught steelhead below the Allegan Dam. Try Hot-n-Tots, small plugs or a jig with wax worms.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Water levels are up however boat anglers need to use caution. A couple boats have been ripped open by re-rod along the west side of the river. Be careful below Pearl Street, in front of the Ford Museum above the walk bridge, and near the carousal below Pearl Street. Steelhead are still being caught on jigs with wax worm, wobble glows, spinners, black stone flies and yarn rigs with a six foot leader. Below the dam, anglers are trolling Hot-n-Tots. Try black and chrome or black and gold with a red lip. Some are back bouncing spawn in the deeper holes. Walleye catches were good for those using bucktail jigs tipped with a minnow. Some are floating minnows. Crappie and bluegill were caught near Riverside Park and Millennium Park.
Grand River at Lansing: Pike and walleye are still being caught at the North Lansing Dam and the Moore’s Park Dam. Try golden shiners and sucker minnows. A nice walleye was caught below the Brenke Ladder. Decent size pike have been caught in Grand Ledge at Fitzgerald Park.
Reeds Lake: Crappie and bluegill were caught in the channel in open water.
Muskegon River: Water levels were up but those fly fishing have caught steelhead when using bright colored flies.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
We just love it when people complain about how cold it is! Day and night the is ice is growing. Good, solid, clear ice. Permanent shanties are returning to lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Anglers report 7 to 9 inches of solid ice on Lake Mitchell. Jiffy auger time!
Lake Cadillac has less but it catching up. Reports vary 4 to 6 inches. Use of your spud may keep you from stepping in an old hole. Currently there’s a light dusting of snow. It’s still slick. Be prepared with creepers. More snow may be coming.
Meet Walleye Pro Mark Martin January 20, 2-3 P.M. at the Carl T Johnson Hunting Fishing Center in Cadillac. You’re invited to a Free Public Seminar. Boost your catch freequency. Also hear from some of his sponsosrs – Direct from the factory. Arrive early for a seat.
Panfishing numbers really haven’t improved. Those using electronics do the best. Only a few bluegills so far. Crappie have taken over the neighborhood. Their size is improving. Expect mostly eaters in the 7 to 9 range but lately we’re seeing a few in the 12/13 inch range.
Walleye fishing has been good but slower than last week. Many catches have been huge over 20 inches Hearing of 2′s or 3′s but not the numbers as earlier.