Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Cadillac Report
How quickly Michigan’s weather changes. New Years Weekend we saw 50 degree temperatures, rain and wind gusts up to 40 MPH. The combination ate up the snow and left standing water on the lakes. The same weekend the temps fell over night to the teens with flurries making things white again.
The snow melted from the lakes and is making new ice as I write. We didn’t lose much and even have better ice in some areas. There’s a light snow cover but the lakes are slick. Wear creepers and avoid a fall. As before, use your spud to check the ice where ever you go, even places you may have fished before.
For those of us who ice fish the weekend the weather turned out to be an advantage! Without the heavy snow cover it’s making thicker strong clear ice.
Snowmobilers, more snow is predicted. We’ll get you back on the trails soon.
After a slow start, the panfish bite finally started. Getting reports of limits from Cadillac and Mitchell. Usually the beter catches have some crappie up to 12 inches and hand-sized gills.
Jerry Lawhead, on the areas better fishermen, shows a
limit of panfish. Largest crasppie measured 12 1/2 inches.
If you’d rather catch pike or try for walleye, you’ve come to the right lakes. Tip-up and spearing catches have been good. We see many northerns over 30 inches. Walleye have been hit or miss but using the basic equipment as pike. Your chances are there.
The ink never dries on the Pilgrim Village Pike Spearng Board. Count on daily changes.
First Place William Beaver 38” 12.4 lbs. Cadillac
Second Place Ron Paddock 35 1/4” 8.2 lbs. Missaukee
Third Place John Collins 33 1/2” 6.8 lbs. Cadillac
Fourth Place Jared Newille 32 1/2” 6.11 lbs. Cadillac
Fifth Place Ryan Quist 32 1/4” 7.6 lbs. Mitchell
Sixth Place Gary Swiger 32 1/2” 6.0 lbs. Mitchell
Seventh Place Harrison Krantz 32” 7.2 lbs. Missaukee
Eighth Place James Cornelius 32” 7.1 lbs. Mitchell
William Beaver with 38”, 12.4 lb. pike speared on Lake Cadillac. Ron Paddock with 35 1/4” pike speared on Lake Missaukee.
The Youth Division
First Place 13 year old, Tyler McConnel 28 1/2” 7.10 lbs. Mitchell
Second Place 9 year old, Andrew Lobbezoo 26” 3.8 lbs. Mitchell
Tyler McConnell with 28 1/2” bowfin speared on Lake Mitchell. Andy Lobbezoo speared a 26” pike on Lake Mitchell.
Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are perfect for spearing. Relatively shallow lakes with good numbers of large pike and rough fish (bowfin, bullheads or suckers).
Thinking walleye. Look at these pictures!
Here’s one Andy Pluger caught on Lake Cadillac before New Tim richardson also caught a big holiday walleye on Lake
Years - 23” - 4.6 lbs. Mitchell - 24” - 5.2 lbs.
Bluegill Anglers - Many of the Green Road Anglers are talking limits on Lake Missaukee.
See you on the ice!
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