Many lakes are froze and have good ice but nobody has been fishing as the cold temps and wind have kept most in the house.
Around Traverse City- Spider Lake, Lake Doubenet, Little Glen, Twin Lakes, Fife Lake, Turtle Lake, has good ice all the smaller lakes are froze and have good ice. Long Lake, Silver, Green Lake, Duck Lake, Lake Leelanau, Cedar Lake had open spots tuesday with all the wind that day but should go over tonight with single digit temps and no wind
Cadillac reports good ice on both Mitchell and Lake Cadillac and pike and walleye have been great, panfish has been slow but weather has stop many from sitting on a pail.
Lake Missaukee has good ice and fish have been biting but very few venturing out call Miller’s Corner for the latest info@ 231-839-0440
Kalkaska reports Manistee lake has good ice and many think Skegemog should have good ice but nobody has ventured out and reported back. Call Jacks Sport @ 231-258-8892 for the latest info
Lake Margrethe report up to 9″ as a fisherman went out when I was there and he had with his tape measure 6-9″ Call Skips @ 9789-348-7111
Otsego Lake has 7 to 9 inches of ice and there are shanties on the lake call Northern Sport or Jays Sporting Goods for the latest info. They are doing good on pike, walleye, and perch. Chubb Lake has been fair for trout and perch.
Higgins Lake had shore ice and off the table top it was froze to the island. Could go over in another week.
Bear Lake and Portage are both over and fisherman have been out with 3 to 5 inches of ice no reports yet on catches. Call Osbornes Sport 231-889-3775
Ludington’s Hamlin Lake is froze with 5″ of ice and good gill and pike fishing this week call Captain Chucks @231-843-4458for latest info
Baldwin area lakes has 3 to 6′ of ice and good gill bite this week
Houghton Lake has good ice and a few shanties are out with fair walleye and pike fishing. Call Angelo’s Part Store@989-2024422 Lymans@ 989-422-3231, Pappa’s Bait@989-429-5780, 4 season Party Store@989-422-5230
Lake St. Helen reports good ice and pike, walleye and panfish have been biting call Malcomb’s Tackle Box @989-389-2100
Good ice report in the Clare Harrison area on all the lakes
Gladwin Sugar Spring, Wiggins and Pratt have good ice and pike have been biting. Secord just went over but a few have caught some nice crappie. Wixom Lake Muddy bay has been awesome for panfish.
Sanford lake has safe ice and the first fill has been good for gills call Sanford Sport Shop @989-687-5161
Munuscong Bay has good ice but 15″ of snow put tons of slush up on the ice so nobody been out as they were getting stuck call Dan’s Resort at Pickford @ (906) 647-8753
Manistique Lake has good ice with walleye and perch biting good along with Indian Lake. call Top O lakes Sport (906) 341-5241
Around Leroy the ice is good call Ey’e Have it @ 231-768-5653
Mio Pond is froze with pike biting this week
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Charlevoix: A few people are fishing on smaller lakes in the area.
Manistee Lake: Near Kalkaska has ice and anglers are starting to fish.
Lake Cadillac: Has ice but no reports on fishing.
Lake Mitchell: Has ice. A few walleye were caught off the State Park access site.
Lake Missaukee: Ice fishing has started but no word on ice thickness or catch rates.
Manistee River: Artic conditions have pretty much shut down the steelhead fishing. The fish are still there for those brave enough to try.
Pere Marquette River: Still has a good number of steelhead including lots of fresh fish for the taking. Cold weather has slowed angler participation but good fishing should continue through the winter. Most anglers are swinging flies or floating spawn.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Little Bay De Noc: Ice is forming along the head of the bay. Some are out fishing however anglers need to use caution as ice thickness will vary.
Manistique Lake: Ice fishing has begun and a few walleye were caught.
Munuscong Bay: Is producing some walleye.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Ice conditions are slowly improving especially on the smaller lakes. Those starting to fish have caught a fair number of walleye, pike and panfish. Be sure to check the ice before venturing out as ice thickness will vary.
Au Sable River: Steelhead are still moving into the river in good numbers. Catch rates were good between the mouth and Foote Dam. Spawn, body baits, and wax worms seem to be the most popular. Fish the deeper holes along the river bends. This fishery seems to be getting better and better, so look for an increase in fish numbers throughout the winter. As water flow goes up and down, new snags are emerging throughout the river.
Higgins Lake: Ice is trying to form but windy conditions keep blowing the ice out.
Houghton Lake: Is making ice however there are no shanties on the lake yet. Anglers are starting to fish off the north end of the East Bay.
Lake Margrethe: Has ice and rumors of anglers out fishing.
Rifle River: Is iced over but no safe ice yet.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Bluegills were caught in the Metro Park Marin but thin ice has stopped anglers from fishing.
Huron River: Is one of the better options right now as steelhead are still being caught.
Detroit River: Not much to report this week. A few boat anglers were out but cold temperatures have kept most at home.
Lake St. Clair: Cold temperatures are making ice but not a lot of safe ice yet. Some are ice fishing in the canals and marinas. They are catching bluegills, sunfish and a few perch but muddy water conditions are limiting success. A few perch were caught near Fair Haven.
Saginaw Bay: Has some ice fishing opportunities. Anglers are going out from Whites Beach and Palmer Road but catch rates were slow.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Ice is forming but there is no safe ice yet. The far west counties have about 6 to 8 inches of snow. This will make ice conditions hazardous. A few have already fallen through the ice which should be a warning to those anxious to head out.
St. Joseph River: Is producing steelhead below the Berrien Springs Dam. Try fishing the deeper holes with wigglers, flat fish or spawn.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead fishing did slow but fish were still being caught on spawn and plugs below the Allegan Dam. Anglers reported good walleye fishing below the dam. Try crawlers or Hot-n-Tots.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Steelhead are in the river and will be wintering in the deeper holes during the cold weather. Try small white jigs with a couple wax worms or pink and chartreuse spawn bags. Walleye are hitting on husky jerks and bucktail jigs. Some are bouncing a jighead with a minnow on the bottom.
Grand River near Lansing: It sounds like steelhead are in and around the area. Anglers reported seeing a number of fish in the river and one large fish was taken near Lansing.
Muskegon River: Contains a good number of steelhead. The fish are good size and in good shape. Anglers are casting flies or floating spawn. Steelhead fishing should be good throughout the winter.
