Anglers will notice a new look to the Weekly Fishing Report starting this week. Our goal is to give a quick view of specific waters which are now highlighted. The January thaws are hampering ice conditions around the state. The southern sections of the Lower Peninsula have no safe ice to report. Remember to use extreme caution when venturing out on any ice during the current warm spell.

Lake Erie - Has open water and good yellow perch fishing. Use perch rigs with shiner minnows. Some nice bluegills were caught at the Metro Park Marina. Ice or no ice, use a teardrop and wax worm.

Huron River - Steelhead can be found in the deeper holes at Flat Rock and Rockwood. Try small jigs with wax worms or Hot-n-Tot’s.

Detroit River – Boat anglers are catching yellow perch on perch rigs with minnows in the cuts and canals near Gibraltar. Fish 8 to 10 inches long and a few jumbos have been caught.

St. Clair River – Is open and a bit muddy from recent rains. Boat anglers will find the ramps open, but no docks. Walleye have been caught when vertical jigging near Algonac. Fish minnows on the bottom in front of Decker’s Landing.

Port Austin – Ice conditions are not safe. Ice shanties have been pulled up on shore.

Saginaw Bay – Those fishing the big waters are reminded to pay close attention to wind direction. The only fishable ice as of this report was off Palmer Road near Standish. Good yellow perch fishing in 2 to 4 feet of water with some limits reported. Small perch have been caught at the end of Pinconning Road and Newman Road, as well as off Linwood Road. Near Essexville, those wading out near the Hot Ponds have caught walleye and channel catfish. No ice off Quanicassee or Thomas Road. At Sebewaing, a few yellow perch were caught in the marina. Perch were caught just south of Bay Port off Geiger Road. Excellent catches of yellow perch were reported in Wild Fowl Bay just off Bay Shore Marina in 4 to 6 feet of water. Limits of 8 to 12 inch perch were reported. Go early in the morning and move often until you find fish.

Saginaw River – Has open water and boat fishing only.

Tittabawassee River – Open water and boat fishing only.

Pigeon River – Open water, but the fishing has been slow.
 

St. Joseph – There is no safe ice to report. Pier anglers have returned, but the fishing has been slow.

St. Joseph River – Boat anglers have caught steelhead when running Hot-n-Tot’s or flatfish between the St. Joe Hospital and Pipestone Creek. Shore anglers have managed to catch a few fish on spawn, but boat anglers seem to be catching more fish. A few walleye were caught at the Berrien Springs Dam.

Kalamazoo River – Walleye are hitting on Husky Jerks in blue/silver, orange or clown patterns. Walleye were caught when slow drifting crawlers in Swan Creek.

Grand River at Grand Rapids – Those fly fishing have caught steelhead up near the Sixth Street Dam using chartreuse egg patterns or green Caddis. Some are floating a jig and wax worm under a bobber. Fish the scum lines up near the dam. Walleye were caught in the slow current off the east wall. Try hair jigs or artificial tail grubs that resemble minnows. Walleye were also caught off the south side of the Fulton Street Bridge.

Grand River at Lansing – Those seeking walleye are actually catching northern pike using shiners or crawlers on the bottom. Fish below the dams or find a deep hole. No safe ice to report on the inland lakes. Anglers are encouraged to avoid traveling across any remaining ice until cold temperatures return to the region.

Muskegon Lake – Most of the launch sites are open and the boat anglers are out. Walleye are hitting on Husky Jerks and floating Rapalas in a variety of colors. Most boats are fishing 12 to 18 feet down in 25 to 30 feet of water along the east half of the lake. Try fishing 8 to 12 feet deep at night. Steelhead, brown trout and northern pike have also been caught.

Muskegon River - Boat anglers have caught steelhead from Bridgeton to Newaygo.

White River – Steelhead have been caught in the North Branch. Walleye can be found in the deeper holes.
 

Black Lake – Open water near the rivers. Walleye are hitting on tip-ups with large blue or grey minnows in the early morning or evening. Some are jigging spoons, Rapalas or Swedish Pimples tipped with minnows. The fish are in 6 to 20 feet of water around the weed beds and drop-offs. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups with large sucker minnows. Musky and pike have been speared in 4 to 10 feet of water. Yellow perch are running on the small side, with an occasional jumbo caught on tip-ups or small jigs with small minnows.

Grand Lake – Fair to good yellow perch fishing. Try fishing off the DNR launch site or US-23 with a tip-up or jigging a minnow about a foot off the bottom. A few northern pike have been speared in Black Bass Bay.

Long Lake – Yellow perch have been caught on perch minnows. A couple walleye were taken on tip-ups just south of the County Park.

Otsego Lake – Good yellow perch fishing.

Fletchers Flood Waters – Northern pike are hitting on minnows from Jack’s Landing to the DNR Launch. A few yellow perch were caught on artificial jigs in 3 feet of water in the southwest corner near Lyons Landing.

Hubbard Lake – Fair walleye and yellow perch fishing along the south end of the lake. Some crappie and rock bass have also been caught. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups along the weed beds.

Tawas Bay – Those fishing the big waters are reminded to pay close attention to wind direction. Walleye fishing is very good off Jerry's Marina in 15 to 20 feet of water. Evenings have been the best time to fish. Some limits were taken on jigs baited with minnows. Northern pike have been speared by the pier. Yellow perch fishing has been spotty.

Tawas Lake – Northern pike are hitting on large minnows.

Higgins Lake – There is no fishable ice on this lake. A layer of thin ice along the shoreline is preventing boat access.

Houghton Lake – Use caution along the north end of the lake and near the creeks because of moving water. Bluegill and crappie fishing has been fair. Walleye are hitting on Swedish Pimples or small Rapalas tipped with the head of a minnow. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups with golden shiners.
 

Burt Lake – Walleye and jumbo perch have been caught when jigging minnows or using tip-ups.

Crooked Lake – Walleye and jumbo perch are hitting on jigs or tip-ups with minnows.

Traverse City – Both the East Bay and the West Bay have open water. Boat anglers fishing the East Bay have caught whitefish just off the bottom in 200 to 250 feet of water with a jig and wax worm.

Lake Leelanau – Anglers are fishing, but extreme caution needs to be used when traveling on the ice. Walleye, northern pike and yellow perch have been caught.

Big Manistee River – Shore anglers and drift boats can be seen up near Tippy Dam. Steelhead along with a few small brown trout have been caught on wax worms or minnows.

Lake Mitchell – Very good northern pike fishing when using tip-ups. Yellow perch have been caught on minnows. The better walleye fishing has been early mornings or just before dark.

Lake Cadillac – Very good northern pike fishing on tip-ups. Crappie can be found in 10 to 15 feet of water along the east side of the lake. Walleye fishing has been slow. Yellow perch are hitting on minnows.

Ludington – Pier anglers have emerged once again and are fishing for steelhead. Boats are trolling with spawn in the channel.

Pere Marquette River – Boat anglers are casting plugs or drifting spawn for steelhead.

Pere Marquette Lake – Has open water. The launch sites are ice free and open, but the docks are not in. Steelhead along with an occasional brown trout have been caught when trolling or casting.

Upper Hamlin Lake – Anglers are still ice fishing as of this report, but anglers need to use extreme caution as the ice is deteriorating. Most are fishing for bluegills in 6 to 10 feet of water with a teardrop and wax worm. Northern pike continue to hit on tip-ups.
 

Lake Gogebic – Fishing has been good so far this winter. Ice conditions are spotty with lots of deep slush making travel difficult. Extreme caution is advised. Good catches of walleye and fair catches of yellow perch have been reported. Usually the bite starts just before evening and in the early morning. Overcast days seem to be better. Most are jigging with minnows or using tip-ups with sucker minnows.

Cisco Chain-of-Lakes – Bluegills are hitting on glow jigs tipped with wax worms or spikes. Crappie are hitting on minnows and northern pike fishing has started to pick up.

Marquette – Slow fishing was reported. Any type of travel including walking is difficult as most of the inland lakes have a good 6 to 12 inches of slush on top of the ice. Anglers are fishing for yellow perch, walleye or northern pike. Whitefish have been caught in the harbors at Marquette.

Little Bay De Noc – Ice conditions remain very dangerous in most areas and extreme caution must be used at all times. Vehicle travel is not recommended as two have already gone through the ice. Large ships continue to move in and out of Escanaba leaving open water behind. Most anglers remain north of the Terrace Bay Inn and have been avoiding the narrows area around Saunders Point. Walleye were caught when jigging Rapalas or using tip-ups with minnows in 37 to 45 feet of water. Several nice catches were reported in 28 feet of water straight out from the launch at Kipling and in 18 feet of water off Garth Point where caution must be used. Walleye were caught off the beach at Gladstone, but the fish are running small. Good yellow perch fishing was reported in 10 to 15 feet of water, with the larger fish taken in 20 to 30 feet of water. Try jigging minnows or wigglers in about 11 feet of water out from the old cement building in Kipling. Lots of small fish have been caught all around Butler Island. This would provide some good fishing action for the kids. Northern pike action has also been good but most of the fish are running on the small side.

Munuscong Bay – Anglers are ice fishing, but stay clear of the channel which still has open water. Walleye and yellow perch were biting from Pine Island west to Grassy Island.