01-26-2007, 09:11 PM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Weekly Fishing Report[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, January 25, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.mi.gov/images/fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif)
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[url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Anglers need to use extreme caution on any and all ice in the state. Ice formation is not uniform on many of the lakes, and snow cover is not only hiding dangerous areas, but also insulates and prevents additional freezing. Quite a few accidents have been reported over the last week. Anglers should avoid taking snowmobiles or other motorized vehicles out on the ice at this time. Those traveling on the ice should be sure to fish with a buddy, take an ice spud to test the ice ahead of you, wear a personal flotation device, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, and take a cell phone.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - There is no safe ice to report. Most areas are only reporting an inch or two, and what is there is not uniform. Anglers are encouraged to wait a little longer. The only safe fishing right now is for bluegills along the cuts and canals.
Huron River - The waters are not only receding, but are also clearing up. Those brave enough to endure the cold weather are starting to catch steelhead again.
Detroit River - Has open water fishing for perch. Try jigs or teardrops with small minnows or wax worms. Walleye can still be found in the lower Trenton Channel.
Saginaw Bay - Ice fishing is just getting started, and anglers are cautioned to BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! The Coast Guard had to rescue three people from an ice flow off the mouth of the Pine River last Saturday. Ice thickness is still minimal with a lot of thin spots. Perch fishing has been generally slow at all locations. Fishing activity has been limited to inside marina basins and very close to shore. Those wading at the mouth of the Hot Ponds are catching walleye, white bass and some large northern pike when casting jigs and body baits.
Saginaw River - Walleye fishing is pretty much at a standstill. Ice is starting to form along the shoreline, but there is plenty of open water so conditions are not safe for ice fishing.
Tittabawassee River - The boat launches are now frozen up. Walleye anglers reported slow fishing.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Though water levels are still a bit high, anglers are catching fish downstream from Berrien Springs. Steelhead are hitting on spawn. Boat anglers are catching more than shore anglers.
Dowagiac River - Good numbers of steelhead can be found in the river. Try floating spawn, wax worms or wigglers under a bobber.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Small ice flows are coming down the river but it is still fishable. Steelhead are still hitting on jigs with minnows and small choker bags. Pink and white have been hot colors. Those fishing off the bridges are catching walleye on minnows and stick baits. Shore anglers are also doing well when casting about 4 feet off shore.
Lake Ovid - Anglers are starting to fish but extreme caution needs to be used. It would be a good idea to fish the shallow waters and avoid the deep water areas until better ice forms. Only small bluegills have been caught.
Muskegon Lake - The lake is starting to ice over, but open water can still be seen near the middle. Most of the ice present is not safe ice, so anglers are fishing in the bays, coves and marinas for bluegills and small perch. A couple northern pike were speared in the northwest corner of the lake near the State Park.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Margrethe - Ice anglers are catching walleye.
Tawas - Ice shanties are starting to pop up in Tawas Bay, but most of them are still pretty close to shore. Anglers are urged to use extreme caution as ice thickness is still minimal at this point. Perch fishing has been slow.
Higgins Lake - The entire lake now has shelf ice and about 3 inches of snow cover so anglers will have to wait a little longer for safe ice. Those looking for rainbow and brown trout are getting a few hits in shallow waters 1 to 4 feet deep when using minnows or wigglers.
Houghton Lake - Has ice, but extreme caution needs to be used . Anglers should limit their travel to foot traffic only, no motorized vehicles. It is important to avoid the area near the pressure cracks as well as the open water near the middle of the lake. Anglers are urged to fish in shallow waters only, due to unsafe ice conditions.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Crooked Lake - In Emmet County is reporting ice, but the thickness is not uniform. Anglers need to use extreme caution especially with about 6 inches of snow covering the ice. Only a few perch, walleye and northern pike have been caught.
Lake Charlevoix - Ice conditions throughout the South Arm of the lake are not safe. The remainder of the lake still has open water with the margins just starting to freeze. Ice fishing will have to wait a little longer.
Traverse City - Has no safe ice to report.
Manistee Lake - In Kalkaska County has ice, but the fishing has been slow.
Long Lake - In Grand Traverse County has ice, but the thickness is not consistent.
Lake Cadillac - Anglers are fishing, but the ice is still very questionable in most spots. Panfish reports are not great, with only a few crappie taken near the school. Some nice northern pike have been taken on tip-ups.
Lake Mitchell - Ice fishing is on, but extreme caution needs to be used as the ice is questionable in many spots. Northern pike fishing has been good. A monster pike coming in at 46 inches and 23 pounds was recently caught.
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing has started, but caution needs to be used. Try small jigs or tear drops with wax worms for bluegills.
Upper Peninsula
Small lakes with good populations of panfish have been fishing well. Walleye fishing has slowed but still remains good in the evening and early morning hours. Northern pike action has also been good. Some nice 40+ inch fish have been caught when using large minnows on tip-ups.
Cisco Chain of Lakes - Good numbers of panfish have been caught.
Imp Lake - Trout anglers are catching good numbers of splake on tip-ups.
Ellen Lake - In Iron County has good trout fishing. Splake are hitting small minnows on tip-ups.
Michigamme Reservoir - Has good walleye and northern pike fishing, but extreme caution needs to be used on any ice. Pike measuring 20+ inches have been caught. Slush is not a factor at this time because of the lack of snowfall this year.
Peavy Pond - Anglers are catching walleye and northern pike.
Little Bay De Noc - Though ice now covers the head of the Bay from the narrows to Garth Point, it is considered "VERY DANGEROUS" in most areas. Extreme caution must be used at all times. Perch were caught when jigging minnows or wigglers in 13 feet of water on the Kipling side of Butler Island. Walleye have been caught when jigging minnows in about 13 feet of water around Garth Point, but many of the fish were running small.
St. Mary's River - Whitefish are hitting on wax worms when fishing in Mosquito Bay, which is located west of Sault Ste. Marie.
Munuscong Bay - Fishing activity has started to pick up with anglers catching yellow perch and a few walleye on minnows.
Raber Bay - Poor ice conditions have limited fishing activity in the area. [/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, January 25, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Anglers need to use extreme caution on any and all ice in the state. Ice formation is not uniform on many of the lakes, and snow cover is not only hiding dangerous areas, but also insulates and prevents additional freezing. Quite a few accidents have been reported over the last week. Anglers should avoid taking snowmobiles or other motorized vehicles out on the ice at this time. Those traveling on the ice should be sure to fish with a buddy, take an ice spud to test the ice ahead of you, wear a personal flotation device, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, and take a cell phone.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - There is no safe ice to report. Most areas are only reporting an inch or two, and what is there is not uniform. Anglers are encouraged to wait a little longer. The only safe fishing right now is for bluegills along the cuts and canals.
Huron River - The waters are not only receding, but are also clearing up. Those brave enough to endure the cold weather are starting to catch steelhead again.
Detroit River - Has open water fishing for perch. Try jigs or teardrops with small minnows or wax worms. Walleye can still be found in the lower Trenton Channel.
Saginaw Bay - Ice fishing is just getting started, and anglers are cautioned to BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! The Coast Guard had to rescue three people from an ice flow off the mouth of the Pine River last Saturday. Ice thickness is still minimal with a lot of thin spots. Perch fishing has been generally slow at all locations. Fishing activity has been limited to inside marina basins and very close to shore. Those wading at the mouth of the Hot Ponds are catching walleye, white bass and some large northern pike when casting jigs and body baits.
Saginaw River - Walleye fishing is pretty much at a standstill. Ice is starting to form along the shoreline, but there is plenty of open water so conditions are not safe for ice fishing.
Tittabawassee River - The boat launches are now frozen up. Walleye anglers reported slow fishing.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Though water levels are still a bit high, anglers are catching fish downstream from Berrien Springs. Steelhead are hitting on spawn. Boat anglers are catching more than shore anglers.
Dowagiac River - Good numbers of steelhead can be found in the river. Try floating spawn, wax worms or wigglers under a bobber.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Small ice flows are coming down the river but it is still fishable. Steelhead are still hitting on jigs with minnows and small choker bags. Pink and white have been hot colors. Those fishing off the bridges are catching walleye on minnows and stick baits. Shore anglers are also doing well when casting about 4 feet off shore.
Lake Ovid - Anglers are starting to fish but extreme caution needs to be used. It would be a good idea to fish the shallow waters and avoid the deep water areas until better ice forms. Only small bluegills have been caught.
Muskegon Lake - The lake is starting to ice over, but open water can still be seen near the middle. Most of the ice present is not safe ice, so anglers are fishing in the bays, coves and marinas for bluegills and small perch. A couple northern pike were speared in the northwest corner of the lake near the State Park.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Margrethe - Ice anglers are catching walleye.
Tawas - Ice shanties are starting to pop up in Tawas Bay, but most of them are still pretty close to shore. Anglers are urged to use extreme caution as ice thickness is still minimal at this point. Perch fishing has been slow.
Higgins Lake - The entire lake now has shelf ice and about 3 inches of snow cover so anglers will have to wait a little longer for safe ice. Those looking for rainbow and brown trout are getting a few hits in shallow waters 1 to 4 feet deep when using minnows or wigglers.
Houghton Lake - Has ice, but extreme caution needs to be used . Anglers should limit their travel to foot traffic only, no motorized vehicles. It is important to avoid the area near the pressure cracks as well as the open water near the middle of the lake. Anglers are urged to fish in shallow waters only, due to unsafe ice conditions.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Crooked Lake - In Emmet County is reporting ice, but the thickness is not uniform. Anglers need to use extreme caution especially with about 6 inches of snow covering the ice. Only a few perch, walleye and northern pike have been caught.
Lake Charlevoix - Ice conditions throughout the South Arm of the lake are not safe. The remainder of the lake still has open water with the margins just starting to freeze. Ice fishing will have to wait a little longer.
Traverse City - Has no safe ice to report.
Manistee Lake - In Kalkaska County has ice, but the fishing has been slow.
Long Lake - In Grand Traverse County has ice, but the thickness is not consistent.
Lake Cadillac - Anglers are fishing, but the ice is still very questionable in most spots. Panfish reports are not great, with only a few crappie taken near the school. Some nice northern pike have been taken on tip-ups.
Lake Mitchell - Ice fishing is on, but extreme caution needs to be used as the ice is questionable in many spots. Northern pike fishing has been good. A monster pike coming in at 46 inches and 23 pounds was recently caught.
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing has started, but caution needs to be used. Try small jigs or tear drops with wax worms for bluegills.
Upper Peninsula
Small lakes with good populations of panfish have been fishing well. Walleye fishing has slowed but still remains good in the evening and early morning hours. Northern pike action has also been good. Some nice 40+ inch fish have been caught when using large minnows on tip-ups.
Cisco Chain of Lakes - Good numbers of panfish have been caught.
Imp Lake - Trout anglers are catching good numbers of splake on tip-ups.
Ellen Lake - In Iron County has good trout fishing. Splake are hitting small minnows on tip-ups.
Michigamme Reservoir - Has good walleye and northern pike fishing, but extreme caution needs to be used on any ice. Pike measuring 20+ inches have been caught. Slush is not a factor at this time because of the lack of snowfall this year.
Peavy Pond - Anglers are catching walleye and northern pike.
Little Bay De Noc - Though ice now covers the head of the Bay from the narrows to Garth Point, it is considered "VERY DANGEROUS" in most areas. Extreme caution must be used at all times. Perch were caught when jigging minnows or wigglers in 13 feet of water on the Kipling side of Butler Island. Walleye have been caught when jigging minnows in about 13 feet of water around Garth Point, but many of the fish were running small.
St. Mary's River - Whitefish are hitting on wax worms when fishing in Mosquito Bay, which is located west of Sault Ste. Marie.
Munuscong Bay - Fishing activity has started to pick up with anglers catching yellow perch and a few walleye on minnows.
Raber Bay - Poor ice conditions have limited fishing activity in the area. [/font]