Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
West Platte Bay
I shot this today of West Platte Bay
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Snow, snow and more snow. Saturday??s storm left us with a foot and more is on the way. Snowmobilers, the groomed trails are great! Skier??s conditions are fantastic. Fishermen, its slow going. Soon most of it will blow off the lakes and it??ll be easier to explore.
No problems with ice. Expect over a foot. You??ll work up a sweat using hand augers. Fire up your Jiffy!
Those fishing this weekend deserved fish. The constant blowing snow was brutal, but nestled in their shanties we??re comfortable. However, movement was restricted.
Even with the storm several pike were caught. They??re always hungry. Most reports of those kept were in the 30 inch range. Even a few walleye in the 17 to 20 inch range were iced.
The predominant panfish have been crappie, only a few gills. All the panfish have been biting lite. Those using spring bobbers say that it??s normal to get lift bites with subtle movement. Those using cameras see them just mouthing the baits and not moving. Any movement at all set your hook, because there may not be a second chance. Currently, they are not aggressive.
Those catching the most are using the lightest line possible and have downsized their jigs to micro sizes, tipping them with a single maggot. Any movement of your line or spring bobber set your hook. As stated before, early mornings and just before dark has been the best bite.
Better size crappie, our famous 12 inchers are showing up on the east side of Lake Cadillac. Few have been fishing the slab pikes in the 18 to 20 foot water. Normally there are several shanties in the area, but not this year. Often better size gills, perch and rock bass will round out a limit of panfish. It??s hard to fish deep water with micro jigs but it??s worth it. A shanty solves the wind problem. Also, use your electronics to find them. Often they are suspended midway from the bottom.
Sixteen year old Donnie Divis and 8 year old Blake Kinzler teamed up to catch a 27? pike while fishing on Lake Mitchell.
Tim Henry speared a healthy 6 pound, 30 1/8 inch pike. Another good one, a 29 inch, 5 pounder was speared Ed Pascoe.
Spear fishermen have notices that many of the pike they see are cruising just under the ice. This is important when setting tip-ups. It??s a good bet to set one shallow. Many mistakenly fish theirs too deep.
Smelt Fishermen:
Crystal - current reports from the DNR is no motorized vehicles and fish close to shore. All the new snow hasn??t helped the ice.
Higgins - Great season. Most are fishing south out the West boat launch. Catching good numbers in the daylight and even better at night.
The 2009 DNR License year begins April 1st. Your 2008 license expires March 31st. You can start buying the 2009 Licenses March 1st. The 2009 Michigan Fishing Guides are now available.
2009 Major Rule Changes effective April 1, 2009
2 gallon possession limit on smelt. This includes hook & line and dip nets.
Its official, 3 lines are legal ??not to exceed 3 lines to which maybe attached a total of 6 hooks on all lines?.