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Thursday, February 1, 2007
Recreational Fishing Report
Great Lakes temperature map
Recent cold temperatures are helping to make ice, but anglers are
again reminded to use extreme caution and common sense when traveling on
any ice statewide. Recent snowfall will put extra weight on the already
thin ice in many areas causing dangerous conditions. Ice conditions
in many areas are not safe for motorized vehicles of any kind including
4-wheelers and snowmobiles.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Finally has ice, but caution should still be used.
Those fishing off the Metro Park are catching bluegills and perch. Some
are also starting to fish out near the Banana Dike.
Huron River - Anglers are catching steelhead in the deep holes
between Flat Rock and Rockwood. Hair jigs with wax worms worked best.
Detroit River - Some big perch have been caught in the lower
river when fishing the cut and canals, as well as the marina near
Gibraltar. Some are fishing by boat and some are ice fishing. Try perch
rigs with shiner minnows.
Lake St. Clair - Has ice and lots of fishing activity in and
around Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Ice thickness is
variable, so anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution when
venturing out. Lots of perch being caught but the fish are running
small. Try jigs with minnows, wax worms, spikes or wigglers.
Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions have improved around the Bay but
anglers are cautioned that local ice conditions can still vary
tremendously. Be careful, especially if you are riding snowmobiles or
4-wheelers, as ice in some areas may support walking anglers but not
machines! A lot of people are fishing near the mouth of the Pine
River and Palmer Road, but they are only catching small perch. From
White's Beach south to the Bay City State Park, angling pressure was
variable and success was slow at all locations. Be careful of ice
thickness from Linwood south to the mouth of the Saginaw River due to
reports of machines going through the ice. Those wading the mouth of the
Hot Ponds have caught walleye but success depends on the weather. Near
Quanicassee, walleye were caught in 6 feet of water and a couple pike
were speared off Vanderbilt Park. A few walleye were taken in 15 feet of
water off Thomas Road.
Saginaw River - Ice conditions have improved, but anglers need to
use extreme caution as there are still thin spots especially around the
bridges and pilings. BE CAREFUL! Lots of sub-legal walleye have been
caught from Saginaw all the way down to the mouth. Perch have been
caught at Essexville, near the mouth and in the marina basins.
Tittabawassee River - Is currently not fishable because of the
ice which is thick enough to prevent launching a boat, but it is still
too thin to walk on.
Port Austin - And the Thumb area got 8 to 9 inches of lake
effect snow which has made travel difficult and dampened angler
enthusiasm.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Ice fishing activity has started to pick up near Grand Rapids,
Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Jackson. Areas close to the lake shore have
received a lot of snow, which will insulate the ice and slow the
freezing process. Anglers should use extreme caution in Allegan, Van
Buren, Kalamazoo, Berrien, and Cass counties.
St. Joseph River - Steelhead fishing remains good with the
better catches coming between I-94 and Berrien Springs when using spawn
or Hot-n-Tots. Boat anglers are launching at Shamrock Park or the Benton
Township Park near I-94. Walleye fishing has also been good. Try jigging
spoons or minnows in the deeper holes.
Austin Lake - In Kalamazoo County had several people fishing,
but only small perch were caught.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Boat and shore anglers are still
catching steelhead. Fish the deeper holes with wobble glows or spawn
under a bobber. Look for walleye when fishing off the bridges.
Sessions Lake - Crappie are hitting on minnows.
Lake Lansing - Fishing has been spotty. Bluegills and crappie
have been caught in the early morning and evening. Northern pike fishing
was slow.
Jackson Area - Fishing is still slow with only a few panfish
and pike being caught. The ice is getting better with most lakes having
2 to 4 inches but extreme caution needs to be used due to weak spots.
Lake Ovid - Has ice, but no vehicles or permanent shanties out
there. Lots of portable ice shanties can be seen, but fishing has been
slow.
Muskegon Lake - Over half the lake has open water and the ice
close to shore is supporting foot traffic only. Anglers are fishing
in the bays, coves and marinas while staying close to shore. Lots of
small perch ranging from 3 to 5 inches have been caught. A few pike have
also been taken on tip-ups with golden shiners.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Ice conditions in the northeast are still questionable. While some
areas are safe for walking, those with snowmobiles and 4-wheelers should
stay off the ice.
Lake Avalon - In Montmorency County, the ice is questionable. Extreme
caution needs to be used. Splake fishing has been excellent with limit
catches reported.
Fletchers Floodwaters - Has not seen many anglers. A few limits of
panfish are being taken, but the northern pike are not biting well at
the moment.
East and West Twin Lakes - Near Lewiston, are offering some ice
fishing. East Twin Lake is known for larger walleye, while more bites
occur on West Twin Lake where good catches were reported.
Hubbard Lake - Anglers reported 5 to 6 inches of ice on the East Bay,
but extreme caution must be used. On the south end there is up to 5
inches of ice close to shore, but out towards the middle there is a lot
of slush which is making for unsafe ice. The north end which remains
open long after the other areas freeze still has open water.
Tawas Bay - Some walleyes are being taken off Jerry's Marina in 15 to
20 feet of water, primarily in the early morning and evening. A few pike
have been speared in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch fishing has been slow
throughout the Bay. A few perch and brown trout have been caught inside
the breakwall at the state dock. Those with cameras reported seeing
perch but they are not biting.
Au Gres River - Anglers are catching lots of sub-legal walleye and a
few perch.
Higgins Lake - The cold weather is making ice but the lake has about
5 inches of snow on it. It could be another week or so before good ice
is seen on most of the lake. A few perch and brown trout have been
caught off West Road however anglers are fishing close to shore. Try
using tip-ups with minnows.
Houghton Lake - Is reporting about 5 inches of ice with snow cover
and slush. Caution needs to be used especially near the inlets and
outlets. Walleye have been caught when jigging on the east side of the
lake near the Middle Ground. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Ice fishing is now going strong on most of the smaller inland lakes,
but caution is still required. The large deep lakes such as Crystal and
Green are not safe at this time.
Lake Charlevoix - Most anglers are still waiting for better ice
before venturing out on the lake, but a few brave soles have started
fishing the South Arm where a 34 inch northern pike was caught. The
remainder of the lake just got its first layer of ice which is not safe
ice at this time.
Traverse City - Both the East Bay and the West Bay have open water.
Lake Leelanau - Anglers are walleye fishing on both the north and the
south ends of the lake. The only fishing so far has been close to shore.
Anglers should avoid the middle of the lake as it is not safe.
Long Lake - Anglers are fishing, but staying close to shore.
Manistee River - Has good steelhead fishing for those willing to
brave the cold.
Lake Cadillac - Those fishing off the city launch site on the
northeast corner of the lake are catching limits of black crappie when
using bright colored jigs with minnows, wax worms and spikes. Fish were
caught in 18 feet of water in the middle of the day, but more were taken
at night. Those fishing off the causeway near the Frosty Cup have caught
perch in 12 feet of water, but anglers will need to sort out the small
ones.
Lake Mitchell - Some nice large pike have been caught when fishing
over the weed beds using tip-ups with golden shiners and sucker minnows.
Ice condition are anywhere from 1 inch to 6 inches, so extreme caution
needs to be used.
Lake Missaukee - Bluegills are hitting tear drops with wax worms.
Hamlin Lake - Is supporting foot traffic only. Fishing has been slow
except for a few bluegills caught in the north corner of the lake.
Silver Lake - In Oceana County, anglers jigging for walleye were
taking some decent size fish.
Upper Peninsula
Cisco Chain of Lakes - Anglers are taking some bluegills, rock bass
and perch. A couple northern pike were taken on tip-ups.
Ellen Lake - In Iron County continues to provide fair to good trout
action.
Peavy Pond - Walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are getting better but many
hazards still remain so caution must be used. Ice averages between 6 and
10 inches, but most anglers are traveling by foot. Driving vehicles out
on the ice is not recommended. In Escanaba near the shipping docks, the
Coast Guard Cutter has been keeping lanes open for shipping making this
a very dangerous area. Walleye were caught in 20 to 30 feet of water
from just south of the narrows all the way up to Garth Point. Anglers
were split between jigging rapalas with minnows or tip-ups with minnows.
Perch fishing was fair to good out past Butler Island when jigging
minnows in 19 to 28 feet of water out near the green buoy. Jumbo perch
have been caught when jigging minnows and wigglers in 20 to 25 feet of
water off Gladstone Beach. Northern pike have been very active
throughout the Bay with several 10 to 15 pound fish speared in 10 feet
of water near Butler Island.
Munuscong Bay - Anglers are reporting 8 to 10 inches of ice in parts
of the Bay, but caution needs to be used. Fishing has been spotty with
only a few perch and undersized walleye caught on minnows near the
shore.
Raber Bay - The ice here should still be considered unsafe.
Cedarville and Hessel - Cedarville Bay and Little Joe Island
are providing fair catches of perch on wigglers and wax worms. Musky
Bay, however, is producing the best results in the area with anglers
taking perch throughout the Bay. Pike and walleye have also been caught,
but some are running small. |
