Northwestern Michigan
Leroy- Reports are guys are getting out and gills are biting 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. Steelhead fishing has been great on the PM this week Call Baldwin Bait @ 231-745-3529 or Ed’s Sport @ 231-745-4974
Big Glen- Fishing has been good this week with 10 to 15 inches of ice, they are catching perch, trout and ciscoe’s. Had many reports of guys catching 12 to 14 inchers but there is no pattern on the bite as it has been later in the day and when they bite it last for about an hour. Most are going out till they hit 40 feet of water off the access site and catching some perch and ciscoe’s Call Fishhook@ (231) 256-9496
Little Glen- Has ice the perch are biting fair Call Fishhook@ (231) 256-9496.
Lake Leelanau: North Lake Leelanau has ice and a good perch, lake trout and walleye bite, South Lake Leelanau is froze with 8 to 12 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 10 to 15 inches Call Jacks Sport Shop 231-258-8892
Spider Lake and Arbutus- 16 to 20 inches of ice, slush on the lake and things have been slow this week Call Roy’s General Store @ 231-946-5633
Duck Lake: They have been catchin g pike and a few lake trout this week.
Green Lake: is producing bluegill and a few small perch. For pike, try tip-ups off the State Park. Smelt are being caught just not in big numbers. Try just off the Music Camp which is north of the State Park. Spikes and waxworms on Hali Jigs for smelt.
Long Lake: They are fishing the whole lake with the better bite off of Cresant shores and a great perch bite. They are catching nice perch but lots of short walleye. Call MC Sports @ 231-933-6158
Skegemog- They a driving trucks out on the ice and still good perch and pike bite, Also Elk Lake is froze with lakers biting. They have been seeing some nice muskie’s with a 54 incher being caught. Call Jack’s Sport Shop@231-258-8892
Fife Lake- Has ice and a few big pike have been caught, along with perch. There was a bunch of guys off the access site today but report have been slow after the snow. Call Lakeside Party @ 231-879-4346
Portage Lake-Osborn’s contest was a big success with lots of big fish being caught out of portage lake. The perch bite has slowed this week with all the snow but pike are still on the bite. Call Osborne’s@ 231-889-3775
Hamlin Lake- Has had a good bite this week with pike, walleye crappie and gills being caught. Call PM Expeditions@ 231-425-8913 or Hamlin Grocery@(231) 843-2058 and Capt. Chucks @ (231) 843-4458
Bear Lake- Has 12 to 15 inches of ice today with a few getting out catching pike and a jumbo perch bite the last two weeks. Osborne’s@ 231-889-3775
Lake Missaukee- Has been fair with crappie, pike and gills with walleye being slow this week.15 inches of good ice with pike and gills are biting good Call Miller Corner@ 231-839-0440 or Hopkins Outfitters@ 231-839-FISH (3474). Also Millers Corner has a big fishing contest this weekend
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing continues but the bite is harder to come by. Try something new like a small hair jig with a small minnow or spike. Anglers are still catching pike on tip-ups. Call Pilgrim Village for latest info@ 231-775-5412
Lake Mitchell: Is producing fish but again the bite is slow. For panfish try teardrops or anything small with minnows or wax worms. Pike are still hitting on tip-ups. Call Pilgrim Village for latest info@ 231-775-5412
Pentwater: Pentwater Lake is froze and the perch fishing has been great also a few pike. There was 50 shanties in front of Pentwater Angler and said the perch bite was on today. Call Pentwater Angler for the latest info@ 231-869-5357
Whitehall: White lake has ice with good pike and perch bite today. Call armstrongs@231–894-6753 or Johnson’s Outdoors @ 231-893-6688
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.
Crystal Lake Has safe ice and a great lake trout bite the last week, also getting out of Lobb Rd. for perch, whitefish and smelt. Chimney Corners for Lakers in 90 to 150 feet of water
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- Fishing has been fair around Mio with many pike being caught.. Call Jig’s Bait Shop@ (989) 826-3467
Lake St. Helen- Fishing has been good with 20 to 24 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 safe 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 crappie bite this week Sandy’s Market@ (989) 435-9688
Fletcher’s Floodwaters- Those using tip-ups caught some nice pike. Crappies were taken on minnows, wax worms or spikes. Call Bill’s @989-742-4874
Black Lake- Has 12 to 20 inches of ice and a good walleye bite Call Parrots Outpost for the latest ice conditions (989) 733-2472
Mullet Lake- Has been good for perch the last few days call Mullet Lake Party store@ (231) 627-4644 or Topinabee Market@ 231-238-9578
Burt Lake: Perch and walleye fishing has been good. Call Pat & Gary’s Party Store 231-238-6776
Grand lake and Long Lake- Both lakes are safe and fisherman are venturing out catching perch and pike, 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 fair on Bradford, chub Lake trout fishing has been good. Call Northern Sports@ 987-448-2014
Lake Margrethe- The lake is completely froze with 18 to 24 inches of ice and good fish being caught. The walleye bite has been slow but perch and pike have been fair. There are quite a few shanties on the lake. Call Skip’s Sport @ 989-348-7111
Higgins Lake- Smeltville is in full force off the west access site with some doing good on the smelt but lights are the key right now. Has ice and snow. Use caution near Big Creek and the Conference Center. Pike are hitting on tip-ups along the drop off in 35 to 40 feet of water. Those spearing are also taking fish. Lake trout are just off the bottom in 100 feet of water. Try Swedish pimples tipped with minnows, smelt or minnow heads. Whitefish were caught by those jigging a Swedish pimple with minnows, wax worms or wigglers. For perch, try near the Sunken Island, Main Island, and Big Creek in 30 to 50 feet of water. No big numbers of smelt yet, but the fish are there. Try down near the West Launch or Big Creek when fishing at night in 50 feet of water. . Call Phoenix Park 989-821-7220 or Sports Barn 989-821-9511 for latest ice conditions
Houghton Lake- Ice fishing is on Good pike, perch and walleye. Dave @ 4 season says off of long point good perch and walleye are being caught. he hurt his back so he had to take his shanties off the lake but fishing is good
Lyman’s has their shanties out call them for your reservations@ 989-422-3231 the bite has been good around his shanties with guys in the sleeper catching walleye at night. Also Dave @ Four Season Party Store 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.
Korbinski’s also rents shanties and has a full line of bait and Tackle call Rod@ 989-366-9500
Pappa’s Bait reporting great fishing off the middle grounds on Houghton Lake989-429-5780
Lake Avalon: In Montmorency County is producing a few bigger splake.
Van Etten Lake: Is producing some walleye, pike and perch.
Au Sable River: With temperatures rising and the day’s getting longer, conditions on the river are getting better. Most of the access points were open. Steelhead seem to be moving from the mouth to the dam and back out. The fish are silver which means they are fresh from the lake. Most were caught on spawn.
Tawas: Had lots of ice fishing activity in Tawas Bay. Anglers were fishing northwest of Jerry’s Marina in 15 to 20 feet of water. Walleye fishing was slow with only a few fish taken in the evening. Perch were spotty and most of the fish caught were small.
Au Gres River: Had no fishing activity near the Singing Bridge.Rifle River: Is under a flood warning. Anglers may want to avoid the river until water levels have a chance to recede.
Upper Peninsula Report
Newberry- Has good ice on most the small lakes with pike biting fair.
Munuscong Bay –Dan’s Resort in Pickford reports : Had good walleye and perch fishing for those jigging in the deeper water. Try off Rocky Point in 10 to 15 feet.. For perch, most are jigging or still-fishing with minnows.. Call Dan’s Resort @ (906) 647-8753
Manistique– Ice is good on Indian Lake and Big Manistique and the Call Top O Lakes Sport@ 906-341-5241
Slush has become an issue on most of the inland lakes.
Lake Gogebic: Had good walleye fishing with many legal size fish caught. Anglers are using tip-ups or jigging rapalas in 10 to 18 feet of water. Perch action was fair with wigglers in 12 to 17 feet.
Lac Vieux Desert: Has some areas with deep slush so be careful as you travel out on the lake. Access may be difficult at the Misery Bay landing due to deep snow. Ice anglers have done well for bluegill and crappie over the last few weeks. Bluegills were hitting on wax worms in 6 feet of water in Rice Bay. The bigger perch were hard to find along the west side of the lake however those willing to put in the time did take enough for a meal. Walleye were still hard to come by but the few that were caught were taken at sun up or sundown. Those targeting pike have caught good numbers of smaller fish but a few were over 30 inches.
Chicagon Lake: Catch rates were slow. A few walleye were taken on tip-ups with sucker minnows right before and right after dark in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch were small but a few averaged 9 inches. Bluegills were now hitting wigglers and wax worms in 10 to 17 feet of water. Whitefish action was slow with only a few fish taken in 40 to 50 feet. Slush is bad in some places so use caution when heading out.
Iron Lake: Bluegills are hitting on small jigs tipped with wax worms but many are small. Crappie fishing is fair for those using minnows just before dark. Pike action remains steady but many were small.
Groveland Mine Ponds: The lakes had a lot of fresh snow with water and slush under it and that makes travel more difficult. Island Lake was producing small bluegills while West Lake was giving up bluegills and yellow perch for those using tip-ups or jigging with minnows and wax worms. Few anglers were out on East Lake or South Lake.
Lake Antoine: Still has ice but drifting snow made it difficult for anglers to get to their ice shanties. A few panfish were caught by those jigging minnows and wax worms.
Little Bay De Noc: Ice conditions remain favorable however travel in some areas is difficult with a foot or more of snow. Anglers were moving ice shanties closer to shore. Walleye catches were fair to good. The better fishing was near the Center and Third Reefs when using tip-ups with sucker minnows in 12 to 20 feet of water or near Garth Point in 8 to 17 feet. The walleye appear to be staging for spawning. Jumbo perch were caught just south of the “Narrows” when jigging wigglers in 30 feet of water. Good catches of smaller perch were reported near Kipling in 5 to 17 feet. Good whitefish action off Sand Point for those jigging dead minnows in 75 to 85 feet. Good pike action near the mouth of the Escanaba Yacht Harbor with tip-ups and sucker minnows along the break.
Munising: Still had fishable ice between Christmas and Sand Point. Some areas have up to a foot of snow and slush which makes travel on the ice a challenge. Catch rates were slow for whitefish. Most were jigging a single egg or wax worm. Splake were scattered. A few perch were caught at Sand Point but most were 7 to 8 inches. Those trying for lake trout in the West Channel reported no fish. Reports of smelt were beginning to trickle in.
Cedarville and Hessel: For perch, anglers are fishing 10 feet of water using wigglers, wax worms and minnows.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Perch and bluegill were caught in the Metro Park Marina. Any ice past the main marina is not safe. Perch were caught out near the Banana Dike in 6 to 7 feet of water. A couple walleye were also caught. Be sure to stay away from the main channel as the ice is not safe.
Huron River: Is producing steelhead. Try small hair jigs with wax worms or spawn.
Detroit River: A few bigger perch were caught in the canals near Gibraltar. Airport Bay is still producing some perch however ice conditions are questionable.
Lake St. Clair: Ice fishing continues. Snow may cause some areas of slush. Perch fishing was very good off Geno’s, Selfridge, Cotton Road, New Baltimore, Fair Haven and Metro Beach. Anglers need to use caution near Selfridge. Some ORV’s have gone through the ice. The area has springs and pressure cracks so ice thickness varies.
Port Austin: Perch fishing and pike spearing were slow in the harbor.
Harbor Beach: A few were catching and sorting small perch in the marina basin.
Saginaw Bay: A few anglers were starting to fish before the first pressure crack off Palmer Road. Perch fishing was slow and the water was cloudy. Perch were caught off Cody-Estey Road and Newman Road in 4 to 5 feet of water. They are using plastic beads or live minnows. A few bigger perch ranging 10 to 12 inches were caught about 400 yards off the Bay City State Park. The perch seem to prefer beads over the minnows. Bigger perch were caught out near Spoils Island in the shipping channel. Off Quanicassee, perch anglers are fishing out from Vanderbilt Park however caution needs to be used as a couple anglers went through the ice in 5 feet of water. Perch and walleye were caught off Tietz Drain but there was no activity off Sunset Bay or Thomas Road. At Sebewaing, anglers fishing inside the marina basin caught small perch and bluegills. Activity at Mud Creek was spotty. A warning to anglers, the area of open water and bad ice out in Wildfowl Bay continues to grow. At Caseville, those fishing inside the marina basins were sorting through a lot of small perch. A couple lake trout were caught out near the end of the breakwall.
Saginaw River: Ice on the upper river from Rust Avenue down through town is deteriorating but still too much to launch a boat. Those fishing downstream from Zilwaukee caught sublegal walleyes. In Bay City, those fishing just north of the bridge near Veterans Park said the ice was getting bad. It was better downstream of the Independence Bridge however anglers still need to use caution. Perch and walleye were caught. Fishing was slow at Essexville.
Tittabawassee River: A few anglers launching their boats at the Gordonville Road launch and fishing below Dow Dam have caught a decent number of walleye. The problem is the large mounds of snow in front of the launch ramp. The only way to launch a boat is to physically drag it with all your gear over the piles of snow. There was no activity downstream of Gordonville Road.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
St. Joseph River: Has steelhead up near the Berrien Springs Dam.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead and walleye were caught up near the Allegan Dam.
Gull Lake: Smelt fishing was spotty. More anglers were fishing on the north end of the lake. The pike and crappie bite have picked up.
Jordan Lake: Had good bluegill action but the fish were small.
Gun Lake: With the longer days, northern pike and crappie have picked up.
Grand Haven: The piers are not safe.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is producing steelhead up near the Sixth Street Dam. Most are using corkies and wobble glows. Some are back bouncing spawn, floating a jig and wax worm or throwing Hot-n-Tots and spinners. Walleye are hitting on minnows, bucktail jigs, paddle tails or twister tails in chartreuse or white.
Reeds Lake: The pike and crappie bite have picked up. Perch were caught in waters 8 to 30 feet deep. Pike are hitting 3 to 4 feet off the bottom.
Murray Lake: Also has better pike and crappie action.
Muskegon Lake: Had perch in 30 to 40 feet of water near the Sand Docks.
Muskegon River: Continues to produce steelhead especially for those fly fishing.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
Another weekend has passed. More fresh snow. A llittle more every day keeping everything clean and white. Snowmobilers and skiers are all happy. Quads, snowmobiles, cars and trucks dot our lakes indicating thick ice. Life is good.
We’re past mid Winter and as is usual fishing isn’t easy. The fish still eat but seem more cautious – or are they smarter. Flashers mark them. Using cameras we see them. Some days getting them to bite has been another story.
Small jigs tipped with spikes is the way to go. Large jigs and baits seem to scare the panfish off. Use as light of line as you’re comfortable with, 1 to 4 pound test. Lately purple jigs have become inportant. Those catching the most say the crappie are biting best on a slow moving, quivering presentation. Make your bait look like an aquatic insect laying eggs.
When fishing Lake Cadillac and Mitchell always bring your tip-ups. The pike are one species that’s always hungry. Only a couple of weeks left of the season and we’re do for another 40 incher or two.
SMELT – Green Lake- numbers are improving. Starting to count them by the quart instead of inches.
Higgins – Perch – size and numbers make it worth the trip. Smelt – good numbers this week. Lake Trout White fish – good numbers, big fish.
Crystal – no smelt reports this week, white fish/Lake Trout – worth the trip, Burbot – catching many Master Angler