02-09-2007, 03:06 AM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Weekly Fishing Report[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, February 8, 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]
Cold temperatures, blowing snow, and wind-chill factors have not only slowed fishing, but have also kept most anglers off the ice. Catch rates should pick back up by the end of the week as the arctic cold front passes through the state.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Anglers are reporting up to 7 inches of ice and good walleye fishing in Brest Bay when jigging rapalas and Swedish Pimples in 20 feet of water. Limit catches were reported. Perch action is just getting started and bluegills have been caught in the marinas.
Huron River - A couple nice steelhead were taken at the Flat Rock Dam.
Detroit River - Icy conditions have pretty much put a stop to river fishing. Boat access is not possible and ice conditions are not safe at this time.
Lake St. Clair - Anglers are still ice fishing for perch off Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Try using minnows, wax worms, spikes and wigglers. Bluegills have been caught in the cuts and canals.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye and northern pike have been taken at the Hot Ponds, but few anglers have been out. Some have been fishing inside the marinas where they can get out of the wind. Sebewaing has not seen a lot of action other than some nice northern pike speared inside the marina. A few small perch were also taken.
Saginaw River - Has seen a lot of fishing activity with walleye being caught from Saginaw to Bay City. Many of the fish are running small so anglers will need to do some sorting. Some of the most popular fishing spots are near the grain elevators at Zilwaukee, all along the river between Saginaw and Bay City and in the lower river from the Independence Bridge downstream to the mouth. Try any kind of jigging lure tipped with minnows. Some nice perch have been caught near the mouth of the river, off the cement plant at Essexville, and in the various marina basins.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Lake Michigan is starting to freeze as shelf ice can now be seen as far out as a quarter of a mile. Ice conditions are not safe and anglers should avoid this area.
St. Joseph River - Is iced up all the way up to Berrien Springs but the ice is not safe. Anglers should stay off the main river. Those looking for steelhead can still fish up near the dam at Berrien Springs. Check the shallow backwaters for pike.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead are still in the river. Try using a #6 hook with medium egg sacks or drifting jigs with wax worms up near the dam. A few walleye were taken off the wall on the east side and off the bridges.
Cranberry Lake - In Ottawa County, anglers are crappie fishing in 15 feet of water. The fish appear to be suspended about 4 to 5 feet down.
Reeds Lake - Anglers are reporting 3 to 6 inches of ice. Perch, bluegills and crappie have been caught. Pike are hitting on tip-ups about 3 to 5 feet down.
Big Crooked Lake - In Kent County, anglers fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water are catching bluegills right on the bottom.
Dean Lake - Near Rockford, has good pike fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water.
Lake Lansing - Fishing slowed but should pick back up by the end of the week. Look for bluegills near the bottom and crappie to be suspended about half way down.
Lake Ovid - Anglers are reporting 6 to 7 inches of ice. Fishing has been slow, so not many anglers have been out. Warmer temperatures should help to improve fishing.
Muskegon Lake - Fair to good fishing was reported in Snug Harbor, which is on the northwest corner of the lake near the State Park. Anglers have taken some pike, small bluegills and small perch. Those fishing around the marinas are staying close to shore where the ice is 4 to 8 inches thick. The main part of the lake has much thinner ice. Extreme caution needs to be used!
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Grand Lake - Anglers are catching some perch when using teardrops with minnows or wigglers.
Lake Avalon - In Montmorency County, continues to provide good splake fishing.
Hubbard Lake - Most of the action has been on the south end of the lake where walleye are hitting on minnows in 16 feet of water. One angler limited out. A few perch were taken on jigs when fishing straight out from the West Branch River.
Tawas - Walleye have been caught in 20 feet of water off Jerry's Marina. The better fishing has been at night. A few perch were also taken and some northern pike were speared. Brown trout and menominee were caught inside the harbor.
Au Gres River - Quite a few walleye have been caught. Though the fish are running small, just enough legal fish have been caught to keep anglers interested in fishing.
Higgins Lake - Anglers are starting to catch fair numbers of smelt along the drop off near the west access site. Ice conditions are improving daily with the extremely cold temperatures. Anglers are hoping to be able to walk out to the lake trout areas by the weekend.
Houghton Lake - Is reporting about 11 inches of ice. Even though fishing slowed a bit with the colder temperatures, anglers still managed to catch some pike and walleye.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Lake Charlevoix - Anglers have started taking permanent ice shanties out on the South Arm near Holy Island and near the public access site at Boyne City. Those seeking walleye are fishing near Holy Island in 17 to 25 feet of water using grays, blues and jigging rapalas. Ice conditions around Holy Island are variable with some areas reporting 4 to 5 inches of solid ice and others with only 3 inches of solid ice with 2 inches of slush on the surface. Those spearing for pike or using tip-ups in 14 to 16 feet of water at the East Jordan Tourist Park have not had much luck. Anglers report about 4 inches of ice around East Jordan, but thin spots are still present.
Traverse City - Strong winds are preventing ice formation, so both the East Bay and the West Bay have open water.
Fife Lake - Perch anglers are fishing just off the public boat launch which is located on the north end of the lake. Try tip-ups for northern pike when fishing just east of the launch site in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Crystal Lake - In Benzie County, has anglers perch fishing in about 20 feet of water on the east end of the lake near Beulah. Try teardrops with wigglers or minnows.
Manistee River - Steelhead can still be found up near Tippy Dam.
Lake Cadillac - Those fishing off M-115 are catching a lot of perch using bright colored jigs with minnows in 8 feet of water. Black crappie have also been caught using the same jigs in 12 feet of water. Panfish are hitting a variety of bait in 18 feet of water off the City Launch.
Lake Mitchell - Good numbers of large pike have been caught on the west end off the Boy Scout Camp in 3 to 11 feet of water. Ice conditions are varying from 5 to 10 inches. In Big Cove, the ice is very dangerous and anglers should avoid this area.
Lake Missaukee - Try using teardrops with wax worms for bluegills. Look for crappie in 15 feet of water just off the Green Road access site.
Pentwater Lake - Anglers are reporting 4 to 6 inches of ice, but caution needs to be used. Most are fishing for walleye, crappie and pike.
Silver Lake - Walleye fishing slowed a bit, but should pick back up with warmer temperatures.
Upper Peninsula
Portage Lake - In Houghton County is now covered with slush which is making travel on the ice a little more difficult. Walleye fishing has been slow. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups with sucker minnows.
Keweenaw Bay - Has started freezing and anglers are just starting to venture out on to the head of the Bay. Huron Bay is also starting to get some ice formation.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are a bit deceiving as most of the Bay has about 8 inches or so, but some areas have less. The waters near Escanaba are still open for shipping as the Coast Guard Cutter has been out breaking the ice almost daily. All fishing has slowed some this week. Undersize walleye have been caught throughout the Bay, but the better catches were taken along the East Bank from the Second Reef to the Terrace Bay Inn. Most anglers are jigging raps and minnows in deep waters or just off the breaks in 20 to 40 feet of water. Those using tip-ups and fishing right on the bottom have caught walleye using large sucker minnows in 30 to 40 feet of water. The better perch fishing has been out past Butler Island when jigging minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water. Some are fishing near the Escanaba Power Plant, but this area is dangerous as it is close to the shipping channel.
Munuscong Bay - Fishing activity has been spotty. Only a few small walleye have been caught off Roach Point and near the mouth of the river. Minnows worked best.
Cedarville and Hessel - Cedarville Bay and Little Joe Island are providing fair yellow perch fishing when using wigglers and wax worms. Musky Bay, however, is producing the best results in the area with anglers bringing in 10 to 25 fish that average 10 inches long. Wax worms and wigglers have been the best bait. [/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, February 8, 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]
Cold temperatures, blowing snow, and wind-chill factors have not only slowed fishing, but have also kept most anglers off the ice. Catch rates should pick back up by the end of the week as the arctic cold front passes through the state.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Anglers are reporting up to 7 inches of ice and good walleye fishing in Brest Bay when jigging rapalas and Swedish Pimples in 20 feet of water. Limit catches were reported. Perch action is just getting started and bluegills have been caught in the marinas.
Huron River - A couple nice steelhead were taken at the Flat Rock Dam.
Detroit River - Icy conditions have pretty much put a stop to river fishing. Boat access is not possible and ice conditions are not safe at this time.
Lake St. Clair - Anglers are still ice fishing for perch off Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Try using minnows, wax worms, spikes and wigglers. Bluegills have been caught in the cuts and canals.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye and northern pike have been taken at the Hot Ponds, but few anglers have been out. Some have been fishing inside the marinas where they can get out of the wind. Sebewaing has not seen a lot of action other than some nice northern pike speared inside the marina. A few small perch were also taken.
Saginaw River - Has seen a lot of fishing activity with walleye being caught from Saginaw to Bay City. Many of the fish are running small so anglers will need to do some sorting. Some of the most popular fishing spots are near the grain elevators at Zilwaukee, all along the river between Saginaw and Bay City and in the lower river from the Independence Bridge downstream to the mouth. Try any kind of jigging lure tipped with minnows. Some nice perch have been caught near the mouth of the river, off the cement plant at Essexville, and in the various marina basins.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Lake Michigan is starting to freeze as shelf ice can now be seen as far out as a quarter of a mile. Ice conditions are not safe and anglers should avoid this area.
St. Joseph River - Is iced up all the way up to Berrien Springs but the ice is not safe. Anglers should stay off the main river. Those looking for steelhead can still fish up near the dam at Berrien Springs. Check the shallow backwaters for pike.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead are still in the river. Try using a #6 hook with medium egg sacks or drifting jigs with wax worms up near the dam. A few walleye were taken off the wall on the east side and off the bridges.
Cranberry Lake - In Ottawa County, anglers are crappie fishing in 15 feet of water. The fish appear to be suspended about 4 to 5 feet down.
Reeds Lake - Anglers are reporting 3 to 6 inches of ice. Perch, bluegills and crappie have been caught. Pike are hitting on tip-ups about 3 to 5 feet down.
Big Crooked Lake - In Kent County, anglers fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water are catching bluegills right on the bottom.
Dean Lake - Near Rockford, has good pike fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water.
Lake Lansing - Fishing slowed but should pick back up by the end of the week. Look for bluegills near the bottom and crappie to be suspended about half way down.
Lake Ovid - Anglers are reporting 6 to 7 inches of ice. Fishing has been slow, so not many anglers have been out. Warmer temperatures should help to improve fishing.
Muskegon Lake - Fair to good fishing was reported in Snug Harbor, which is on the northwest corner of the lake near the State Park. Anglers have taken some pike, small bluegills and small perch. Those fishing around the marinas are staying close to shore where the ice is 4 to 8 inches thick. The main part of the lake has much thinner ice. Extreme caution needs to be used!
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Grand Lake - Anglers are catching some perch when using teardrops with minnows or wigglers.
Lake Avalon - In Montmorency County, continues to provide good splake fishing.
Hubbard Lake - Most of the action has been on the south end of the lake where walleye are hitting on minnows in 16 feet of water. One angler limited out. A few perch were taken on jigs when fishing straight out from the West Branch River.
Tawas - Walleye have been caught in 20 feet of water off Jerry's Marina. The better fishing has been at night. A few perch were also taken and some northern pike were speared. Brown trout and menominee were caught inside the harbor.
Au Gres River - Quite a few walleye have been caught. Though the fish are running small, just enough legal fish have been caught to keep anglers interested in fishing.
Higgins Lake - Anglers are starting to catch fair numbers of smelt along the drop off near the west access site. Ice conditions are improving daily with the extremely cold temperatures. Anglers are hoping to be able to walk out to the lake trout areas by the weekend.
Houghton Lake - Is reporting about 11 inches of ice. Even though fishing slowed a bit with the colder temperatures, anglers still managed to catch some pike and walleye.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Lake Charlevoix - Anglers have started taking permanent ice shanties out on the South Arm near Holy Island and near the public access site at Boyne City. Those seeking walleye are fishing near Holy Island in 17 to 25 feet of water using grays, blues and jigging rapalas. Ice conditions around Holy Island are variable with some areas reporting 4 to 5 inches of solid ice and others with only 3 inches of solid ice with 2 inches of slush on the surface. Those spearing for pike or using tip-ups in 14 to 16 feet of water at the East Jordan Tourist Park have not had much luck. Anglers report about 4 inches of ice around East Jordan, but thin spots are still present.
Traverse City - Strong winds are preventing ice formation, so both the East Bay and the West Bay have open water.
Fife Lake - Perch anglers are fishing just off the public boat launch which is located on the north end of the lake. Try tip-ups for northern pike when fishing just east of the launch site in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Crystal Lake - In Benzie County, has anglers perch fishing in about 20 feet of water on the east end of the lake near Beulah. Try teardrops with wigglers or minnows.
Manistee River - Steelhead can still be found up near Tippy Dam.
Lake Cadillac - Those fishing off M-115 are catching a lot of perch using bright colored jigs with minnows in 8 feet of water. Black crappie have also been caught using the same jigs in 12 feet of water. Panfish are hitting a variety of bait in 18 feet of water off the City Launch.
Lake Mitchell - Good numbers of large pike have been caught on the west end off the Boy Scout Camp in 3 to 11 feet of water. Ice conditions are varying from 5 to 10 inches. In Big Cove, the ice is very dangerous and anglers should avoid this area.
Lake Missaukee - Try using teardrops with wax worms for bluegills. Look for crappie in 15 feet of water just off the Green Road access site.
Pentwater Lake - Anglers are reporting 4 to 6 inches of ice, but caution needs to be used. Most are fishing for walleye, crappie and pike.
Silver Lake - Walleye fishing slowed a bit, but should pick back up with warmer temperatures.
Upper Peninsula
Portage Lake - In Houghton County is now covered with slush which is making travel on the ice a little more difficult. Walleye fishing has been slow. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups with sucker minnows.
Keweenaw Bay - Has started freezing and anglers are just starting to venture out on to the head of the Bay. Huron Bay is also starting to get some ice formation.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are a bit deceiving as most of the Bay has about 8 inches or so, but some areas have less. The waters near Escanaba are still open for shipping as the Coast Guard Cutter has been out breaking the ice almost daily. All fishing has slowed some this week. Undersize walleye have been caught throughout the Bay, but the better catches were taken along the East Bank from the Second Reef to the Terrace Bay Inn. Most anglers are jigging raps and minnows in deep waters or just off the breaks in 20 to 40 feet of water. Those using tip-ups and fishing right on the bottom have caught walleye using large sucker minnows in 30 to 40 feet of water. The better perch fishing has been out past Butler Island when jigging minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water. Some are fishing near the Escanaba Power Plant, but this area is dangerous as it is close to the shipping channel.
Munuscong Bay - Fishing activity has been spotty. Only a few small walleye have been caught off Roach Point and near the mouth of the river. Minnows worked best.
Cedarville and Hessel - Cedarville Bay and Little Joe Island are providing fair yellow perch fishing when using wigglers and wax worms. Musky Bay, however, is producing the best results in the area with anglers bringing in 10 to 25 fish that average 10 inches long. Wax worms and wigglers have been the best bait. [/font]