This coming weekend will be Michigan’s annual Winter Free Fishing Weekend which will coincide with the Winter Go-Get Outdoors program. For two days only, Saturday February 18th and Sunday February 19th, all fishing license fees will be waived for both residents and out-of-state visitors plus no motor vehicle permits will be required for entry to State Parks and Recreation Areas. This is a great time to experience competitive trail runs, snowshoe hikes, cross country skiing and more. Experienced anglers can teach someone new the sport of ice fishing. Make it a point to get out this weekend and enjoy Michigan’s great outdoors.

Lake Erie – Has open-water. There is no safe ice to report as only skim ice can be found along the shoreline. Boat and shore anglers are fishing for yellow perch with perch rigs and shiner minnows in 3 to 6 feet of water. Fish ranging from 7 to 11 inches were reported. Lake Erie Metro Park has the only boat ramp that is open, and the dock is in.

Huron River – Fishing slowed for steelhead and walleye. Warmer weather and the possibility of rain by weeks end could produce more activity and increase the bite. Try fishing the slow waters or small pools for panfish.

Detroit River – Boat and shore anglers fishing the cuts and canals reported good yellow perch action. Good catches of fish ranging from 7 to 11 inches were reported in the canals around Gibraltar. Try fishing for northern pike in the bays at the southern end of the river with sucker minnows under a bobber, or use a jig and a wax worm for panfish. Yellow perch have been caught up near Wyandotte.

Lake St. Clair – There is no safe ice to report on this lake, and skim ice along the shoreline is making it dangerous to try and launch boats at this time.

St. Clair River – Boat anglers have been fishing for walleye from Algonac to Port Huron, but watch for ice flows. Most fish have been caught when handlining or jigging with minnows. Try fishing off the wall at Port Huron.

Saginaw Bay – Near Pinconning, good catches of yellow perch were taken inside the Bayou in shallow waters 2 to 3 feet deep. At Linwood, a few smaller perch were caught near Hoyle’s Marina, but the ice was bad as of this report. Near Sebewaing, perch fishing near Rose Island has been slow and the ice is questionable. At Geiger Road, the fishing was slow and the waters are turbid. Poor ice conditions were reported at Bay Port and near Mud Creek. At Caseville, anglers are taking a few small walleye, usually under 13 inches.

Saginaw River – Yellow perch have been caught near the DNR boat launch. Walleye action has been hit or miss with the better catches coming at the Beanery and near the Independence Bridge. Jigs with minnows worked best.

Tittabawassee River – A few walleye were caught on jigs with minnows.

Pigeon River – Lake trout have been caught in the river while fishing off the breakwall.
 

St. Joseph – Lake Michigan has open-water. Pier anglers have caught a few whitefish off the south pier on calm days. Those using a single egg have caught more than those using wax worms. Brown trout and steelhead have also been caught. There was still a thin layer of ice on the north pier.

St. Joseph River – Boat anglers have caught steelhead on spawn or flat fish. Those shore fishing up near the dam at Berrien Springs are drifting spawn. Warmer daytime temperatures this week should produce more catches.

Rogue River – Steelhead are hitting on black jig heads tipped with wax worms or wigglers. Anything the color black seems to work best.

Grand River at Grand Rapids – Water levels have come back down. Boat anglers should use caution and stay off the coffer dams. Walleye activity has picked up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try fishing the slow pocket waters with Rapalas or Husky Jerks in black and gold, blue or clown patterns. Some are bouncing crawlers on the bottom. Steelhead have started to bite since the waters have cleared up. Glow-in-the-dark tube jigs with wax worms or spawn bags have caught fish.

Grand River at Lansing – Water levels are still elevated which makes for tough fishing. Anglers may want to try fishing the slow pocket waters for walleye and panfish. No safe ice to report on the inland lakes in this region. Anglers will be boat or shore fishing due to the lack of

Muskegon – Has open-water fishing. Pier anglers have caught steelhead when casting spawn bags. A few boats are trolling inside the harbor.

Muskegon Lake – Has open-water and fair to good walleye fishing along the east half of the lake. Most are fishing at night, but some day bites have also been reported. Good northern pike fishing continues in Snug Harbor and near the North Muskegon State Park. Boats can launch on Cottage Grove Road or the Hartshorn Marina.

Big Blue Lake / Muskegon County – Anglers have caught fair to good numbers of bluegill and white crappie. Good catches of northern pike were also reported. Most anglers can be found fishing the north end of the lake in Turtle Bay.
 

Burt Lake – Has ice fishing, but always use caution. Anglers are jigging minnows for walleye. Yellow perch fishing has been slow but those lucky enough to find them have caught some nice 10 to 14 inch fish. Northern pike are hitting tip-ups with minnows in shallow waters around the weed beds.

Mullett Lake – Slow fishing was reported over the last week but anglers may want to try jigging minnows or wax worms for walleye and yellow perch. Tip-ups set with large sucker minnows might bring in a northern pike.

Black Lake – Anglers ice fishing reported good walleye catches in 8 to 20 feet of water in the early morning or late afternoon. Jigging or large minnows on tip-ups worked best. Northern pike and musky have been speared in waters 5 to 25 feet deep. Musky will be found in the deeper waters. Yellow perch have been caught in waters 8 to 45 feet deep around the entire lake. Many of the fish are small, but fish 10 inches plus have been caught. Anglers need to avoid any areas that appear wet and covered with slush.

Fletchers Flood Waters – Northern pike action has been hit-or-miss. The better action seems to be in the southwest corner of the lake at Lyon’s Landing where a 38 inch pike was caught. No good perch or crappie catches to speak of. Bluegill and sunfish have been caught on wax worms at all depths around the lake, but the fish are running small. Anglers will need to use extreme caution as there is open water in the far bay as you are heading out and in between the launch and Jack’s Landing. There is still a pressure crack surrounding the shoreline at the launch site, and those unaware are driving vehicles straight over it and falling through the ice. Avoid this area!

Tawas Bay – A few small yellow perch have been caught inside the pier, at Jerry’s Marina and the Coast Guard Station. Catch rates have been fair at best. Walleye action has improved with some limits taken. Northern pike spearing was slow.

Au Gres – Yellow perch have been caught from Point Au Gres down towards Palmer Road. Use extreme caution as there is limited shore ice. Those fishing out of North Point Marina have managed to catch some yellow perch or spear a few northern pike.

Higgins Lake – Anglers are ice fishing, and the smelt are biting. Smelt fishing is good after dark off the west access site in waters 15 to 60 feet deep. Hali spoons with wax worm are the preferred baits. Some nice yellow perch have been caught in waters ranging from 10 to 60 feet deep along the north, northeast shores and in the West Bay. Small minnows and jigs with wax worms worked best. Lake trout fishing has been good in waters 80 to 120 feet deep. Try jigging spoons tipped with a minnow or live smelt on tip-ups. Rainbow trout have also been caught. Fish wigglers in shallow waters in the early morning, then move out to waters about 40 feet deep in the afternoon and fish with minnows. Northern pike have been speared on the southwest side of the lake off West Road.

Houghton Lake – Has some snow cover. Good walleye fishing was reported especially near the Cut River and the Middle Ground. Try jigging shiners in 8 to 12 feet of water in the evening. Good numbers of smaller northern pike have been caught, but some keepers have also been taken on tip-ups with sucker minnows or golden shiners. Crappie have been caught in the evening when fishing in 12 to 14 feet of water. The fish are suspended about 3 feet off the bottom and are hitting on minnows and wax worms. Some nice bluegills ranging 8 to 10 inches have been caught, but anglers will need to move around to find the big ones. Anglers should use extreme caution when traveling on the ice near any inlets or outlets.
 

Elk Lake / Antrim County – Is starting to get a thin layer of ice on the north and south bays. Thicker ice was reported near the shoreline, but anglers need to use extreme caution because of all the open water that is still visible. Though a few anglers have been venturing out for whitefish, it is not recommended yet, as the ice is still dangerous.

Walloon Lake / Charlevoix County – Extreme caution still needs to be used on the West Arm narrows because of pressure crack. The North Arm narrows still had open-water or very thin skim ice. Good yellow perch fishing was reported in the West Arm off Sumner Road and Eagle Island Road. A few 7 to 9 inch smelt were taken on perch minnows in 60 to 70 feet of water off the Sumner Road access site. Walleye anglers were targeting waters 14 to 30 feet deep, but the fishing was slow. Lake trout anglers are fishing waters 2 to 65 feet deep near the Resort Township Park and off Sumner Road. Most are using live bait such as blues and greys, but no fish have been caught. Those fishing the South Arm off Hamilton Court Road have caught yellow perch in 10 to 60 feet of water. Most fish are ranging from 3 to 7 inches with an occasional 12 inch reported.

Traverse City – Both the East Bay and West Bay continue to have open-water. Boat anglers are fishing for whitefish in the East Bay between Elk Rapids and Yuba. Try fishing just off the bottom in waters about 200 feet deep. Most of the launch sites remain open as of this report.

Boardman River – Light numbers of steelhead have been caught on spawn bags.

Long Lake / Grand Traverse County – Walleye and perch have been caught.

Green Lake – Smelt have been caught while hook and line fishing in 40 to 50 feet of water with spikes. The bite will be good one day only to shut right down the next. Anglers should use caution and stay away from the middle of the lake. Yellow perch fishing has been fair.

Lake Cadillac – Very good northern pike fishing in shallow waters along the weed beds. Try using tip-ups with sucker minnows or shiners. Anglers may need to do some sorting, but nice fish have been caught. Those seeking panfish have caught bluegill, black crappie and yellow perch in waters 3 to 15 feet deep.

Lake Mitchell – Also has very good northern pike fishing. Anglers are setting tip-ups around the lake. Fair to good catches of bluegill and black crappie were reported. Try fishing a small jig or teardrop with a wax worm. Some of the better winter fishing can be found on the west side of the lake near Big Cove and Little Cove.

Lake Missaukee – Is a good lake for panfish. Bluegills have been caught on small jigs or teardrops with wax worms or wigglers. Crappie and yellow perch can be found in waters 8 to 15 feet deep. Anglers are catching fish all day, but the better bite seems to be in the early morning or evening.

Ludington – Open-water on Lake Michigan, but no boats have been out and the piers are ice covered and too slippery for anglers to venture out on.

Pere Marquette Lake – Has no safe ice to report. Only a thin layer of skim ice has formed on the lake. Not only is it not safe to walk on, but it is also preventing boats from launching.

Hackert Lake / Mason County – Anglers are ice fishing. Bluegills are hitting on wax worms while crappies prefer minnows. Northern pike were taken on tip-ups.

Upper Hamlin Lake – Is providing fair to good fishing. Anglers fishing in 10 feet of water off the Wilson Hill Township Park have caught bluegills on wax worms. Northern pike have also been taken when using tip-ups with sucker minnows or shiners.
 

Keweenaw Bay – Has finally formed skim-ice on the inner bay only. Anglers need to be patient for a while longer, as there was no safe ice as of this report.

Lake Gogebic – Slushy conditions have improved with the colder weather. Anglers should still use caution as ice conditions are still not as thick as usual for this time of year. Fishing pressure has picked up but anglers have struggled to catch walleye and yellow perch. One nice northern pike in the 15 pound class was taken recently.

Menominee River – Those fishing the lower river have caught bluegill and yellow perch on minnows off the Menekaunee Boat Dock. A few northern pike including a 42 inch fish have also been caught. Light numbers of steelhead and brown trout have been caught on spawn sacks between the Hattie Street Bridge and the First Dam.

Green Bay – No ice fishing activity as the bay continues to have open-water.

Little Bay De Noc – Ice conditions have improved slightly but dangerous conditions still exist over much of the Bay. Some areas have frozen pack ice which is not safe, and the area near the Escanaba River and south continues to be extremely dangerous! Driving vehicles out on the ice is not recommended. Walleye anglers have struggled this week as they marked good numbers of fish but the bite was slow. The best catches were reported between the First and Second Reefs when jigging right on the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water. Night anglers did well jigging right on the break in 30 feet of water near the Terrace Bay Inn. Yellow perch anglers reported limit catches near Kipling. Some were jigging minnows and wigglers in 12 feet of water while the big perch could be found deeper in 23 to 28 feet of water. A few whitefish were taken when jigging a single egg or minnows in 30 to 35 feet of water off Gladstone Beach. Northern pike were caught by those jigging for perch in 10 to 12 feet of water and by those spearing in 8 to 10 feet of water.

Big Manistique Lake – Anglers continue to catch good numbers of walleye when jigging minnows, wax worms or wigglers. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups near the weed beds. Spearing success has been fair. Yellow perch are hitting on minnows.

Munuscong Bay – There has been little to no walleye action so far this week. A few yellow perch have been caught on the north end using minnows in shallow waters 3 feet deep or less. Caution should still be used east of Roach Point due to thin ice and slush pockets.