There is no safe ice to report in the southern regions of the state. Anglers traveling north are reminded to use caution on spring fed lakes and areas with strong currents. Those out ice fishing are asked to respect our natural resources. Please make sure you carry out everything that you carried in, including trash. Help keep your area on the ice as well as our waters clean.

Lake Erie - Has open-water, and no ice. Anglers are fishing from boats and off the piers. Yellow perch were caught off Luna Pier. Bluegills can be found in and around the marinas. Try fishing at Metro Park Marina with a jig and minnow, or a teardrop with a wax worm.

Huron River - Due to recent rains, water levels are up a bit. Anglers are fishing for steelhead from the mouth up to Flat Rock. Try small spoons, Hot-n-Tot’s or spawn in areas where the water flow is slow.

Detroit River – Water levels are up and muddy, and have caused fishing to slow. Yellow perch fishing should pick back up once the waters start to clear. Boat anglers continue to fish in the cuts and canals around Gibraltar

Saginaw Bay – The entire Bay has either very poor ice conditions or no ice at all. The ice blew out at Palmer Road last Friday. Anglers are encouraged to wait for the next cold snap, or fish from a boat or shore. Those wading are casting jigs and minnows near the Hot Ponds for walleye, pike, catfish and carp.

Saginaw River – Yellow perch have been caught from the mouth all the way up to the Independence Bridge when open-water fishing. Walleye in the 15 to 18 inch range have been caught in Saginaw near the bridge at I-675.

Quanicassee River – Yellow perch have been caught in open-waters which are muddy from all the rain last week.

Sebewaing River - Had limited success for yellow perch in open-waters.

Pigeon River – Same report as the other rivers. Yellow perch can be found in open-waters which are still muddy from recent rains. No safe ice to be found.
 

St. Joseph – Has no safe ice to report and Lake Michigan has open-water. Pier anglers have managed to catch some whitefish along with an occasional steelhead. Try fishing spawn just off the bottom.

St. Joseph River – Boat anglers continue fishing for steelhead while running Hot-n-Tot’s or flatfish. Water levels have come up and pushed steelhead all the way up to the Berrien Springs Dam. A few walleye were caught on jigs with minnows or plastics.

Kalamazoo River – Steelhead can be found all the way up to the Allegan Dam. Walleye fishing has been fair to good. Try targeting slower waters.

Grand River at Grand Rapids – – Water levels are running high so anglers are drifting large spawn sacks called choker bags to catch steelhead. Chartreuse and pink seem to be the hot colors. Good walleye fishing was reported with most fish caught off the bridges. The walleye are holding in the slow back waters. The fish are averaging 19 to 24 inches and are hitting on buck-tail jigs or a jig and minnow. Crappie were caught up near Riverside Park.

Grand River at Lansing – Anglers seeking walleye below the North Lansing Dam are catching northern pike instead. Try using shiners or crawlers fished just off the bottom. There were reports of a couple steelhead caught below Moore’s Park Dam. Water levels are running high after recent rains, so fish the back waters, or places where the flow is much slower. No safe ice to report on the inland lakes.

Muskegon – Pier anglers continue to fish for steelhead when the weather permits. The better fishing seems to be in the afternoon when using spawn bags.

Muskegon Lake – Has open-water fishing. Boat anglers are getting small northern pike when trolling crank baits during the day. Good walleye fishing was reported, especially in the evening when fishing along the drop-offs. During the day, try about 12 to 15 feet down in waters 25 to 35 feet deep. As night rolls in, the fish move in closer to shore. Boats can be seen straight out from Hartshorn Marina and on the north side of the lake between the Black Buoy and 2nd Street.

Muskegon River - Steelhead can be found all the way up to Newaygo. No safe ice to report, boat or shore fishing only.
 

Black Lake – Anglers are fishing however, the ice near the canals and river systems remains dangerous because of flowing water. Walleye are hitting on tip-ups baited with minnows such as the large blue or grey minnows to keep the small perch from tripping the flags. Anglers are fishing in 6 to 20 feet of water near the weed beds and drop-offs. Northern pike can also be caught on tip-ups with large minnows in shallow waters 3 to 6 feet deep. Small yellow perch have been caught when jigging. Those spearing for northern pike have also taken a few musky.

Grand Lake – Those ice fishing are reminded to respect our natural resources. It is important to carry out everything you carry in. Please help keep the area on the ice as well as our waters clean. Yellow perch ranging from 6 to 10 inches have been caught. Try fishing right off the bottom in 14 to 16 feet of water with tip-ups and blue minnows. Walleye fishing was slow. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups with large minnows.

Long Lake – Good numbers of yellow perch have been caught, but the fish are running small. Walleye are hitting early morning or late evening. Fair to good northern pike fishing was reported along the weed beds.

Fletchers Flood Waters – Good numbers of northern pike are being caught on minnows. There is action all over the lake with the exception of the southwest corner at Lyon's Landing which has been slow. There is a section of open- water straight to the west as you move out from Jack’s Landing. This is an area with springs which make the ice unstable. No real perch action to speak of. Bluegills and sunfish are being taken, with some limits reported, but the bluegills are running small.

Tawas Bay – Anglers have caught brown trout on minnows in open-water off the piers. Some are spearing northern pike inside the pier. Most of the ice shanties out by Jerry’s Marina have been pulled to shore due to poor ice conditions. Walleye fishing was fair in 15 to 20 feet of water, BUT ICE CONDITIONS ARE POOR…BE CAREFUL!

Au Gres River – Yellow perch ranging from 8 to 10 inches caught on minnows by open-water anglers fishing the Au Gres River.

Higgins Lake – The lake is finally starting to ice over, but more time is needed to produce safe ice. There is no fishable ice as of this report.

Houghton Lake – Anglers are ice fishing, but are reminded to use caution around the cuts and canals as well as holes drilled by previous anglers. Northern pike are hitting on a variety of lures and baits. Many are running on the small side, but the potential is there to land a monster. Walleye are hitting on small jigging lures tipped with only the head of a minnow. Try fishing the East Bay or along the weed beds. Panfish such as bluegills, pumpkinseed and sunfish are hitting on grubs. The yellow perch seem to be running small.
 

Traverse City – Both the East Bay and the West Bay have open-water fishing. In the East Bay, boat anglers are jigging for whitefish straight out from the marina at Elk Rapids. Most boats are going about a mile out and fishing just off the bottom in waters up to 250 feet deep.

Betsie River – Continues to hold steelhead for those brave enough to try some winter trout fishing.

Big Manistee River – Is holding steelhead. Boat anglers are fishing up near Tippy Dam. Smaller brown trout have actually been caught on wax worms and small.

Lake Cadillac – Ice fishing is still going strong in the Cadillac area. Good catches of northern pike and panfish were reported. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups around the weed beds. Crappie are holding about halfway down in waters 12 to 15 feet deep. Bluegills can be found just off the bottom.

Lake Mitchell – Also has good northern pike fishing around the weed beds. Yellow perch are hitting on small minnows. Walleye fishing has been slow.

Pere Marquette River – Steelhead can be found along the entire river system. Anglers are catching fish up near Walhalla and Branch. Boat anglers are casting plugs and drifting flies or spawn. Steelhead can also be found in the South Branch.

Pere Marquette Lake – Still has open-water and the launch sites are open. Boat anglers are trolling small spoons and plugs for steelhead and brown trout. Some are yellow perch fishing with a small jig and a minnow.

Upper Hamlin Lake – Ice fishing continues on Upper Hamlin Lake. Anglers need to use caution and stay away from the pressure cracks. Some are fishing out from the Wilson Hill Township Park. Try fishing for bluegills near the bottom in 8 to 10 feet of water with a teardrop and wax worm. Fair to good northern pike fishing, but the walleye fishing has slowed.
 

Lake Gogebic – Fishing did slow some over the past week, but the lake is still producing some nice walleye and yellow perch. Ice conditions are spotty, and slush is making for difficult travel.

Golden Lake / Iron County – Lake trout and splake have been caught.

Lac Vieux Desert Lake – A good number of anglers can be found fishing for yellow perch and northern pike. Consistent east winds along with a major low pressure front will slow fishing. Some of the slush is starting to refreeze.

Portage Lake – Though fishing did slow, walleye were still taken on jigs with minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water. Inland lakes are being targeted for bluegills, yellow perch, brook trout and northern pike. Ice conditions are “iffy” and the slush is making it harder to travel across the ice.

Keweenaw Bay – There is no ice to report. Anglers are still waiting for the start of ice fishing season for coho and lake trout.

Little Bay De Noc – Ice conditions have only improved slightly this week. The Lower Bay still has open water south of the Escanaba River and all the surrounding ice in that area is considered "Extremely Dangerous". About twenty ice shanties have been lost in this area. The best ice is north of Saunders Point however; anglers still need to use caution and should avoid taking vehicles out on the ice. Walleye catches have slowed, but some nice fat fish ranging anywhere from 8 to 11 pounds or more have been caught. Fish the deep waters during the day, like jigging in 30 to 40 feet of water off the East Bank in Kipling. Fish were caught in the head of the Bay on tip-ups with sucker minnows in 13 to 19 feet of water. The better night fishing has been out of Gladstone when jigging in 25 to 35 feet of water. Several whitefish were also caught in this area. Yellow perch fishing has been good since first ice. Those fishing off the Gladstone Beach have caught jumbo perch while jigging minnows in 20 to 25 feet of water. Near Kipling, anglers did best jigging minnows and wigglers in 10 to 23 feet of water.

Munuscong Bay – Ice conditions range from very poor to good. From Roach Point up to the Moon Islands and east to the channel, the ice is in very poor condition so use extreme caution. The catch rate for yellow perch, northern pike and walleye has slowed. A few walleye were taken, but the catch is limited.