Fishing Michigan

Got two words for you, SHOP AROUND!  With the help of the Internet, you too can find affordable lodging near a  desired fishing destination.  This is the place we stayed at last weekend while fishing the NAIFC event in Wisconsin. More details after I show the pics.

 

 

 

As you can see, lots of room.  Spacious living room, good sized kitchen, two good sized tables to eat at and tie your jigs on at night.  What you might be able to pick up is that there were two bathrooms, with each having two showers.  What is almost impossible to tell from the pics is that there are hallways on each side of the building, each containing four rooms with double bunks.

My ice fishing partner and others actually found this location while fishing the NAIFC championship in Rhinelander, WI back in December.  This tournament was held on the same lake as the cabin.  Here is the kicker, this is one cabin of many belonging to the Crescent Lake Bible Camp.  We got this cabin, along with one other team for only 22 dollars a night, for each person.  Because it was a bible camp, the total came to only $112.13 for five days.  No sales tax, only the regions hotel tax applied.

If you have a trip in mind, shop around, use the internet, and get the best place possible for your buck!

Back to Back DNR reports,  that’s what happens when I am out of state for days at a time.  Its a great report for the ice fisherman,  areas are starting to lock up nice and tight!  I hear Brest Bay calling my name this week!

 

Michigan is well on its way to excellent ice fishing conditions. While it might be too cold to fish this week, Mother Nature is doing a great job of setting the ice up. Look for fishing to pick up once the temperatures climb back up near normal.

 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie - Has iced over and anglers are taking some nice walleye in Brest Bay. Most are using jigging rapalas with minnows. Perch are still being caught out near the Banana Dike and in the Metro Park Marina. Use tear drops with minnows, wax worms or wigglers.

Detroit River - Boat anglers were fishing the open waters around Gibraltar and taking perch on minnows and wax worms. Boat anglers will need to be careful and keep an eye on the ice that is coming down the river. Perch were caught in Airport Bay and up near Belanger Park.

Lake St. Clair - Anglers are out on the ice in all the popular fishing locations. The bite has been slow and the perch are running small.

St. Clair River - Flow ice coming down the river will hamper fishing efforts.

Saginaw River - As of this report, ice on the river was not safe. Continued cold weather could have anglers out by the weekend, but use caution.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joe River - A few anglers are still targeting steelhead and walleye up near the dam at Berrien Springs. With few anglers in the area, this is a good time of year to fish and have plenty of room to do so.

Magician Lake - In Cass County is producing a few nice perch and some walleye in the evening. Pike and bluegills have also been caught.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Walleye are hitting on bucktail jigs fished off the east wall and the Fulton Street Bridge. For steelhead, anglers are dragging Hot-n-Tots under a bobber. Chartreuse, chrome, or blue and chrome were good colors. The Bayous have ice and have started to produce good catches of panfish.

Grand River at Lansing - Those willing to put in the time might find some walleye below the North Lansing Dam or the Moore’s Park Dam. Try bucktail jigs.

Lake Lansing - Pike are still hitting but they are small. Look for bluegill and crappie in 15 to 20 feet of water.

Morrison Lake - Has fair to good crappie fishing at night when using minnows 10 to 15 feet down in 25 to 30 feet of water.

Reeds Lake - Anglers are spearing pike on the east end of the lake. Perch are hitting on spikes or very small shiners in 30 to 40 feet of water. Crappie have been caught between 9am and 4pm when fishing halfway down in 25 to 30 feet of water. For bluegills, try 2 to 4 pound test clear sewing thread about 10 feet off the bottom in 25 to 30 feet of water.

Dean Lake - Near Rockford, has bluegills hitting on red and white spikes or wax worms. Anglers are still taking the occasional pike and muskie.

Muskegon Lake - Continues to build ice however anglers are reminded how dangerous the ice can be near the channel and heading up into the river. Those fishing over near the Sand Docks in the southwest corner of the lake have caught perch and a couple walleye in 40 to 55 feet of water. Minnows take the bigger fish however a Swedish Pimple with a fish eye also works. The water is a bit murky so try bright colored flies or glow tear drops. There have been rumors of a large pike in the northeast corner however no one has managed to catch it.

Northern Lower Peninsula

Fletchers Pond - A few pike were being taken but overall catch rates were only fair.

East Twin Lake - Fishing pressure has picked up with everyone targeting perch. Not a lot of big numbers but some very nice fish have been caught when jigging perch minnows. Some are using small jigging spoons and doing pretty good, but most of those fish have been smaller.

West Twin Lake - Has lots of anglers but catch rates have not been that good. Those using live minnows on tip-ups or jigs were not having much success. Anglers using rapala minnows in perch colors and those jigging Swedish Pimples tipped with a minnow were doing fair for walleye. The last week has seen a slow down in the walleye bite on live minnows. Perch were caught on live minnows however most are too small to take home. The best bet seems to be jigs with no bait.

Hubbard Lake - Large pike and walleye were being caught.

Higgins Lake - Ice fishing is on and anglers are taking smelt in the evening off the North State Park, Big Creek and the west boat launch in 50 feet of water. Perch have been caught off Flag Point and out near the Sunken Island in 30 to 50 feet of water however sorting will be necessary. Lake trout were in 100 feet of water however the cold front may slow this action.

Houghton Lake - The fishing has been good. Walleye are hitting on green and blue jigging rapalas and Swedish Pimples or hammered aluminum wobblers. The pike action has been good with the occasional keeper. The bluegill bite has picked up in 6 to 8 feet of water over the weed beds along the south shore. Use wax worms.

Tawas - Fair walleye action straight out from Jerry’s Marina in 12 to 20 feet of water when jigging or setting tip-ups. Look for pike in 5 to 12 feet of water between Tawas Point and the City Park. No word on perch.

Thompson Lake - Located near Howell, is providing some good fishing for black crappie.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake - Was producing walleye along with some nice catches of jumbo perch.

Torch Lake - As of last weekend, the lake was still wide open at Eastport which is the local whitefish grounds. The lake should start to freeze this week however it is usually early February before anglers can get out. It’s going to be a wait and see because if we get wind it may not freeze.

Otsego Lake - Walleye and perch have been caught but not in big numbers.

Traverse City - Both bays still have open water, and no safe ice.

Long Lake - Walleye and perch are being caught however the bite did slow.

Cedar Lake - In Leelanau County, continues to produce smelt. Try minnows, spikes or wax worms.

North Lake Leelanau - Is starting to produce some walleye. Target the area over the southeast shallows. A good spot for winter trout is the narrows between Brady Point and Warden Point if the ice is good.

South Lake Leelanau - Look for walleye in Weisler Bay and Perrin’s Bay. Bluegill and rock bass have been caught on wax worms.

Manistee Lake - Near Kalkaska, still has walleye and pike hitting along the southeast end of the lake. The pike are hitting on tip-ups with sucker minnows. The better walleye fishing has been at night.

Manistee River - There is not much to report on the steelhead front. The fish are in the river however not too many folks have been out after them for obvious reasons.

Lake Missaukee - Has fair to good action for walleye and panfish.

Lake Cadillac - Ice fishing is good and a lot of anglers have been out for pike and panfish. Look for perch and crappie on the east end of the lake. Use tip-ups for pike and fish walleye at night.

Lake Mitchell - Apparently catches have been good for pike and panfish. The coves are producing some nice bluegills when using small jigs with spikes or wax worms.

Hamlin Lake - Has been good for panfish.

Pere Marquette - Several pike over 20 pounds have been caught.

UPPER PENINSULA

Lake Gogebic - Walleye activity has picked up with the better catches in Bergland Bay and along the east shore. Perch fishing has also been good.

Copper Harbor - Anglers are catching a few splake.

Portage Lake - Walleye action has started to pick up. For pike and black crappie, try Pike Bay.

Keweenaw Bay - Fishing activity has been slow.

Iron Lake - In Iron County, is producing some walleye.

Stanley Lake - In Iron County is producing walleye along the east shoreline. Look for bluegills out near the island.

Little Bay De Noc - Has lots of angler activity with over one hundred ice shanties reported. Walleye and perch fishing are good once you locate some fish. Try 10 to 18 feet of water off Kipling or south of Gladstone.

Brevoort Lake - Walleye and perch are hitting in good numbers.