Extreme cold temperatures last week put a damper on fishing activity for the entire state. Many anglers reported seeing fish in the holes, but nothing could entice them to bite. This is not unusual fish behavior. Whether it is the very cold temperatures or the high barometric pressure that often accompanies cold fronts, fish often quit biting during extremely cold, clear weather. Look for the bite to pick up once the temperatures start to warm back up.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Has ice and anglers are taking some walleye in Brest Bay. Most are targeting 18 feet of water when jigging small rapalas or little Cleo’s. Chartreuse and clown have been good colors as well as anything bright. Perch have been caught off the Metro Park Marina and out around the Banana Dike when using pink tear drops with minnows. Use caution near the Metro Park boat launch as the ice blew out recently and it may not be safe at this time.
Detroit River - Perch are still being caught in the canals near Gibraltar. Those fishing the first canal south of Gibraltar were catching lots of perch however many were small. Pink tear drops with minnows worked best.
Port Austin - Fishing was slow with not much angler activity.
Saginaw Bay - Fishing off Palmer Road was good before the cold set in. Walleye anglers were going south toward the Black Hole or northeast to the Catfish Hole. In general, walleye fishing was slow to fair at best throughout the inner bay. Most parties were getting a few walleyes, but it was far from a red-hot bite. They have been fishing in 17 to 20 feet of water off White’s Beach. Off Erickson Road, head out about three and half miles to waters 16 to 20 feet deep and off Linwood fish about 14 to 16 feet of water. At Vanderbilt Park, which is just east of Quanicassee, anglers have caught a few perch in about 6 feet of water or speared a couple pike. Off Thomas Road, anglers were heading out as far as seven miles to waters up to 20 feet deep however the ice out there is marginal. Others are only going out about two and half miles to the Slot and fishing in 16 feet of water and doing just as well. At Sebewaing, a few small perch and the odd pike were taken in the marina. For Mud Creek, perch fishing was slow and pike spearing was spotty.
Tittabawassee River - Had no fishing activity to report at this time.
Saginaw River - Has ice fishing from downtown Saginaw to Bay City. Some walleye were caught downtown Saginaw off Hooters’, between Saginaw and Bay City, and downstream from the Independence Bridge. The ice at Essexville and the mouth of the river is questionable and anglers should NOT try to cross the river channel.
Pigeon River - Fishing in the river and the marina basins was slow. They could see fish, but could not get them to bite.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Kalamazoo River - Those fishing below the Allegan Dam are once again catching some walleye along with the occasional steelhead.
Gun Lake - A good spot for winter walleye is east of Murphy’s Point in 20 feet of water. Try tip-ups or jigging rapalas with minnows or spikes. Both the walleye and crappie are easier to catch after dark.
Gull Lake - Is producing good numbers of northern pike and smelt. The bays are safe for ice fishing as most have good ice now. Bluegill fishing has slowed with the better bite in the morning and just before dark.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - There is ice above the dam and open water below it. A couple steelhead were caught on jigs with wax worms. Walleye were caught behind the Post Office when using jigs with minnows, bucktail jigs or rapalas. The pond at Riverside Park is producing bluegills, crappie and pike through the ice.
Lake Ovid - Very few anglers have been out as the fishing has been very slow.
Rose Lake - The many lakes around the state game area usually provide some good pike action this time of year. Anglers will also find panfish.
Morrison Lake - Anglers are taking some bluegills, crappie and walleye.
Jordan Lake - Near Lake Odessa is serving up bluegills and crappie.
Reeds Lake - Pike were caught 3 to 5 feet off the bottom in front of Rosie’s. Perch are in 30 to 40 feet of water and bluegills in 20 to 40 feet. Try orange or brown jig heads with a spike. Some crappies were caught 5 to 15 feet down in waters 20 to 30 feet deep behind the Fire Hall.
Murray Lake - Near Cannonsburg, is producing a few muskie on tip-ups. Some are using a 12 inch decoy with the tail cut off.
Muskegon Lake - Anglers are fishing however the bite has been slow. A handful of anglers have been concentrating around the Sand Docks for perch and walleye.
Northern Lower Peninsula
East Twin Lake - The action has been slow except for some nice catches of yellow perch when jigging perch minnows.
West Twin Lake - Anglers are still targeting walleye and perch however angler pressure slowed when the temperatures dropped.
Hubbard Lake - Large pike and walleye were being caught. Perch fishing tends to pick up with the warmer weather.
Van Etten Lake - Look for perch off the YMCA Camp in 10 to 20 feet of water or pike off the Camp and Loud Island. Set tip-ups for walleye or try jigging off the State Forest Campground.
Higgins Lake - Smelt are still hitting off the North State Park, Big Creek, and south of the west boat launch in 40 to 50 feet of water. Use wax worms or perch minnows between dusk and 9:30pm and again around midnight and fish the entire water column. Smaller perch are hitting on wax worms or perch minnows between the Sunken Island and Treasure Island, off the North State Park, and in front of the Conference Center in 40 to 50 feet of water. Lake trout are hitting grey minnows or a Swedish Pimple with smelt fished just off the bottom in 90 to 100 feet of water.
Houghton Lake - Pike are hitting tip-ups with minnows. Some nice walleye were caught in the East Bay and along the north shore when jigging minnows. A handful of perch were taken on minnows or wax worms.
Tawas - Those spearing pike did very well during the snowstorm last Saturday as it seemed the weather got the pike moving. Walleye fishing has been slow with only a few taken in 10 to 20 feet of water off Jerry’s Marina. Perch fishing was also slow.
Au Gres - Most of the fishing has been in 10 to 20 feet of water off the hotel.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Elk Lake - Anglers are fishing on the north side of the lake near the town of Kewadin but ice conditions on the rest of the lake are still questionable. The amount of snow and slush on the lake is making for difficult travel. Those fishing near Kewadin have been targeting trout with moderate luck. Most are fishing in 30 to 40 feet of water and using herring or spawn for bait. No steelhead in the creel but a nice lake trout was caught. Herring were caught on wax worms and wigglers in 30 to 40 feet of water. Most have been around 8 inches. No word on whitefish or walleye.
Skegemog Lake - Ice fishing is on but snow on the lake is deep. Anglers are fishing for perch off the Baggs Road access site as well as the northwest portion of the lake near the Narrows. Most are in 10 to 20 feet of water and using minnows, wax worms, wigglers or shrimp. The fish range from very small to jumbos. A few pike have been speared south of the river in 10 to 15 feet of water when using natural baits or artificial decoys. Fish recorded were 30+ inches. Those seeking muskie have only taken a few fish in the 40 inch range.
Traverse City - Ice has started to form around the shoreline but there is still no safe ice to report.
Little Glen Lake - Anglers are ice fishing however the bite was slow.
Big Glen Lake - Had several anglers catching perch, but not in big numbers. Most are using minnows in 30 to 45 feet of water. Use caution and avoid the east side of the lake which still had open water.
Cedar Lake - Those able to get out are still taking smelt when fishing small minnows, spikes or wax worms.
North Lake Leelanau - Snow and slush is making travel a little more difficult. Walleye have been caught however each cold front slows the bite.
South Lake Leelanau - Warmer temperatures should improve the walleye and bluegill bite.
Lake Missaukee - A few walleye were taken on tip-ups however the bite has been slow. Fish along the weed beds and drop offs.
Lake Cadillac - No shortage of ice up here however catch rates have been slow. The best thing going right now is pike fishing.
Lake Mitchell - Report slow catch rates except for some pike hitting on tip-ups.
Hamlin Lake - Catch rates have been slow. Most of the activity has been on Upper Hamlin off Wilson Hill Park. Some nice bluegills were caught in 8 to 12 feet of water but no big numbers yet. Recent snowfall coupled with strong winds has drifts as high as five feet which makes travel almost impossible. Watch for the areas with open water because of currents.
UPPER PENINSULA
Portage Lake - Fishing has been spotty with a few walleye caught in the early morning or late afternoon. Most are jigging spoons tipped with a minnow in 14 to 25 feet of water. Pike fishing in Chassell Bay has been good most days with a few 12 pounders caught over the last week. Try a big sucker minnow on a tip-up in 6 to 14 feet of water.
Little Bay De Noc - Catch rates have increased as the temperatures climb. Anglers are ice fishing throughout the Bay and as far south as Portage Point. Warmer weather bought good walleye catches off Kipling and the mouth of the Escanaba River. Off Kipling, try jigging in 24 to 35 feet of water with Moon Shines. Near the mouth of the river, try jigging in 25 to 30 feet of water for big walleye in the 6 to 10 pound range. Perch anglers reported fair to good catch rates for jumbos in 11 to 27 feet of water when jigging minnows with orange or blue tear drops. Good pike action just south of Hunters Point in 10 to 17 feet of water. Whitefish action is just getting started off Sand Point.
Munuscong Bay - Catch rates for walleye were fantastic before the cold front came in. Since then, harvest has dropped a little and the walleye have scattered. Any location seems to be good when jigging in 4 to 6 feet of water.
Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers fishing Musky Bay were taking excellent catches of perch before the cold front came through. Catch rates have since slowed but the action was still rated as fair to good. Target 10 to 14 feet of water with wigglers or wax worms.
Brevoort Lake - Is producing some nice bluegill from the northwest corner near the campground and walleye along the east shoreline.
