If your thinking of heading north to do a little fishing here's the latest report out of Michigan
Snow cover on the inland lakes as well as Saginaw Bay and Lake St. Clair has made travel on the ice almost impossible. Those heading out with quads or snowmobiles are getting stuck in large snow drifts. Slow down and use caution!
Recreational Fishing Report
517-373-0908
Snow cover on the inland lakes as well as Saginaw Bay and Lake St. Clair has made travel on the ice almost impossible. Those heading out with quads or snowmobiles are getting stuck in large snow drifts. Slow down and use caution!
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Catch rates were spotty in Brest Bay and near the Banana Dike and Metro Park Marina. Deep snow on the ice is making travel more difficult.
South Lake - In the Pinckney Recreation Area is producing some black crappie and pike. For crappie, try jigging minnows in 20 to 25 feet of water.
Detroit River - Perch can still be found off Gibraltar. Airport Bay was fair to good for bluegill, perch and pike. Most of the marinas are also providing fair to good action for bluegill and perch.
Lake St. Clair - Had a great deal of snow on the ice which is making travel much more difficult. Perch reports were spotty with most anglers only taking a few fish. The big winter storm slowed all the action in Anchor Bay.
Lexington - Anglers are still fishing for rainbows but catch rates were slow. The water is very clear, so anglers can see good numbers of rainbow, perch and suckers.
Saginaw Bay - Anglers are complaining about access sites being snowed in. Snow removal is in the process however it may take some time. Perch anglers are heading out 8 miles off Pine River Road, but catch rates were slow. Fair walleye action 5 miles off Pinconning and Linwood anglers are heading out to the Spark Plug for walleye. Vanderbilt Park is producing a few perch. Not much activity on the east side and the water is too muddy for spearing. At Caseville, a few lake trout were taken through the ice.
Saginaw River - Sublegal walleye continue but a few keepers were caught at Essexville near the Anderson Marina and the Coast Guard Station. Those fishing near the Independence Bridge have also caught the occasional keeper. Smaller walleyes were caught between Bay City and Saginaw. A few perch were taken off Patterson Road near the mouth.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Should have fair to good steelhead action by the weekend.
Randall Lake - In Branch County is producing good catches of panfish and pike.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead action is starting to pick back up.
Grand River at Lansing - Is still good for pike at both the Moore's Park Dam and the North Lansing Dam when using pike or sucker minnows under a bobber.
Lake Lansing - Is good for pike and panfish.
Muskrat Lake - Is giving up bluegill and crappie.
Sessions Lake - Has been good for bluegill and crappie. Anglers are fishing off the point along the south end of the lake.
Muskegon Lake - Is producing some perch. Most were small however a few keepers were taken as well.
White Lake - Is producing perch, but many were small. Try 20 to 30 feet of water off Indian Point. Pike anglers using tip-ups or spears caught fish in the Narrows.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Mullett Lake - Perch have been caught in waters 30 to 50 feet deep. Pike and cisco were slow and no walleye to report.
Au Sable River - Bluegill and perch were caught in the impoundments.
Higgins Lake - Is producing some smelt out from Amvets Lodge on the west side of the lake, off the North State Park and out from Big creek. Try 20 to 35 feet of water in the morning until about 10am or in the evening. Pike spearing was good and lake trout were hitting on tip-ups with minnows or smelt. Perch anglers are fishing the weed beds in the morning.
Tawas - Those heading out are finding it quite difficult to get out to where the fish are. The bite was slow but should pick back up by the weekend. Pike spearing was also slow.
Tawas Lake - Is producing some pike.
Au Gres - Anglers caught a few walleye north of the breakwall in 32 feet of water.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Lake Charlevoix - Is providing moderate success for both yellow perch and walleye. The South Arm was producing the best.
Lake Bellaire - Is producing some nice walleye.
Crystal Lake - Smelt have been caught at night in 40 to 50 feet of water. Try Hali jigs with spikes or wax worms.
Green Lake - Is also a good spot for smelt in the winter.
Manistee River - Is putting up a few brown trout and steelhead for those willing to put in the time. Try small baits such as a jig and wax worm or flies.
Lake Cadillac - Is producing pike and panfish.
Keweenaw Bay - Coho and a few lake herring were caught out from the L'Anse Marina, just north of the Legion, off Sand Point and out from the Tribal Police Station. Try 8 to 15 feet down in 20 to 70 feet of water. Lake trout were caught out from Jentoft's and the Tribal Police Station when jigging in waters between 70 and 220 feet deep. Perch were caught near the Baraga Marina and the Whitefish Hole east of Baraga was producing a mix of lake trout and whitefish in 80 to 105 feet of water. On average, the bite was slow except for smelt hitting at night. Best times were 7-10pm and midnight until 2am.
Little Bay De Noc - Has pretty good ice conditions and just enough snow for easy access. Some reported problems when trying to cross the pressure cracks, especially near the Terrace Bay Inn. Extreme caution needs to be used. Catches were mixed but the best area was near Kipling where walleye and perch were taken by those jigging rapalas or minnows in 30 feet of water. Good numbers of jumbo perch were also reported. Fair to good walleye catches out from the Terrace Bay Inn and south to the Escanaba River when jigging rapalas or using tip-ups in 25 to 33 feet of water. Some reported good catches near Portage Point however this area is still dangerous and caution needs to be used. Some have marked and caught good numbers of smelt in this area when using shiners. Whitefish anglers are out in force near Sand Point. Most are jigging spawn or minnows in 70 to 90 feet of water.
Munising - Most anglers are concentrating on whitefish. Catch rates were fair when using a single egg in 50 to 80 feet of water. The size and number varies but most anglers were bringing in fish. Lake herring and splake were slow. Burbot have started to bite and are hitting in the early morning. Some lake trout were caught in deep water in the channels around Grand Island. Live bait is permitted in the waters around Pictured Rocks however anglers must retain proof by means of a receipt that they are fishing with certified bait, which means it is VHS free.
Indian Lake - Anglers with vehicles are getting stuck in snow drifts. Accessing the lake off Elm Street is not advised as the ice has shifted near shore and there is now a pool of water on top of the ice. Those trying to drive around it are creating very deep ruts, so lower vehicles are getting stuck. Those heading out on the northeast side of the lake should use Danielson's Landing. Someone was nice enough to plow the road which makes access much easier. On the northwest side, the launch in Lange's Bay is still a good place to access the lake however watch for deep snow. The pressure crack on the north end has opened up even more. On the south end, anglers were still crossing but caution needs to be used. Anglers should stay away from the mouth of the Indian River and use extreme caution near Silver Creek on the west side, Palm Springs area on the northwest side and north of the Lange's Bay launch where there are springs. A few perch were taken by those still-fishing or jigging with minnows. Those using tip-ups with bigger minnows were taking a few walleye and pike. Best time to fish was at dusk or just after dark.
Munuscong Bay - Walleye catches have slowed considerably as the fish remain scattered in waters up to 30 feet deep. Perch are slow, but can still be found in shallow waters 3 to 6 feet deep.
Cedarville and Hessel - Only those that are persistent have caught a few perch along the west side of Hessel Bay, off Haven Island, and the east end of Hessel Bay in 6 to 14 feet of water when using wigglers and minnows. Musky Bay was slow but a few did manage to catch some perch in 10 feet of water
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