Anglers are reminded that the season to take walleye, northern pike and muskie on Upper Peninsula inland waters not otherwise closed to fishing, Great Lakes and the St. Mary's River will close on Friday February 29, 2008. The new extended harvest season will begin in 2009 as any regulation changes for the 2008-2009 fishing season will not go into effect until April 1, 2008. Northern pike and muskie spearing will close on Friday, February 29th.
 

Lake Erie - Those fishing out near the Banana Dyke have caught perch. Look for bluegills, perch and crappie around the marinas.

Huron River - Steelhead are being caught between the foot bridge and the big dam. Try floating spawn or wax worms. No sign of the walleye yet.

Detroit River - Some nice perch have been caught in Airport Bay. Bluegills and crappie were starting to bite in the Humbug Marina at Gibraltar.

Kent Lake - Bluegills were active in shallow waters 4 to 6 feet deep where vegetation was still present. Many are small, but if you are persistent, you will catch some 6 and 7 inch fish.

Lake St. Clair - Some jumbo perch were caught near Cotton Road, Selfridge and the Clinton River access site.

Saginaw Bay - Currently has so called "mountains" which have formed due to the large sheets of ice colliding with each other. These great walls of ice are making it difficult for anglers to get out to their favorite fishing hole. There are also areas where the slush on top of the ice is several inches deep. Those able to get out have reported good walleye action in 8 to 17 feet of water off Pine River and Palmer Roads. Some limits were taken after dark. Good walleye action in 13 to 21 feet of water off Linwood and in 15 to 19 feet of water off the Bay City State Park. There was very good walleye fishing off Thomas Road where guys were going out 7 to 8 miles and fishing the Shipping Channel in 21 to 28 feet of water. Perch and a few pike were still coming from the marina at Sebewaing. Those fishing up at Mud Creek were taking some nice perch in the early morning. Pike spearing has been very good with many fish over 30 inches.

Saginaw River - Caution needs to be used because a couple anglers did go through the ice near the Lafayette Street Bridge in Bay City. Both were able to get out, but the current continues to be a factor as far as ice safety goes. The better fishing has been near the mouth of the river, the Independence Bridge and Veteran's Park in downtown Bay City. Try jigs with stinger hooks baited with minnows. A few fish were caught between Bay City and Saginaw, but fishing in Saginaw has been slow.

St. Joe River - Was still experiencing high water levels. Anglers might be able to fish up near the dam, but caution needs to be used.

Shafer Lake - In Van Buren County reported some rainbow trout and some large perch being caught.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Is open right now and the steelhead fishing has been good for boat anglers. Try using a spawn bag with a piece of chartreuse or pink yarn tied just above the bag. Bouncing off the bottom in the morning has been best. Wobble Glo's are also doing well. Try white and pink or chartreuse and orange color combinations. The bite seems to shut down after 3:00pm. Walleye anglers fishing off the wall had no luck. It seems the walleye are below Plaster Creek.

Reeds Lake - Pike are hitting in the shallows. Perch have been caught but the fish are small. Bluegill fishing was fair.

Lake Lansing - Still has ice. Try tip-ups with large minnows for pike. The fish are not real big, but will provide some great action.

Muskrat Lake - Try fishing the shallow waters with tip-ups for pike. For crappie, head straight out from the launch site to waters 10 to 16 feet deep. Fish the bottom half of the water column with minnows. Night fishing works best. Bluegills can also be found.

Morrison Lake - Look for pike or walleye when using tip-ups. Crappie hit at night. Try minnows or wigglers.

Muskegon Lake - Perch are still being caught but many are small so anglers will need to do some sorting. Walleye are being caught in the evening. Anglers are fishing off Second Street which is on the northeast side of the lake and off the south side. Most are jigging rapalas or Swedish Pimples. Orange was the hot color.

White Lake - Perch anglers are doing well on the west side of the lake near the channel. Use extreme caution. Minnows and spikes have been working well. Sorting will still be necessary.

Tawas Bay - Walleye fishing has improved, with the most success in 20 feet of water. Pike spearing also picked up. Perch fishing was spotty.

Au Gres - Walleye action has picked up here as well with good numbers of fish taken. The fish were found in waters about 20 feet deep.

Higgins Lake - Smelt action continues when fishing near the bottom in 40 to 50 feet of water near Big Creek, the North State Park and Evergreen Park. Lake trout can still be found in 80 to 100 feet of water. Whitefish are hitting on wigglers and wax worms just off the bottom in 80 to 100 feet of water. A few pike were taken on tip-ups in deeper waters. Look for rainbow trout in shallow waters where there are creeks or natural springs.

Houghton Lake - A fair number of pike are still being taken. Walleye are biting but many are small.

Lake St. Helen - Anglers are catching some bluegills, but not in big numbers. Pike action has been good.

Torch Lake - Has ice, but caution needs to be used. Anglers report good catches of whitefish near Deepwater Point and off Eastport.

Long Lake - Anglers are catching walleye. While many were small, a few keepers have also been caught.

Crystal Lake - Good perch fishing off Warren Road, Nichols Road and off Railroad Point when using wigglers or minnows in 40 to 60 feet of water. Perch up to 13 inches have been caught. The better fishing was off Nichols and Warren Roads. There is some slush on top of the ice.

Portage Lake - Is still good for perch. Try 15 to 20 feet of water along the southwest portion of the lake.

Skegemog Lake - Perch fishing slowed, but a few big muskie were taken.

Lake Missaukee - Remains good for panfish.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing was fair even though floating ice and slush have been an issue at times.

Mainstee Lake - Is producing some nice catches of perch. Try the north or south end near the rivers. Be sure to use caution near these areas because of the current. Bluegills, crappie and northern pike are also in this lake.

Lake Cadillac - Ice fishing is still going strong with lots of nice pike and some panfish being caught.

Lake Mitchell - Pike fishing remains good. Try tip-ups with large minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water in the coves and along the east side of the lake.

Pere Marquette Lake - Several nice pike have been caught on tip-ups.

Portage Lake - Walleye fishing has been fair with a few nice ones caught out on the Humps when jigging spoons tipped with a small minnow. The best time to fish is just after daybreak and just before dark. Though pike fishing was spotty, a couple nice fish in the 30 inch range were taken on tip-ups with minnows or smelt.

Keweenaw Bay - Is providing fair to good lake trout action off Jentoff's dock, Old Mission and Whirl-I-Gig Road which is a local area along the east shore between the towns of L'Anse and Pequaming. Coho and lake herring remain slow off Sand Point. Some smelt have been caught at night. Perch fishing was spotty.

Little Bay De Noc - Ice remains favorable around the Bay however snow and slush are making travel a bit difficult. Anglers can be found from the north end of the bay around the Day's River all the way down to Portage Point. Those fishing near the Second and Third Reefs did catch some nice walleye when using tip-ups with large minnows in 35 to 45 feet of water. The Narrows, Black Bottom and the mouth of the Escanaba River produced fair catches. The best reports came out from the Terrace Inn when jigging or using tip-ups with minnows in 40 feet of water. Though catch rates were just fair, anglers were happy with the big healthy fish being caught. Perch anglers were struggling around Butler Island. Those fishing the east side of the Bay near Stonington reported taking some nice jumbo perch when jigging with minnows or wigglers in 25 to 30 feet of water. Fair to good whitefish action was reported off Sand Point when jigging minnows and spawn in 65 to 80 feet of water. Several whitefish were taken in 40 feet of water near the Terrace.

Munising - A lot of small lake whitefish were caught in Munising Bay when using mostly spawn, wax worms or minnows in 60 feet of water. Powell's Point had some bigger whitefish, but most were still catching small ones. Splake were caught in 30 to 45 feet of water when using spawn or artificial jigs. Only a few herring were speared in the early morning. Murray Bay has ice and anglers are catching whitefish. There is ice in Trout Bay. Anglers starting at the dock of the Grand Island Ferry were using snowmobiles or four wheelers to cut across Murray Bay and Grand Island to get to Trout Bay where they are starting to catch coho in 60 to 80 feet of water when using artificial jigs. The locals say once the coho reach Trout Bay it won't be long until they come in closer to Munising.

Big Manistique Lake - The ice remains good but the fishing was slow.

Munuscong Bay - Has good walleye action when jigging with minnows in shallow waters 3 to 6 feet deep. An occasional yellow perch or northern pike have also been caught. Hot spots are shifting as the walleye start to migrate towards the bay.

Cedarville and Hessel - The perch are scattered all around Musky Bay. Anglers are targeting waters 10 to 13 feet deep while using minnows, wax worms and wigglers. Perch are averaging 9 to 10 inches with some coming in at 13 inches. Little Joe and Moscoe Channel are spotty; they usually improve once we get into March.

Brevoort Lake - Walleye and perch action continues. Look for walleye in 5 to 15 feet of water on the north end or the east side of the lake.