Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Friday, January 11, 2008
Kingfisher Photo
Took this photo yesterday before the snow came
Thursday, January 10, 2008
We Are Still Ice Fishing
The ice has survived but the deeper lakes that just froze over lost and are wide open.
Lake Margrethe by Grayling is still good for walleye and pike. Walleye are on a great bite with blues and sucker working best. Lots of fisherman heading out. Call Skips Sport for more info @ 989-348-7111. They are saying 4 to 7 inches of ice today
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions were still favorable in the northern parts of the Bay only. Several very large ice breaks have formed pushing walls of ice up so be on the lookout. South of the Escanaba River, the shipping channel is open so conditions are dangerous. Warm weather this week could cause some problems, so extreme caution needs to be used. Walleye anglers were taking fish near Kipling when jigging minnows with glows just off the bottom in 30 to 40 feet of water. The better catches were reported near Gladstone out near the break when fishing 6 to 10 feet off the bottom in 28 to 40 feet of water. Perch anglers had mixed results with most reporting very good numbers of small fish. Try jigging wax worms in 28 to 36 feet of water near Kipling and the Narrows. Those spearing northern pike have taken several nice fish in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when using 8 inch suckers in 6 feet of water.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports a good walleye bite also with some perch being caught. They took the shanties off of Otsego Lake so no Sturgeon Fishing. The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel Lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
By Alpena, the ice held up through the warm spell earlier in the week on Grand and Long Lakes. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch and walleye. Anglers on Fletcher Pond are catching a few crappie and pike.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Around Manistique, Indian Lake was covered with water earlier in the week due to all the melting snow. The anglers who are wandering out on the lake are catching a few perch.
Green Lake the ice went out with just some shore ice.
Ice conditions in much of the Lower Peninsula have deteriorated but anglers in the Upper Peninsula are ice fishing. Warm temperatures have increased the steelhead action in many of the rivers however anglers will need to use caution because of the high water levels.
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week ice is ok once you get past shore
Higgins Lake ice went out.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is slow on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. We still have safe ice but be careful .
I’m hearing most are staying off the ice around Gladwin, and Harrison. Wiggins Lake ,Sugar spring is good for pike and bluegill, also Secord Lake reports a good crappie and pike bite. but be careful of changing ice conditions.
Burt Lake near Alanson is producing fair to good perch fishing. Minnows are working well as bait in water about 40 feet deep. Perch and walleye fishing is good on Crooked Lake in water about 20 feet deep.
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye off of Flint Rd. Lymanville has good ice around his shanty, pike have been biting very good
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Ice is still good
Hamlin Lake near Ludington very slow with nobody going out after the rains
Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - Has anglers ice fishing for walleye off the launch site on the North end of the lake. Try tip-ups for pike along the East shoreline, This is a lake to keep your eye could get real hot when they can get to the island. Ice is ok
The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel Lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Little Glen Lake - Slow this week, but a great perch bite on Loon Lake the last two weeks, but it seems to be winding down this week. The ice on Loon Lake is bad with Little Glen ice is OK
Upper Peninsula:
Out of the Copper Harbor area, anglers casting lines into the harbor from shore or docks are reeling in a few splake.
Lake Gogebic is producing good perch and walleye fishing. The perch are hitting on wigglers near the ??mud flats? in water up to 25 feet deep. The walleye are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups in water up to 12 feet deep.
By Negaunee on Teal Lake, the perch and walleye action ranges from slow to fair. The perch, pike and walleye action on Lake Independence is spotty, at best.
In the Gladstone area, the walleye fishing is fair on Little Bay de Noc. The perch action ranges from slow to fair. Anglers on Escanaba Harbor are catching an occasional perch, pike or walleye.
Around Manistique, Indian Lake was covered with water earlier in the week due to all the melting snow. The anglers who are wandering out on the lake are catching a few perch.
The warmer weather really cooled off the fishing activity near Sault Ste. Marie.
On Munuscong Bay, the perch and walleye fishing is fair. The ice that is left is shaky, so remember to check the thickness of the ice around you.
Anglers around Drummond Island are catching an occasional perch or pike.
And at Cedarville, the perch and walleye action ranges from slow to fair. Anglers need to be very careful on the ice that remains on the bays around Cedarville.
Northwest:
The ice is holding up on Burt, Crooked and Pickerel lakes near Alanson, where the perch, pike and walleye action is good.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch, pike and walleye action on Walloon Lake is fair to good. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill. Both waxworms and wigglers are being used as bait. Thumb Lake is producing fair splake fishing.
Around Traverse City, the warm weather from earlier in the week is forcing anglers to stay off the local lakes. Along the Boardman River the steelhead fishing is fair.
By Frankfort, the steelhead fishing is fair on the Betsie River. Anglers fishing from boats on Crystal Lake are reeling in a few perch. Early mornings are the best time to be out.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch and pike fishing is fair on Lake Skegemog.
Anglers need to be very careful on the ice that remains on Otsego Lake by Gaylord. The walleye fishing on the lake is fair.
And at Cadillac, the crappie and pike fishing is good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. The best time to be out for the crappie seems to be between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The bluegill, perch and rock bass fishing on the lake is fair. Just a word of advice for anglers going out on the ice, be sure to wear creepers. All the warm weather from earlier in the week left the lakes very slippery.
West:
By Ludington, the bluegill and walleye fishing is fair on the upper end of Hamlin Lake. Anglers along the Pere Marquette River are reeling in a few steelhead.
The White River near Whitehall is producing fair steelhead fishing.
Around Muskegon, the warm weather earlier in the week coaxed a few anglers to dump their boats into Muskegon Lake, where the pike and walleye fishing is fair. The northerns are hitting during the day, the walleye at night. The ice is very shaky on Snug Harbor on Muskegon Lake, but the anglers who do venture out on the ice are catching a few bluegill. The steelhead action on the upper end of the Muskegon River is fair.
Anglers on Chippewa Lake are spearing a few pike through the ice.
And at Baldwin, due to the poor ice conditions created by the warm weather earlier in the week, fishing activity this week is slow.
Southwest:
Due to the poor ice conditions created by the warm weather earlier in the week fishing activity this week in the Holland and Benton Harbor areas is slow.
Around New Buffalo, anglers along the Galien River are reeling in a few steelhead.
By Kalamazoo, ice-fishing activity is on hold due to the poor ice conditions. However, anglers along the St. Joseph River, below the Berrien Springs Dam are catching a few steelhead. Same story on the Kalamazoo River near the Allegan Dam.
And at Three Rivers, due to the poor ice conditions fishing activity this week is slow.
Northeast:
By Alpena, the ice held up through the warm spell earlier in the week on Grand and Long lakes. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch and walleye. Anglers on Fletcher Pond are catching a few crappie and pike.
Out of the Grayling area, anglers on Lake Margrethe are catching a few perch, pike and walleye. The walleye are hitting on various jigs or tip-ups. The northerns are being caught with tip-ups or spears. Anglers will have to sort through the perch that are caught to find any worth keeping.
Van Etten Lake near Oscoda is producing some very good perch and pike fishing. Anglers on Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds are catching a few bluegill, perch, pike and walleye. The steelhead and walleye action on the Au Sable River is fair. With no safe ice, fishing activity this week on Higgins Lake is slow.
Houghton Lake does have some ice safe enough to walk on, and the anglers heading out are catching good numbers of pike and walleye. The bluegill fishing on the lake is also improving.
And at Au Gres, the perch action ranges from slow to fair on Saginaw Bay. There is very little ice on Saginaw Bay that is safe enough to fish on.
East:
Most of the shore ice along Saginaw Bay near Linwood disappeared earlier this week, and that has left fishing activity in the area slow.
Due to the poor ice conditions, fishing activity this week is also slow in the Bay City and Bay Port areas.
Lexington Harbor is covered by a thin layer of ice. Anglers venturing out on the ice are catching an occasional brown trout, perch or steelhead. Anglers need to be very careful on the ice, especially near the docks where bubblers are being used.
And at Port Huron, there are only a couple of people fishing from boats on the St. Clair River, those anglers are catching a few steelhead and an occasional walleye. Anglers casting a line in the river from shore are reeling in a few steelhead by the mouth of the Black River. The 40th Street Pond is producing fair panfish and pike fishing.
Central:
Anglers on Stevenson Lake near Mount Pleasant are catching a few bluegill. The pike action is fair on Deerfield Lake. The warm weather from earlier in the week has created some shaky ice conditions on the local lakes.
Out of the Lansing area, anglers are casting lines into the open water of the Grand River hoping to reel in a few catfish or walleye. The best fishing is found below the major dams on the river. The warm weather earlier in the week melted away most of the ice on the local lakes and put all ice-fishing plans on hold.
And at Jackson, the poor ice conditions created by the warm spell earlier in the week has melted away any hopes anglers had of getting out on the local lakes.
Southeast:
Around Fair Haven, now that all the ice has melted away, fishing activity is at a standstill.
Along the western shoreline of Lake St. Clair, fishing activity is limited. A few people are fishing off docks or along canals.
On the south end of the Detroit River, the perch action is fair from shore or off docks. The Huron River near Rockwood is producing fair steelhead fishing.
And at Monroe and Belleville, due to the poor ice conditions created by the warm weather earlier in the week fishing activity this week is slow.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Warm Up
January Thaw has started with fishing still good on many lakes. They got out on Green Lake last night and caught a few smelt and they were big.
Many are catching smelt on Cedar Lake by Traverse along with brown and rainbow trout along with some nice pike. Loon Lake is still producing perch but not in the numbers when first reported. Long Lake and Lake Leelanau are producing good walleye with tip-ups and greys working best.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Welcome to Michigan??s January thaw. Warm temperatures and rain are melting the snow. Bad for snowmobilers and skiers. Ice fishermen aren??t in trouble yet. Currently there??s still 8 to 10 inches of clear ice. It??s sloppy on top. Wear rubber boots and creepers are a must. Old holes are open so in popular places augers are not necessary. There is a cold front moving back in on Wednesday.
Fishing has been great until the warm front arrived. Believe in the barometer. Currently it has slowed but we??re still catching our share. It??s just not as predictable or easy as it was. Once this front stabilizes fishing will be as good as it was.
PANFISH - Crappie and gills moved from the slab piles on the east side of Cadillac. Now they??ve started along the weed beds in front of the High School to the old Naval Armory. Following the panfish, good pike are coming from this area also. The west side of Cadillac, Causeway area is still a good spot for crappies. Day fishing has been slim but they seem to turn on late afternoon. Red spikes have been out fishing small minnows in this area. The coves on Mitchell have slowed. Those doing best are hole hopping. Catch 2 or 3 from a hole then have to move to another. Can??t seem to find one hot spot. Fish are scattered. On either lake the best fishing has been late afternoon until dark. Red spikes have been working best, but waxworms or mousees catch their share.
WALLEYE - Fish 10 to 12 foot depths. Swedish Pimples, medium minnows on lite line tip-ups and Rapalas are working. Colors vary with each report. Mitchell seems best.
PIKE - Pictures tell the story. Lake Mitchell is waking up. Finally, seeing 30 inch class pike coming from the coves. However Cadillac is still giving up the largest but fewer numbers. The west end of Cadillac has slowed. So many trophy pike were taken from here; some local anglers have moved to the weed line west of Kenwood Park and are back into great pike.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Fishing Report 1/3/07
Lake Margrethe by Grayling is still good for walleye and pike. Walleye are on a great bite with blues and sucker working best. Lots of fisherman headding out. Call Skips Sport for more info @ 989-348-7111
White Lake has been good for perch and pike the last few days with golden working best for pike.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports a good walleye bite also with some perch being caught. Some sturgeon are being seen this week, but no keepers as some are breaking hooks and line before they can land them.
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week
Higgins Lake went over last night, so lets hope the warm weather does not take the ice out..
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is slow on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. .
I’m hearing of good ice around Gladwin, and Harrison. Wiggins Lake there is very good fishing with limit catches of gills and crappie. Muddy Bay on Wiggins lake has started with a few fish being caught. Sugar Spring is good for pike and bluegill, also Secord Lake reports a good crappie and pike bite.
Burt Lake near Alanson is producing fair to good perch fishing. Minnows are working well as bait in water about 40 feet deep. Perch and walleye fishing is good on Crooked Lake in water about 20 feet deep. .
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye off of Flint Rd. with limit catches the last few days. and pike with some crappie mixed in, but the deep snow has made it very slushy and many are getting stuck
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Still good reports this week.
Hamlin Lake near Ludington is producing fair to good crappie and walleye fishing. The best area to drop a line through the ice for walleye is along the north bayou. The best area to fish for the gills is on the south bayou.
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Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - Has anglers ice fishing for walleye off the launch site on the north end of the lake. Try tip-ups for pike along the east shoreline, This is a lake to keep your eye could get real hot when they can get to the island
Little Glen Lake - Slow this week, but a great perch bite on Loon Lake the last two weeks, but it seems to be winding down this week.
Upper Peninsula:
Lake Gogebic is producing fair walleye fishing. The best fishing is found on the north end of the lake. Sucker minnows hooked to the end of a tip-up are working well as bait.
Out of the Marquette area, the pike fishing is good on the Greenwood Reservoir. The perch and walleye action on Teal Lake ranges from fair to good. The perch are hitting on wigglers, the walleye prefer minnows as bait.
By Escanaba, the walleye fishing is good on Little Bay de Noc. The marble eyes are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups. The perch fishing on the bay is fair. Anglers punching holes through the ice on Escanaba Harbor are catching a couple of pike.
In the Manistique area, the perch fishing is good on Indian Lake. Mornings are the best time to be out, with minnows being the preferred bait. Anglers are finding some good whitefish fishing on the upper end of the St. Marys River by Sault Ste. Marie. The whitefish are hitting on a teardrop tipped with a waxworm.
The perch, pike and walleye action is good on Munuscong Bay. The perch are hitting on jigs tipped with a minnow. The pike and walleye are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups.
Around Drummond Island, anglers are spearing some pike through the ice on Scott Bay.
And at St. Ignace, the walleye fishing is fair on Brevort Lake. Try using a jig tipped with a minnow.
Northwest:
Burt and Crooked lakes near Alanson are producing good perch and walleye fishing. Minnows are working well as bait.
Out of the Boyne City area, the perch and walleye fishing is good on Walloon Lake. Anglers on Deer Lake are catching a few bluegill, perch and pike. The splake fishing is fair on Thumb Lake. The perch and walleye fishing is fair on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix.
In the Traverse City area, the perch and walleye fishing is fair on Long Lake. The bluegill and pike fishing is decent on Spider Lake.
Around Frankfort, the perch and pike action is fair on Arcadia Lake. Anglers on Loon Lake are catching a few perch, pike and walleye. The steelhead action is spotty on both the Betsie and Platte rivers.
By Kalkaska, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. The fish are hitting on jigs tipped with a minnow or waxworm. Manistee Lake is producing fair to good walleye fishing.
Anglers on Otsego Lake near Gaylord are catching a few walleye, using jigs tipped with a blue shiner minnow.
And at Cadillac, the pike fishing is very good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. The panfish fishing is improving on both lakes. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to be out for the panfish.
West:
The upper end of Hamlin Lake near Ludington is producing some very good bluegill fishing. The pike action is good and an occasional walleye is mixing in with the catches. Anglers on the lower end of Hamlin Lake are finding the walleye action ranges from fair to good. The walleye are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups.
White Lake near Whitehall is producing fair to good bluegill and pike action.
Around Muskegon, the panfish fishing is fair on Snug Harbor on Muskegon Lake out from the Muskegon State Park. Anglers on the upper end of the Muskegon River are reeling in a few steelhead.
Out on Chippewa Lake, the pike fishing is very good. The bluegill action is fair.
And at Baldwin, most of the lakes in the area are producing fair bluegill fishing.
Southwest:
Out of the Holland area, anglers on Lake Macatawa are catching a few bluegill. The gills are hitting on teardrops tipped with a spike or waxworm. The gill fishing is also fair on Hutchins Lake.
Fishing activity this week is slow in the Benton harbor area.
By New Buffalo, the crappie and steelhead fishing is fair on the Galien River.
Around Kalamazoo, the bluegill fishing is good on Gravel, Fish and Sugarloaf lakes. Spikes and mousies are working well as bait. Anglers fishing the channels around Gun Lake are catching a few crappie. The perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Austin Lake. Both minnows and wigglers are being used as bait. On the St. Joseph River, below the Berrien Springs Dam, the steelhead action is fair to good.
And at Three Rivers, the ice conditions vary from lake to lake, but where there is ice thick enough to allow anglers to get out the bluegill, crappie and perch fishing is fair.
Northeast:
Grand and Long lakes near Alpena are producing good perch and walleye fishing. The perch and walleye action on Hubbard Lake is fair.
The pike and walleye fishing is good on Lake Margrethe by Grayling. Most of the fish being caught are found in water 12 to 20 feet deep. The perch action on the lake is fair. Anglers on Manistee Lake are catching a few bluegill.
Around Oscoda, the perch fishing is very good on Van Etten Lake. The fish are hitting on a variety of baits. The bluegill, perch, pike and walleye action is good on Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds. Anglers along the Au Sable River, below the dam, are catching a few steelhead.
Higgins Lake is still open, and fishing activity this week is slow.
Out on Houghton Lake, the pike and walleye fishing is good. The walleye are hitting on jigs, the northerns on tip-ups. Early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to be out.
And at Au Gres, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay near the mouth of the Pine River and south of Point Au Gres. Minnows are working well as bait, in water three to six feet deep.
East:
Around Linwood, the perch fishing is fair along the Saginaw Bay shoreline. The best fishing is found out from Linwood Road.
Out of the Bay City area, the perch action is good on Saginaw Bay. One of the best spots to drop a line through the ice is by the Quanicassee River. The walleye fishing is fair on the bay near Thomas Road.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year
Happy New Year and lots of outdoor fun in 08. Reports are good with many reports of good walleye fishing this week. Houghton Lake and Lake Margrethe seem to be great with Long Lake by Traverse having a good bite off of Cresent Shores.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Conditions have changed! Fishermen are reporting 8 to 10 inches of ice and more. Gas augers are popping up all over our lakes. Snowmobiles and quads are free to roam, prudent or not. Snowmobilers love this weekend??s heavy snow. The trails are groomed and everyone is having fun.
Panfish are cooperating. Crappie, gills, sunfish, perch, but mostly crappies are being caught on both lakes. Most anglers are going home with a mixture. Dry baits - waxworms, spikes or mousees
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Fishing Good After Storm
Lake Margrethe- Big turn-out on Lake Margrethe this weekend with many fish being caught. It will not last to much longer as two weeks seems to be the rule, but lets hope it goes longer.
Skegemog Lake has a great perch bite this week with the snow putting up some slush on the ice.
Green Lake by Interlochen is still open along with Higgins Lake so not much smelt fishing going on.
Houghton Lake walleye are biting for the first time in a few years as fishing off of Flint Rd seems to be the spot.
Skegemog Lake by Kalkaska has been good for perch this week.
Lake Cadillac and Mitchell had a great turn out this weekend with pike and crappie being on the bite.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Fishing Report
Lake Margrethe by Grayling is super for walleye and pike. Walleye are on a great bite with blues and sucker working best. Lots of fisherman headding out. Call Skips Sport for more info @ 989-348-7111
White Lake has been good for perch and pike the last few days with golden working best for pike.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports a good walleye bite also with some perch being caught.
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have good reports of walleye this week.
Loon Lake in Benzie County reports a perch bite with limit catches this week
Higgins Lake is wide open and will be a couple of weeks if things stay cold.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is fair on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice. .
I’m hearing of good ice around Gladwin, and Harrison. Wiggins Lake there is very good fishing with limit catches of gills and crappie. Muddy Bay on Wiggins lake has started with a few fish being caught.
Burt Lake near Alanson is producing fair to good perch fishing. Minnows are working well as bait in water about 40 feet deep. Perch and walleye fishing is good on Crooked Lake in water about 20 feet deep. .
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye off of Flint Rd. with limit catches the last few days. and pike with some crappie mixed in, but the deep snow has made it very slushy and many are getting stuck
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Still good reports this week.
Hamlin Lake near Ludington is producing fair to good crappie and walleye fishing. The best area to drop a line through the ice for walleye is along the north bayou. The best area to fish for the gills is on the south bayou.
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Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - Has anglers ice fishing for walleye off the launch site on the north end of the lake. Try tip-ups for pike along the east shoreline, This is a lake to keep your eye could get real hot when they can get to the island
Little Glen Lake - Anglers doing good on perch and pike.
Upper Peninsula:
Out on Lake Gogebic, the walleye fishing is fair on the north and south ends of the lake. Most fish are hitting on sucker minnows hooked to the end of a tip-up.
Around Marquette, anglers are catching a few perch and walleye on Teal and Independence lakes. Out of the Gladstone area, walleye fishing is good on the north end of Little Bay de Noc. Marble-eyes are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups. Perch fishing is fair on the bay. Anglers on the Escanaba Harbor are pulling a few pike through the ice.
By Manistique, the perch and walleye fishing is fair on Indian Lake.
Anglers on the ice covering the upper end of the St. Marys River near Sault Ste. Marie are catching a few whitefish.
Munuscong Bay is producing good perch fishing, with minnows the preferred bait. Pike and walleye are starting to bite in the bay.
Fishing activity this week around Drummond Island is slow due to poor ice conditions.
At St. Ignace, the perch fishing is fair on Brevort Lake. Minnows are working well as bait.
Northwest:
Burt Lake near Alanson is producing fair to good perch fishing. Minnows are working well as bait in water about 40 feet deep. Perch and walleye fishing is good on Crooked Lake in water about 20 feet deep.
Around Boyne City, the perch and walleye fishing is good on Walloon Lake. Anglers on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix are catching a few perch, pike and walleye. Splake fishing on Thumb Lake is fair.
By Traverse City, the perch action is fair on Glen Lake. Minnows are the preferred bait.
Out of the Frankfort area, anglers are catching a few bluegill, perch and pike on Arcadia Lake.
Fishing activity is slow on Crystal Lake, which is still open. Steelhead fishing is spotty on Betsie and Platte rivers.
In the Kalkaska area, the perch fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. Crappie and walleye fishing is fair on Manistee Lake. Anglers on Fife Lake are pulling a few perch and walleye through the ice.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord is producing fair walleye fishing. Fish are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups. A few panfish and walleye are being caught on Bradford Lake.
At Cadillac, the pike action is good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Bluegill and crappie fishing is fair on the lakes. Panfish are hitting on red spikes tipped to the end of a teardrop. Perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Lake Cadillac.
West:
Hamlin Lake near Ludington is producing fair to good crappie and walleye fishing. The best area to drop a line through the ice for walleye is along the north bayou. The best area to fish for the gills is on the south bayou.
Out of the Muskegon area, the perch, pike and walleye fishing is fair for the few people who are dumping boats into Muskegon Lake. The best time to fish for northerns is during the day, while evenings are the best time to be out or the walleye.
Anglers on Chippewa Lake are catching good numbers of panfish. Pike and walleye fishing is fair on the lake.
At Baldwin, fishing activity is slow due to poor ice conditions on the local lakes.
Southwest:
Lake Macatawa near Holland is producing fair to good bluegill fishing. Both wax worms and spikes are being used as bait. Anglers fishing from shore or in boats on the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers are catching a few steelhead and an occasional walleye. Anglers dropping a line through the ice on the bayous along the Grand River are catching a few bluegill.
Out of the Benton Harbor area, the steelhead fishing is fair on the St. Joseph River.
Anglers are reeling in a few steelhead along the Galien River in New Buffalo.
Around Kalamazoo, the bluegill fishing is fair on both Gun and Sunset lakes. Gills are hitting on a variety of baits.
At Three Rivers, fishing activity this week is slow due to the poor ice conditions on local lakes.
Northeast:
Anglers on both Long and Grand lakes near Alpena are reeling in a few perch and walleye. Minnows are working well as bait. Walleye fishing is fair on Hubbard Lake. Panfish and pike action on Fletcher Pond is fair.
Lake Margrethe by Grayling is producing good walleye fishing. Fish are hitting on both jigs and tip-ups.
Out of the Oscoda area, the perch and pike fishing is fair on the backwaters of Foote Dam Pond. On the pond itself, the perch and walleye action is fair. Van Etten Lake is producing good perch, pike and walleye fishing. Along the Au Sable River, a few steelhead and walleye are being reeled in by anglers.
Higgins Lake is still open. Fishing action there is slow.
Anglers are getting out on some of the ice covering Houghton Lake. Pike and walleye fishing is good, northerns are hitting on tip-ups, and walleye on both tip-ups and jigs.
East:
In the Linwood area, anglers getting out on the shore ice along Saginaw Bay are catching a few perch.
Around Bay City, the perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Saginaw Bay. Anglers on the Quanicassee River are also pulling a few perch through the ice. Walleye action is spotty on the ??hot pond? and at the mouth of the Saginaw River.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Fishing is Picking Up
Houghton Lake- It seems today a few people are starting to show up to go ice fishing and will improve as we get closer to the weekend. Fishing pressure has been slow with Christmas and big winds on Sunday. Reports are fishing was good today on most lakes that are froze over with 4 to 6 inches of ice. Lyman’s has his shanties out and Lymanville has started. Pike fishing has been good with a tagged pike out around his shanties that has lots of goodies with it.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
This past weekend was exciting, rain, strong winds and warm temperatures. The snow melted from the surface leaving standing water on the ice. The popular areas we fish still have 6 inches of good clear ice. Creepers are a must. It??s slick and wet. Fortunately temperatures are already falling and the teens are forecasted, the lakes are already tightening up. Smart fishermen are back to testing the ice with their spuds as they travel.
Panfishing has been good. Normal catches are mixtures of gills, crappie and perch. Crappie have been the predominant numbers, keepers usually in the 9-10 inch range. The coves on Mitchell are producing their usual numbers while the east side of Cadillac has also been good over the slab piles. Here they??re fishing 17 to 20 foot depths. Normally the blue gills have been a foot off the bottom, while the crappie are suspended about 5 feet off the bottom. Lately red or white spikes have been out fishing small minnows which are normally the crappies favorite. Although panfish are caught all day, the best bites have been between 7 AM to 10 AM and especially 3 PM to 6 PM.
Pike fishing has been fun! Both lakes are producing healthy, fat Northerns. As in past seasons, fish Mitchell for the numbers. On Cadillac expect fewer flags but larger pike. So far, Tim Haysmer??s 38 incher is the largest we??ve photographed. The 30 to 35 inch range has been common. Some of the most successful tip-up fishermen have replaced their steel leaders. Instead they use about 3 feet of heavy (20 lb.) monofilament as their leader. They claim that they are getting more flags now that their line isn??t as visible. Haven??t heard of break offs either. Pike fishing has been good. Rig you tip-ups and take advantage of it. Below see photos of some great pike.
We??re experiencing an above normal numbers of walleye catches. The cabbage patches on the west side of Mitchell seems to be the best area. Medium size minnows on light line tip-ups or jigging with Rapalas account for near limits of 19 to 25 inchers. Those that are catching them won??t give us many details but their accounts are accurate.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Turkey
Shot this today during the snow storm
Friday, December 21, 2007
December Buck
This december buck was sneaking by some farm equipment last night
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas Fishing Report
Check out the New Fishing Forum
Lake Margrethe by Grayling is real good for walleye and pike. Walleye are on a great bite with blues and sucker working best. Lots of fisherman headding out. Call Skips Sport for more info @ 989-348-7111
White Lake has been good for perch and pike the last few days with golden working best for pike.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord reports a good walleye bite also with some perch being caught.
Long Lake by Traverse and Lake Leelanau have iced over and will be ready in a few days for some good walleye fishing. They are vernturing out but ice is iffy
Higgins Lake is wide open and will be a couple of weeks if things stay cold.
Lake Skegemog by Kalkaska has good ice and they are just starting to get out to the perch grounds, seeing lots of big perch on there cameras and they bite for a day until the storm hit and put a bunch of snow on the ice.
I’m hearing of some good ice around Gladwin, and Harrison. Wiggins Lake there is very good fishing with limit catches of gills and crappie. Muddy Bay on Wiggins lake has started with a few fish being caught.
Black Lake and Burt went over and has about three inches of ice and many will be fishing this weekend.
Houghton Lake has a good bite with walleye and pike with some crappie mixed in, but the deep snow has made it very slushy and many are getting stuck
Lake Missaukee - Ice fishing is on and anglers are catching panfish off of Green Rd, Most are the size of your hand or 7 to 8 inches but limit catches. Still good reports this week.
Muskegon Lake - Boat anglers are fishing for perch over on the west end of the lake. Try just off the bottom in 38 feet of water. Walleye have been caught when trolling about 7 to 8 feet down in 12 to 15 feet of water along the edge of the weedbeds. Boats have been spotted near the Bear Lake Channel and behind the Paper Mill. Some are ice fishing for bluegills in Snug Harbor which is in the northwest corner of the lake.
Spider Lake - Anglers are ice fishing for panfish.
Fife Lake - Has anglers ice fishing for walleye off the launch site on the north end of the lake. Try tip-ups for pike along the east shoreline, This is a lake to keep your eye could get real hot when they can get to the island
Little Glen Lake - Anglers doing good on perch and pike.
South Manistique Lake - Those ice fishing have caught walleye and perch in waters 7 to 12 feet deep. Some of the perch are 8 to 9 inches however anglers will need to sort out the small ones. Lots of small pike have also been caught. There is slush on the lake.
North Manistique Lake - Is also covered with slush and the ice formation is not uniform. Because of this, most anglers are fishing the southern end of the lake where there was less snow. Some nice walleye have been caught.
Indian Lake reports good perch fishing
Around Newberry fishing has been fair.
Upper Peninsula:
The fishing action around Copper Harbor is slow. There is ice forming on the harbor, but nothing that is safe enough for anglers to get out on.
Lake Gogebic is producing fair to good walleye fishing. The best fishing is found on the north and south ends of the lake. Afternoons seem to be the best time to be out. Most of the marble eyes are hitting on tip-ups tipped with a sucker minnow.
Anglers in the Marquette area are finding some decent ice on the local lakes, but the action is slow since most of the fish are line shy.
By Gladstone, the walleye fishing is good on Little Bay de Noc. Anglers are using jigging poles and tip-ups. The perch fishing on the bay is fair.
Out of the Manistique area, the perch fishing is good on Indian Lake. Minnows are working well as bait. The walleye action on the lake is fair. In the Sault Ste. Marie area, anglers are just starting to get out on the ice covering the shallow bays along the St. Marys River.
Information is limited on what, if anything, is being caught.
Munuscong Bay is producing fair perch fishing. Mornings are the best time to drop a line through the ice.
Fishing activity around Drummond Island is slow this week, due to the lack of safe ice. By Cedarville, anglers are catching a few perch on Muscallonge (Musky) Bay. Minnows are the preferred bait.
And at St. Ignace, the perch action is fair on Brevort Lake. Both minnows and wigglers are being used as bait.
Northwest:
Fishing activity this week is slow by Alanson, due to the poor weather conditions.
Out of the Boyne City area, people are starting to get out on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix and on the north end of Walloon Lake. A few perch, pike and walleye are being caught on the lakes.
West of the Traverse City area, the perch fishing is fair on Glen Lake.
Around Frankfort, Arcadia Lake is producing fair perch and pike fishing. Anglers on Bass Lake are catching a few crappie.
Skegemog Lake by Kalkaska is producing some very good perch fishing. The pike fishing on the lake is fair. The walleye fishing on Fife Lake is very good. Anglers are using jigs and tip-ups, with minnows being the preferred bait.
In the Gaylord area, the panfish and walleye fishing is fair on Otsego Lake. The walleye are hitting on minnows hooked on the end of a tip-up.
And at Cadillac, both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are producing excellent pike fishing. The bigger northerns seem to be coming out of Lake Cadillac. Anglers on the lakes are catching good numbers of bluegill and crappie, with the best fishing found on the east side of Lake Cadillac. The perch and walleye fishing on the lakes is fair.
West:
Anglers on Hamlin Lake near Ludington are catching good numbers of bluegill, crappie and pike. Pere Marquette Lake is producing some good perch and pike fishing, however, anglers need to be very careful on the ice, which is still on the thin side. Anglers along the Pere Marquette River are catching a few steelhead. Both wigglers and spawn are being used as bait.
Out of the Muskegon area, anglers still able to get a boat in Muskegon Lake are catching a few perch during the day. The best area to fish is on the west end of the lake, in water about 35 feet deep. At night, anglers are trolling for walleye in water about 15 feet deep.
Chippewa Lake is producing some very good walleye fishing. Anglers on the lake are also catching a few panfish and pike through the ice.
And at Baldwin, anglers are starting to get out on many of the local lakes. The bluegill fishing is fair, with both waxworms and mousies being used as bait.
Northeast:
By Alpena, the perch and walleye fishing is good on both Grand and Long lakes. Minnows are working well as bait. Hubbard Lake is also producing some good walleye action. The best area to drop a line through the ice seems to be on the east side of the lake.
Lake Margrethe by Grayling is producing some excellent walleye fishing. Anglers are using jigging poles and tip-ups. The perch fishing on the lake ranges from slow to fair.
Out of the Oscoda area, the perch fishing is good on Van Etten Lake. The pike and walleye action on the lake is fair. Foote Dam Pond is producing fair to good perch and walleye fishing. Anglers along the Au Sable River are catching a few whitefish, walleye and steelhead.
With no safe ice, fishing activity is slow this week on Higgins Lake.
Houghton Lake is producing good pike and walleye fishing. Anglers are using jigs and tip-ups, with minnows being the preferred bait.
And at Au Gres, the bluegill and crappie fishing is fair in the cuts and channels along Saginaw Bay. The perch action is slow on the ice that has formed along the bay.
East:
Around Linwood, the perch fishing is fair along Saginaw Bay. Anglers will have to sort through the fish that are caught to find any keepers.
In the Bay City area, the walleye fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The perch fishing is slow to fair. Anglers are catching quite a few fish, but many of them are too small to keep.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Long Lake
Long Lake by Traverse City is starting with three inches of ice. They are catching walleye but they are on the small side. Blues and small suckers working best.
Lake Leelanau south-end has ice have not heard thickness, but they are catching a few fish.
A few are getting out on Fife Lake with a few perch being caught, keep an eye out on that lake as the perch fishing could get hot first ice when they can get out to the deeper water.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Lake Margrethe is Still Good
Skips Sport Shop reports walleye and pike bite still good with blues and suckers working best. Call 989-348-7111 for an updated fishing report. Bite usually last till after the first of the year.
Downstate the snow has slowed the fishing as the lakes are hard to walk out on, but they should settle by the weekend
Monday, December 17, 2007
Ice Fishing Getting Better
Lake City- Lake Missaukee is still producing good catches of panfish and some pike.
Indian Lake by Manistique is good for perch.
Lake Margrethe report a good walleye and pike bite.
Green and Duck Lake have went over by Interlochen
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
First ice on Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell is all we hope it would be. Fishing has been great! The ice is good, roughly 4 to 8 inches and making more daily. All species are cooperating. There??s something for everyone. Most on the ice this weekend were happy. See pictures of huge pike, crappies, bluegills and even walleye.
Fishermen love big pike and are catching limits. Set your tip-ups along the weed beds or drop offs. Most are caught in 5 to 10?? depths. Golden shiners or suckers have been the best baits. Those who prefer catching them on rods are using slammers or jigging with Rapalas. You must see all the pike pictures below. Remember we??ve only been on the ice a little more than a week. The largest, so far, has been a 38 inch caught by Tim Haysmer. Tim??s a better than average spear fisherman, but using tip-ups until spearing is legal.
Nice catches of Crappies and Bluegills are coming from both lakes. There??s no pattern because they??ve been caught on spikes, waxworms and mousees. All the dry baits are working. Just get your favorite in front of them. The east side of Cadillac has been popular. Most catches have been in 12 to 18 foot depths. Gills have been on the bottom while crappies are usually suspended above them. Prefer shallower water, the coves on Mitchell have been good in 6 to 10 foot depths.
For you non believers there are reports of walleyes in the 20 inch range and crappie fishermen using small minnow tell of catching undersized walleye. The past DNR plantings must have survived. Bill Rewa from Dorr, Michigan caught a 25 1?2? on a tip-up.