Anglers are fishing parts of Lake Erie, but are still encouraged to use caution on the ice. Bluegill and yellow perch have been caught in Bolles Harbor and the Metro Park Marina. Try a dark green teardrop and wax worm in shallow waters. The Metro Park boat launch is starting to freeze. Walleye were caught in 15 to 20 feet of water in Brest Bay. Swedish Pimples or jigging Rapalas with large shiner minnows worked best. Yellow perch were caught near the Banana Dike.

In the Huron River, good steelhead fishing continues at Rockwood and the deeper holes near the Train Bridge. Wax worms, spawn and spinner baits seem to work best. Flow ice is coming down the Detroit River. Yellow perch have been caught on minnows in the canals near Gibraltar.

Lake St. Clair is making ice, but extreme caution needs to be used. Most anglers are fishing the cuts and canals between Nine Mile and Twelve Mile Roads, and along the shoreline in Anchor Bay. Bluegill, crappie and smaller yellow perch have been caught.

Saginaw Bay has ice and anglers are fishing off Pine River Road, Palmer Road and just off Linwood. Most are catching yellow perch as only a few smaller walleye have been reported. On the Saginaw River, fair to good fishing was reported but many of the walleye are running small. Extreme caution needs to be used when fishing on the river, due to the heavy boat traffic in the shipping channel. There were reports that a freighter went through just recently and broke up the ice.

Southwestern Lower Peninsula

No fishing from the port of St. Joe. The piers are iced over causing dangerous conditions. Anglers are fishing the smaller inland lakes for bluegill and crappie, but caution should be used as ice conditions range from fair to good. Slow fishing on the St. Joe River due to low water levels and ice flows. The lower river is icing up but there is still open water up near Berrien Springs. Steelhead can still be found in the river, but the bite has been slow.

From Holland to Grand Haven, the piers are becoming ice covered and dangerous. Anglers are concentrating on the inland lakes now, but caution still needs to be used due to heavy snow cover. Some of the smaller lakes such as Eagle Lake near Allegan are starting to produce some bluegills. Avoid the large deep lakes such as Lake Macatawa which still have open water with no safe ice.

The Grand River at Grand Rapids is producing fair to good catches of walleye and steelhead even though water levels are very low. Those wading have done well when fishing the center-run on the west side. Try a brown feather jig with a black head. Fish were caught off the wall at the Post Office on a jig and wax worm. Walleye were caught in the deeper holes off the east wall and behind the Crab Hole. Use a ¼ ounce jig with minnows or any power bait that glows.

Fair to good fishing reported on the inland lakes near Grand Rapids. Avoid the large deep lakes, and stay close to shore on many of the smaller lakes as well. Bluegills and northern pike have been caught on Dean Lake and Emerald Lake. Crappie and a few largemouth bass were taken at Millennium Park. Those fishing Reed Lake have caught crappie in front of the Fire House. The fish are hitting on a tear-drop with a very small shiner minnow in about 10 feet of water. Cranberry Lake is producing bluegills and crappie.

Closer to Lansing, the river still has low water levels with plenty of open water. Anglers might find some walleye holding in the deeper holes. Inland lakes including Sleepy Hollow have ice, but caution needs to be used because of the snow cover. Avoid the areas over deeper water, and fish closer to shore. Good bluegill fishing was reported around the Jackson area. Ice conditions continue to improve, but caution still needs to be used. Glow jigs tipped with wax worms or spikes worked best.

Out of Muskegon, flow ice can be seen not only in the channel, but in the Lower Muskegon River. Drift boats are still taking some steelhead between Bridgeton and Newaygo. The east half of Muskegon Lake has open water. Anglers could be seen fishing the northeast corner of the lake near the Conservation Club. Small northern pike are hitting on tip-ups with golden shiners and bluegills are hitting on wax worms. Those fishing the northwest corner of the lake near the State Park reported good numbers of small bluegill in 4 to 6 feet of water. Several large pike have been spotted in the holes, but they are not biting.

Northeastern Lower Peninsula

From Cheboygan to Alpena, anglers are ice fishing on Mullett Lake, Grand Lake, Long Lake, Fletcher’s Pond, and Hubbard Lake. Use extreme caution and avoid the deep areas. Good numbers of yellow perch have been caught, but most of the fish are running small so anglers will need to do some sorting. Walleye have also been caught. Try using teardrops with shiners, wigglers, wax worms or mousies.

A few die hard anglers can still be found fishing the Thunder Bay River. Fishing this time of year usually requires a great deal of work to catch a steelhead or brown trout.

Near Oscoda, the inland lakes are not only ice covered, but also have snow cover. On Van Ettan Lake, yellow perch are hitting on wigglers and minnows. Northern pike are hitting on pike minnows. Good bluegill fishing was reported on Cedar Lake and Indian Lake. Steelhead can still be found in the Au Sable River, but the bite has slowed with the cold weather. Northern pike and yellow perch have been caught near Foote Dam at the upper and lower landings.

At Tawas, ice is forming in Tawas Bay, but anglers need to use extreme caution. Bluegill fishing has been good on the inland lakes. Loon Lake, Long Lake and Round Lake are good bluegill lakes. Tawas Lake has no safe ice.

Higgins Lake has ice starting to form, but open water is still present. Ice fishing usually starts along the south end of the lake which freezes up first. Brown trout have been caught in shallow waters in front of the Conference Center, Big Creek and on the north end of the lake near the State Park. Anglers are fishing Houghton Lake and Lake Margrethe for walleye and yellow perch.

Northwestern Lower Peninsula