Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year
Don’t forget you can use 3 lines per person this year.
We have ice and lots of fisherman are getting out this week and trying there luck. Most places report great fishing pressure, only the real deep lakes are open.
Lake St. Helen is reporting good pike and walleye with a few panfish this week
Down at Wixom Lake they are doing good on Muddy Bay with limit catches of gills on waxworms.
Margrethe and Otsego have good iv ce and many shaties are showing up on the lake
Around Leroy, Farwell, Cadillac, Harrison and Sanford they have good ice and are catching fish.
Long Lake and Lake Leelanau by Traverse City have good ice for walking and perch and walleye ae biting.
Portage Lake is froze, but ice is thin out in the channel
Skegemog Lake - Ice anglers are catching perch and many shanies out for spearing muskie and pike.
Lake Cadillac - Ice anglers are taking fair to good numbers of northern pike when using tip-ups or spear fishing. A few walleye were also caught. Those fishing in shallow waters have caught bluegills and crappie. Ice shanties were seen on the west side of the lake.
Lake Mitchell - Has ice however the better fishing was on Cadillac.
Hamlin Lake is reporting a good panfish and pike bite with lots of people out and about this week.
Big Manistique Lake - Has ice and is producing walleye along with some perch.
South Manistique Lake - Is also producing walleye and a few perch. Both lakes should also start producing some pike.
Twin Lake - Near Newberry has ice and the bluegill anglers are out.
Higgins Lake - was wide open when I went by today
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
We are getting an ice storm today, it is not hurting any ice but makes getting there a challenge. Many of the deeper lakes are froze over but are not safe with the warmer weather it might be a few more days before fisherman venture out.
Down at Wixom Lake they are doing good on Muddy Bay with limit catches of gills on waxworms. Many lakes they are just getting on like Margrethe and Otsego.
Around Leroy, Farwell, Cadillac, Harrison and Sanford they have ice and are catching fish.
Long Lake and Lake Leelanau by Traverse City have about 4 inches of ice and it is still iff in many places.
Northwest:
A few of the small shallow lakes had some ice forming however recent snow showers have now created slush. Safety is a concern so anglers are advised to fish shallow waters only. The large lakes still had open water.
Boardman River - The occasional steelhead was caught on wax worms.
Long Lake - Had a few anglers catching tasty walleye and nice pike.
Lake Cadillac - Has a good crappie bite on Lake Cadillac with lots of pike and a few walleye.
Manistee - Manistee lake is froze
Manistee River - Steelhead were still being caught however catch rates were slow with the colder weather.
Ludington - Hamlin Lake has ice and a great panfish bite with limit catches being reported
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Alpena - Boat ramps in the harbor are ice covered and the docks have been removed. Open-water fishing has come to an end. While ice has formed, there was no safe ice to report.
Grand Lake - Has good ice but fishing has been fair with Black Bass Bay hit and miss.
Long Lake - Had a few ice anglers starting to fish and walleye and perch the main fare.
Au Sable River - Those braving the cold were still catching some steelhead in the lower river. Most were using spawn or wax worms.
Higgins Lake - Shoreline ice is starting to form but most of the lake still has open water.
Houghton Lake - The ice continues to build and shanties are out on the lake. Flint road has been good for walleye and Dave at Four Seson party Store is out looking for a good spot as last year hotspot the weeds are down and not holding fish. Lyman’s on the lake is putting his shanties out today and will be renting on the 26. We are also going to have a pike fishing contest which starts the 26 also.
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Upper Peninsula
Deeper lakes in the western portion have just frozen over. Slush was reported on many of the inland lakes so those thinking about heading out need to use extreme caution.
Lake Gogebic - Anglers were out on first ice and catching a few perch in Bergland Bay.
Munuscong Bay - A few ice anglers were catching some perch. Ice conditions vary so anglers need to use extreme caution.
Cedarville - Also had reports of some perch being caught by ice anglers. First ice is dangerous ice so anglers need to use caution.
Bay De Noc is froze with a few getting out thios week but not much to report yet.
Indian Lake has a good walleye and perch bite but please keep your trucks on shore as one went thought last week
Monday, December 21, 2009
Many Deeper Lake are Ice Covered
Many of the deeper lake went over this weekend and we hope any big snow will hold off till we get a good ice base. A few are out but with Christmas closing in many are shopping or get togethers with family and friends. After Christmas the ice fishing should start in ernest with deer hunting coming to a close.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
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Deer Hunting Season is over and everyone??s attention has turned back to fishing. There??s no waiting for hard water. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are frozen. Expect to find 4? plus of good ice and some areas more. Temperatures are on our side without any major snow storms. So it is making ice daily. Portable shanties are popping up and snowmobiles are running the edges.
Regardless of the activity you see on the ice, use your spud to check your way where ever you go. The seasons just starting and there??s lots of places that have not been explored.
First Ice is living up to its expectations, because pike and especially walleye have been cooperating. This year??s rule change, anglers may use 3 rods or tip-ups are an advantage. Also, pike spearing season started December 1st through March 15th.
Local favorites Chris Hansen and Brian Brown are usually first on the ice. It paid off. Chris iced a 26?, 6.3 pound walleye. Brian Brown??s was 25?, over 5 pounds. Most walleyes we??re hearing of have been caught on Lake Cadillac using tip-ups.
Pike spearing season began December 1st and so has our contest. No charge but you must be registered. Stop in for rules and to register.
Thomas Jessup is in 2nd Place with a 26 ½? pike. Soon he??ll bump this one with a larger one.
Brian Brown??s 34 5/16; 9.1 pound is in 1st Place. Way to start!
Look at the nice catch of panfish caught by Jerry Lawhead. Mixed catches of crappie and bluegills are common. Most reports are from Lake Cadillac using small jigs tipped with spikes for gills. Crappies favorite bait is small minnows.
See you on the ice!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Were Ice Fishing
Many of the shallow lakes are froze with lakes south of M-55 being safer as they had less snow. Most lakes in Northern Micigan are open as they are deeper lakes. Houghton Lake has 4 to 6 inches of ice and walleye and pike are biting.
Down at Wixom Lake they are doing good on Muddy Bay with limit catches of gills on waxworms. Many lakes they are just getting on like Margrethe and Otsego.
Around Leroy, Farwell, Cadillac, Harrison and Sanford they have ice but not many venturing out yet but cold weather without snow will make ice in a hurry.
Most minnow dealers have put in a stock of live bait this week with a feeling that a few will be getting out this week end
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Lots of Lakes have Ice
Lots of lakes iced over last night and we should have safe ice by next weekend. Now if the snow will hold off till we get a good 7 inches of hard blue ice we will have a awesome christmas present.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Maybe Sunday
A few lakes we might be fishing on sunday as cold weather locks in
Thursday, December 10, 2009
We Will Soon be Ice Fishing
Many shallow lakes have iced over, but the big snowfall will slow us from getting good ice for a few days. Thank god most lakes we still open as we had 20 inches of snow the last two days. Muzzle loader season opens in the LP so have a successful hunt. I will keep you posted on ice conditions though the winter. Also check out my facebook and twitter page as I will post to there first from the road driving the bait-truck.