12-08-2007, 04:11 PM
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday December 6, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.michigan.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]
Fishing is now in between seasons. Ice is starting to form on the inland lakes and along the shoreline of the Great Lakes, but the ice is not safe. Anglers are reminded of the dangers associated with the first ice of the season. Pier anglers need to be extra careful and avoid the piers altogether if they are ice covered and slippery.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Boat anglers trolling in Brest Bay and off Fermi were catching walleye, but shoreline ice may be a factor now.
Detroit River - Strong winds were the cause of very low water levels in sections of the river. When boats can get out, perch were caught off Ecorse and Sugar Island.
Huron River - Has been one of the few areas to fish over the last week. Anglers have caught some steelhead, but the bite was slow. The shallow backwaters are most likely ice covered.
Lake St. Clair - Has ice building on the canals and along the shoreline.
St. Clair River - Shore anglers fishing off the wall at Port Huron were taking walleye at night. Steelhead action was fair.
Harbor Beach - The marina and the boat launch are iced in, but the ice is not safe.
Port Austin - Has ice around the marina. Anglers will want to avoid the pier as portions of it are ice covered.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Not many fish are going through the ladder, but anglers are still catching some fresh fish. A few brown trout have also been caught.
Holland - Still has open water. Try for steelhead or whitefish off the pier.
Grand Haven - Still has open water. Pier anglers are catching whitefish when using small egg sacks or wax worms.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead are being caught up near the Sixth Street Dam and behind the Post Office. Walleye anglers are doing well between the dam and Johnston Park. They are floating shiners just off the bottom or using rapalas.
Grand River at Lansing - A handful of anglers have been seeking anything that might bite as the river is about the only place to fish right now. Anglers might want to target catfish below the dams or walleye over at Moore's Park.
Muskegon - Lots of whitefish have been caught off the pier and along the channel. Anglers have caught some steelhead off the piers when drifting or floating small spawn bags. Orange has been a good color.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Thunder Bay River - Has been frozen almost all the way down to the mouth since last Friday. The only fishing since the cold snap is below the Ninth Street Dam where they are catching whitefish and some steelhead. There is no way to launch a boat.
Au Sable River - Steelhead and whitefish are being caught between the dam and the mouth. Spawn works good for steelhead and the whitefish are hitting on wax worms under a bobber.
Tawas - This might very well be the last good week for taking whitefish. Try fishing off the Tawas State Dock when using spawn bags or a single egg on a small hook. Those fishing in the early morning or late evening might also catch a walleye.
Au Gres River - Steelhead are being caught in the lower river.
Higgins Lake - Nearly all of the inland lakes in the area have iced over except for this one, as the deeper lakes take much longer to start freezing.
Houghton Lake - Now has snow and slush covering the lake. This will slow the formation of good ice.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Windy conditions have kept boats off both the East Bay and the West Bay. Some of the smaller lakes were iced over, but heavy snow and slush will slow the formation of ice.
Boardman River - Steelhead action has slowed with only a couple fish caught here and there.
Manistee - The piers and surf can still provide good fishing this time of year however anglers will want to avoid the piers if they ice covered.
Big Manistee River - Is pretty much the main bet for steelhead action and the lower river is better as there are no big numbers of fish up at Tippy Dam.
Lake Cadillac - Does have ice, but it is not fishable ice as of this report. Strong winds will also hamper the formation of safe ice.
Lake Mitchell - Also has ice, but not safe ice. Anglers are encouraged to wait a bit longer before venturing out to go ice fishing.
Ludington - Still has open water but watch for ice on the piers.
Upper Peninsula
Some of the shallow lakes in the region have ice but the deeper lakes only have skim ice at this time. Anglers are reminded that first ice is dangerous ice and extreme caution needs to be used. Many parts of the Upper Peninsula now have about 12 inches of snow so slush is already becoming a problem.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Fishing is now in between seasons. Ice is starting to form on the inland lakes and along the shoreline of the Great Lakes, but the ice is not safe. Anglers are reminded of the dangers associated with the first ice of the season. Pier anglers need to be extra careful and avoid the piers altogether if they are ice covered and slippery.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Boat anglers trolling in Brest Bay and off Fermi were catching walleye, but shoreline ice may be a factor now.
Detroit River - Strong winds were the cause of very low water levels in sections of the river. When boats can get out, perch were caught off Ecorse and Sugar Island.
Huron River - Has been one of the few areas to fish over the last week. Anglers have caught some steelhead, but the bite was slow. The shallow backwaters are most likely ice covered.
Lake St. Clair - Has ice building on the canals and along the shoreline.
St. Clair River - Shore anglers fishing off the wall at Port Huron were taking walleye at night. Steelhead action was fair.
Harbor Beach - The marina and the boat launch are iced in, but the ice is not safe.
Port Austin - Has ice around the marina. Anglers will want to avoid the pier as portions of it are ice covered.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Not many fish are going through the ladder, but anglers are still catching some fresh fish. A few brown trout have also been caught.
Holland - Still has open water. Try for steelhead or whitefish off the pier.
Grand Haven - Still has open water. Pier anglers are catching whitefish when using small egg sacks or wax worms.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead are being caught up near the Sixth Street Dam and behind the Post Office. Walleye anglers are doing well between the dam and Johnston Park. They are floating shiners just off the bottom or using rapalas.
Grand River at Lansing - A handful of anglers have been seeking anything that might bite as the river is about the only place to fish right now. Anglers might want to target catfish below the dams or walleye over at Moore's Park.
Muskegon - Lots of whitefish have been caught off the pier and along the channel. Anglers have caught some steelhead off the piers when drifting or floating small spawn bags. Orange has been a good color.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Thunder Bay River - Has been frozen almost all the way down to the mouth since last Friday. The only fishing since the cold snap is below the Ninth Street Dam where they are catching whitefish and some steelhead. There is no way to launch a boat.
Au Sable River - Steelhead and whitefish are being caught between the dam and the mouth. Spawn works good for steelhead and the whitefish are hitting on wax worms under a bobber.
Tawas - This might very well be the last good week for taking whitefish. Try fishing off the Tawas State Dock when using spawn bags or a single egg on a small hook. Those fishing in the early morning or late evening might also catch a walleye.
Au Gres River - Steelhead are being caught in the lower river.
Higgins Lake - Nearly all of the inland lakes in the area have iced over except for this one, as the deeper lakes take much longer to start freezing.
Houghton Lake - Now has snow and slush covering the lake. This will slow the formation of good ice.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Windy conditions have kept boats off both the East Bay and the West Bay. Some of the smaller lakes were iced over, but heavy snow and slush will slow the formation of ice.
Boardman River - Steelhead action has slowed with only a couple fish caught here and there.
Manistee - The piers and surf can still provide good fishing this time of year however anglers will want to avoid the piers if they ice covered.
Big Manistee River - Is pretty much the main bet for steelhead action and the lower river is better as there are no big numbers of fish up at Tippy Dam.
Lake Cadillac - Does have ice, but it is not fishable ice as of this report. Strong winds will also hamper the formation of safe ice.
Lake Mitchell - Also has ice, but not safe ice. Anglers are encouraged to wait a bit longer before venturing out to go ice fishing.
Ludington - Still has open water but watch for ice on the piers.
Upper Peninsula
Some of the shallow lakes in the region have ice but the deeper lakes only have skim ice at this time. Anglers are reminded that first ice is dangerous ice and extreme caution needs to be used. Many parts of the Upper Peninsula now have about 12 inches of snow so slush is already becoming a problem.