Weekly Fishing Report

Thursday February 14, 2008
Recreational Fishing Report

Once again, it is time for Michigan's annual Winter Free Fishing Weekend. For two days only Saturday February 16th and Sunday February 17th, all fishing license fees will be waived. All regulations regarding fishing in Michigan will apply. Both residents and visitors alike are invited to come out and see how relaxing this winter adventure can be. Those with experience are encouraged to teach someone new the sport of ice fishing. For a list of activities planned in many of the State Parks and Recreation areas as well as local communities, visit the DNR web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Lake Erie - Though ice is being made, extreme caution needs to be used in this part of the state. Look for bluegills and perch around the Metro Park Marina. If conditions allow, try out near the Banana Dyke for walleye, perch and even some crappie.

Huron River - Produced some steelhead in various holes between the villages of Flat Rock and Rockwood. Fish were caught near Labo Park in Rockwood when using a jig with spawn or a wax worm.

Devils Lake - Located east of Addison in Lenawee County, is known for its walleye fishing. Try Swedish Pimples after dark. The lake also serves up decent bluegill and crappie fishing.

Sand Lake - Also in Lenawee County just south of Irish Hills, is known for its large bluegills in the winter. Try using small teardrops on the northwest end of the lake.

Detroit River - Boat anglers need to use caution even though there is not as much ice coming down the river. Perch and pike have been caught in Airport Bay. Those using perch rigs with minnows over near Gibraltar have caught perch. Shore anglers might want to try up at Belanger Park.

Lake St. Clair - Has lots of ice, but there are still areas with thin ice and or open water, so as always extreme caution needs to be used. Fishing was spotty except for a few perch caught off Cotton Road.

Port Austin - Anglers are fishing around the marina.

Saginaw Bay - There has been no perch activity to report off Pine River Road or Palmer Road. Anglers are using these sites to get out to the Catfish Hole for walleye. Catch rates were fair to good in the early evening and after dark. Most of the walleye activity has been north of Linwood off Erickson Road. Try 18 feet of water at dawn or after dark. Fish have also been caught 3 miles or more off the Bay City State Park. On the east side of the Bay, a large crack has opened up off Thomas Road. Anglers are warned to use extreme caution in this area. Slow fishing from Sebewaing to Bay Port except for a few nice perch and some pike speared at Mud Creek.

Saginaw River - Ice conditions were reported as "so-so". Anglers need to use extreme caution if venturing out. A couple walleye were caught near the Independence Bridge.

Tittabawassee River - At last word, the launches were iced up and not fishable.

St. Joe River - Is still high with minimal steelhead activity.

Big Paw Paw Lake - Still has good pike action. Try tip-ups with large minnows.

Austin Lake - In Kalamazoo County, is a good lake for perch fishing. Try fishing the weedbeds just off the public access site.

Lake Macatawa - Look for perch off the access site in Big Bay. Those seeking northern pike should try using tip-ups with large minnows just south of the Big Bay access site. Try shallow waters 5 to 10 feet deep.

Vineyard Lake - In Jackson County has bluegills and crappie hitting in 7 to 14 feet of water. Fish the crappie at night.

Clark Lake - Near Brooklyn, reported fair to good catches of bluegill and crappie. Look for access up near the County Park.

Lake Lansing - Look for bluegills on the northwest and the south end of the lake.

Lake Ovid - Is a good place to take the kids for small bluegills.

Morrison Lake - Look for bluegills straight out from the boat launch and along both the east and the west end of the lake. For pike, try down near the island in shallow waters 5 to 10 feet deep.

Sessions Lake - In Ionia County, is usually a good bet for winter bluegills. Try fishing the northwest corner of the lake with small teardrops and wax worms.

Muskegon Lake - Perch have been caught on the west end of the lake.

Burt Lake - For walleye, try the weedbeds in 20 to 30 feet of water in Maple Bay. Some nice perch were caught on the north end of the lake.

Grand Lake - Anglers are catching some nice 12 to 14 inch perch when fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water along the breaks and drop-offs around the islands. A few walleye were also taken. Try small minnows on tip-ups or silver jigging spoons.

Long Lake - Is a good lake to try for walleye and perch.

Thunder Bay River - There is now pretty good ice on the lower river and there should be a good mix of walleye, whitefish and even a few trout for the taking. There has been very little fishing pressure because of poor ice conditions until now, so this new ice just might present some good fishing.

Cooke Dam Pond - Has good bluegill and pike action.

Mio Pond - Some nice crappie have been caught near the dam. Those spearing have taken small pike. Panfish action will pick up as soon as the weather warms.

Hubbard Lake - Has fair walleye fishing. Some jumbo perch were taken on tip-ups.

Van Etten Lake - Has good perch fishing however the fish are small. Try jigs with minnows, wigglers, spikes or mousies.

Tawas Bay - There are a few ice shanties just off shore. Those braving the weather have taken a few walleye and some small perch. A few pike were speared.

Tee Lake - In Ogemaw County, reported fair catches of bluegill and crappie.

Au Gres - Walleye were being caught out in 20 feet of water until the ice blew out.

Higgins Lake - Smelt can be found just off the bottom in 45 feet of water along the west side of the lake. The best time to fish is at night. Perch fishing has been good but anglers will need to do lots of sorting. Good lake trout action about 10 feet off the bottom in waters 80 to 100 feet deep. Try jigging or using tip-ups with minnows. Whitefish action is picking up. Fish right on the bottom in 80 to 100 feet of water. Rainbow trout can be found near the mouth of creeks and natural springs.

Houghton Lake - Has snow cover however anglers are still able to travel across the ice. Walleye and pike action continues, and warmer weather by the weekend should improve the panfish bite.

Lake George - In Clare County, has lots of small pike being caught.

Nester Lake - In Clare County, is producing some nice bluegills and crappie.

Traverse City - Both of the Bays have open water and whitefish action. In the East Bay, boat anglers are fishing off Yuba. In the West Bay, most are fishing out by Marion Island and around the nets. Try back trolling with Swedish Pimples or horizontal jigging.

Big Cedar Lake - Which is off M-22 near Traverse City, has smelt in 45 to 60 feet of water. Look for brown trout in 40 to 60 feet of water.

Fife Lake - Look for perch in the deeper waters straight out from the boat launch. For pike, go east off the launch site and set tip-ups in 5 to 10 feet of water.

Long Lake - While fishing had slowed, there were some reports of nice walleye caught off Fox Island. Try jigging minnows and rapalas that look like minnows just off the bottom in 10 to 20 feet of water. Some nice perch were taken in 20 to 40 feet of water off South Island.

Big Glen Lake - Perch fishing has been good but don't forget about the lake trout and rainbow trout. Oxygen levels here should be good and the fish should be active because the lake froze over so late in the season.

Little Glen Lake - Anglers are catching pike and perch.

Crystal Lake - Still has open water on the west end of the lake. Perch and whitefish were still being caught in 45 to 65 feet of water straight out from the town of Beulah.

Manistee River - Some nice 8 to 10 pound steelhead were caught at Tippy Dam and below Bear Creek. Boat anglers are rolling spawn or back trolling with plugs.

Lake Missaukee - A few walleye have been caught. Bluegill and crappie fishing has been fair to good.

Lake Cadillac - Pike fishing continues for those spearing or using tip-ups.

Lake Mitchell - Continue to look for pike in the weedbeds. Panfish action should pick up by the weekend if the weather warms up.

Upper Hamlin Lake - Is a good place for bluegills and crappie.

Lower Hamlin Lake - Walleye are in 25 feet of water and the perch in 30 to 40 feet of water.

Pere Marquette Lake - Pike are hitting on tip-ups and perch were in 30 feet of water.

Lake Gogebic - Pike fishing has been fair to good when fishing at night. Some large fish ranging from 24 to 38 inches have been caught. Most of the activity has been in Bergland Bay. A few small perch and walleye were also taken.

Portage Lake - Fishing has picked up with a good number of pike caught in Chassell Bay in the afternoon, but many were small. A few walleye were taken out at the Humps when jigging spoons tipped with a minnow.

Keweenaw Bay - Cold weather slowed the bite however some perch were caught in 30 to 35 feet of water straight out from the big willow tree at the head of the Bay. Anglers have also picked up a few northern pike, lake herring, a rainbow and a couple lake trout. There have been no coho caught so far and those fishing at night have only taken a few smelt.

Lac Vieux Desert - Near Watersmeet, reported walleye being caught.

Squaw Lake - Continues to produce some large northern pike. Anglers also report good catches of large rainbow trout when jigging small minnows.

Michigamme Reservoir - Walleye are being caught.

Little Bay De Noc - Blowing and drifting snow has made travel on the ice difficult. Walleye fishing seemed to be improving as anglers reported marking more fish throughout the Bay. The better catches were coming off the Center Reef when using tip-ups with sucker minnows about 2 to 3 feet off the bottom in waters 20 to 35 feet deep. Fair walleye action out from the Terrace Inn in 30 to 40 feet when jigging large minnows or using tip-ups. In the Narrows, several smaller fish were caught when jigging rapalas and minnows in 25 to 33 feet of water. Perch anglers fishing out near the Escanaba Power Plant reported several nice catches in 18 to 25 feet of water when using minnows or wax worms. Fair to good whitefish action off Sand Point when jigging minnows and spawn in 65 to 80 feet of water. A few large northern pike were taken on tip-ups near Brach's Cabins.

Munising - Whitefish have been caught in the Bay when jigging with spawn, wax worms or minnows in 50 to 60 feet of water. The bigger fish were caught out near Murray Bay however there is open water out there so extreme caution needs to be used. Splake were caught when jigging spawn in 25 to 45 feet of water. Those spearing the lake herring were averaging 4 to 6 fish per trip. Fish the entire water column in 25 feet of water. A few perch and burbot were also caught.

Big Manistique Lake - Fishing slowed with the colder weather, but those braving the conditions have managed to catch a few large perch and a couple walleye.

South Manistique Lake - A limited number of perch and walleye have been caught.

Munuscong Bay - Is producing some nice walleye and perch out near Grassy Island. Try jigging with minnows. Still use caution if you plan to venture out past about 7 feet of water as the ice thickness drops to around 2 inches or less.

Cedarville and Hessel - Yellow perch and some pike are still being caught in Musky Bay. Try 10 to 13 feet of water while jigging with minnows, wax worms or wigglers. The fish seem to be scattered so no hot spots to report.

Brevoort Lake - Anglers are reporting some nice catches of walleye and perch.