Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Has no safe ice. Boat anglers have started fishing off Bolles Harbor and in Brest Bay for walleye. A few perch were still being caught near Metro Park. No big numbers however some of the perch were good size.

Huron River - Walleye have been caught between Flat Rock and Rockwood. Try Hot-n-Tots or floating jigs with large shiners. Pink was a good color. An occasional steelhead was also caught.

Detroit River - Boat anglers are heading out and a few walleye have been caught when hand-lining. Though walleye are starting to move up into the river, it is still early. A few perch were still being caught in the canals near Gibraltar.

Lake St. Clair - Ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly. The forecast over the next five days should pretty much finish off the ice fishing season. Boat fishing has opened up as the ramps at the mouth of the Clinton River are ice free. The docks are not in yet but small boats can be launched.

Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Shore ice is getting soft, pressure cracks are getting wider and machines are going through at many locations. Walleye and perch were caught in 5 feet of water off White’s Beach. Walleye were caught off Linwood and Erickson Road. Some were fishing off the Bay City State Park and near the mouth of the Kawkawlin River in 3 to 10 feet of water however the shore ice was deteriorating. Fishing out near Spoils Island was spotty but the action at the mouth of the Hot Ponds was good for those wading. Ice at the mouth of the Saginaw River is getting bad. Perch were caught off Vanderbilt Park and Quanicassee but walleye were taken off Thomas Road. Ice is getting bad in the marinas. Both the Sebewaing and Pigeon Rivers could open up in a few days given the weather.

Saginaw River - People should stay off any remaining ice. In Saginaw, the river is open and boat anglers were catching walleye when vertical jigging or drifting jigs with minnows. Some had limits while others did not. Try launching off Rust Avenue which is on the west side of the river.

Tittabawassee River - The only boat ramp that is currently open is the Caldwell ramp located south of Midland off Gordonville Road. There has been a lot of activity however those fishing up near the Dow Dam reported slow catch rates. Sounds like the run of fish have not made it up that far.

Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joe River - Had good numbers of fresh steelhead below Berrien Springs.

Kalamazoo River - Rain should give the steelhead a push and produce fair to good fishing just below the Allegan Dam.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Walleye fishing has been good. Some are trolling with chrome or chartreuse Hot-n-Tots while others are doing well when casting Hot-n-Tots or bucktail jigs toward the shoreline. Steelhead anglers are doing well when back bouncing spawn. Most are using pink or chartreuse bags with chartreuse yarn tied to the top of the bag.

Grand River at Lansing - Good numbers of resident walleye and pike have been caught at Moore’s Park and the North Lansing Dam by those using crawlers or minnows. Steelhead could be found near the Lyons Dam and the Webber Dam. Catfish and carp are starting to bite.

Rogue River - Steelhead were caught spawn bags below Rockford.

Muskegon - Pier anglers are catching brown trout in the early morning and steelhead mid-day.

Muskegon Lake - Still had some ice however it is soft and deteriorating rapidly. A large vessel is scheduled to leave early Friday morning. The boat will leave from the marked dock and head towards Lake Michigan. Boat anglers are launching in the river and fishing for pike and walleye in the open waters on the east end of the lake.

Muskegon River - Steelhead have been caught up near Bridgeton. Rain is needed as water levels were low and clear.

Northeast Lower Peninsula
Mullet Lake - Anglers were catching many small perch along with a few nice ones. The south end of the lake has been most productive. Anglers are reminded that March 15th is the last day for permanent shanties on the lake. Pike, walleye and musky season will close on March 15th.

Alpena - Boat ramps are still iced in so access to Lake Huron was not yet available.

Thunder Bay River - The boat ramps were still iced in however the ramp next to the Alpena Fisheries Research Station could open up by the end of the week. A couple steelhead were caught in the rapids below the Ninth Street Dam.

Au Sable River - Those fishing the lower river have caught steelhead and walleye.

Higgins Lake - Still has ice however pressure cracks are starting to show up and there is open water near the springs. Anglers would be smart to travel by foot only. Conditions could change for the worse depending on how much rain the area gets. Smelt anglers are taking fish during the day on the south end of the lake and at night off the State Park and the west launch. Lake trout are following the smelt and can be found in 60 to 80 feet of water.

Houghton Lake - The ice was holding however the warm temperatures are creating water on top of the ice. Pay close attention to ice conditions. Pike and walleye fishing was steady but not great.

Au Gres - Those traveling on machines were going through the ice on a regular basis. Walleye anglers were staying out well past dark however the bite was slow. Small perch were caught near the mouth of the Pine River.

Northwest Lower Peninsula
Skegemog Lake - Had reports of ice anglers targeting perch. Extreme caution needs to be used.

Traverse City - The bays have open water however the docks are not in yet.

Boardman River - Is producing a light number of steelhead.

Lake Leelanau - Ice anglers were still heading out for perch and walleye however conditions could change rapidly by the weekend. Shoreline ice will go fast.

Betsie River - Fishing has started to heat-up as anglers are catching dark colored steelhead up near the Homestead Dam. Most are using small spawn bags in red and orange. Steelhead have been caught on spawn and wax worms at the M-22 Bridge.

Lake Missaukee - Ice anglers were still targeting panfish. Pay close attention to deteriorating ice conditions especially by the end of the week.

Lake Cadillac - Ice conditions were holding as of this report however that could all change by the weekend.

Lake Mitchell - Is the same as Cadillac. Anglers need to use caution as the ice was holding but know one knows for how long.

Manistee - Boat anglers have started trolling along the beach and harbor for brown trout and steelhead.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing has picked up some however rain is needed for a big push. The river was low and clear which can make for difficult fishing. Snow melt has been slow and not enough to get a good run of fish moving.

Ludington - Has open water and boats are trolling the shoreline and the harbor for brown trout and steelhead.

Pere Marquette River - Steelhead fishing should only get better as water levels start to come back up.

Upper Peninsula
Lake Gogebic - Ice conditions were holding however slush is building off the packed trails. Anglers are advised to travel by foot only, no machines. Catch rates were very slow. Berglund Bay was active in the evening with walleye anglers using tip-ups.

Keweenaw Bay - Anglers need to use caution if going out on the ice. The warm weather has started to affect the ice in some areas. The salmon bite was slow however lake trout were caught in 130 to 270 feet of water off Jentoft’s Dock, the Whirl-I-Gig, Old Mission and Pequaming. Smelt anglers did well at night between Baraga and Bucks Marina.

Marquette - Ice fishing is not possible in the Marquette area as most of the ice has left the upper harbor. Anglers are fishing from boats, piers and shore for salmon, steelhead and whitefish however catch rates were slow. The lower harbor still had ice. Beach access was still possible near the “bubblers” however the City of Marquette may be closing that access shortly. Shore anglers were fishing near the Carp River and the power plant. Most are using jigs with hair tipped with cut bait or worms. Green was a good color.

Michigamme Reservoir - Has a large pressure crack. Anglers need to use caution.

Menominee River - Those jigging wax worms or minnows off Menekaunee did mange to catch a couple nice bluegills along with many small yellow perch. Ice fishing near the Sixth Street Slip is done because of thin ice and open water. Boom Landing and the Mystery Ship still had ice. Anglers were setting tip-ups for walleye but no fish were caught. Shore anglers and those wading near Stephenson Island and Boom Island were targeting trout but no fish to report. The ice near the Hattie Street Dam on the Wisconsin side is no longer safe. Anglers on the Cat Walk are targeting trout and walleye when casting different colored rapalas or drifting spawn.

Green Bay - Walleye anglers fishing from the mouth of the Menominee River northward are reminded that between March 2nd and the Friday before the 1st Saturday in May, the possession limit for walleye drops to 1 fish, but will return to 5 fish on the 1st Saturday in May. Warm weather is producing more slush on the ice. Anglers were mainly yellow perch fishing or targeting whitefish.

Little Bay De Noc - Warm temperatures have taken their toll on ice conditions. Mud and slush around the shoreline have made accessing the ice difficult in some areas. Pressure cracks have opened up even more. Most anglers are staying in the northern part of the bay as the ice in the southern regions is failing. Dangers still exist on the northern sections so anglers need to use extreme caution. Foot traffic is best and no vehicles should be driving out on the ice. Those fishing the head of bay have caught walleye when using large sucker minnows on tip-ups in 6 to 13 feet of water. Catch rates for perch were slow but fish were caught off the Center Reef when jigging minnows in 28 to 33 feet of water. Fair whitefish action off Sand Point however ice conditions in this area are dangerous and should be avoided.

Au Train - The ice was holding but thickness does vary. Anglers need to use caution. Some are fishing out from the Au Train River and the Brownstone Boat Launch for steelhead and coho however the Brownstone was not plowed. A few were fishing the Rock River access which is just starting to open up.

Munising - Ice conditions were holding due to cold temperatures at night. Nice weather did not help anglers are catch rates were down across the board.

Munuscong Bay - Light numbers of walleye were caught in 20 to 30 feet of water. Pike and perch are being caught toward Grassing Island when jigging minnows in about 3 feet of water.

Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers are catching smaller perch at the east end of Hessel Bay in 6 to 8 feet of water. Most are using minnows or wax worms. Musky Bay fishing is about the same with plenty of big perch being spotted but not biting. Those perch should start moving into shallow water soon which may increase catch rates. Moscoe Channel, Cedarville Bay and Little Joe are spotty but should increase as we move into spring.