Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Fishing Contest for free fishing weekend
Fishing Contest for next weeks free fishing weekend
2011 BIg Ice Tournament - Osborns Sport Shop
$5.00 Pre-Registration at Osborn’s Sports Shop. By Feb. 17th 7 pm. Start fishing 12 am runs up to 4:30 pm Sunday Feb. 20th. check it out @ http://www.osbornssportshop.com/
Check out the Baitshop North’s big fishing contest in Lake City @ http://www.bucsfishingreport.com/baitshop_north/fishing_contest.html
Check out the Rock Fishing Contest on Saturday February 19th
7am - 5pm
on Fife Lake in Fife Lake MI@ http://therockofkingsley.com/Home_Page.php
Northwest:
Green Lake by Interlochen is producing smelt off the music camp, glow hali’s tipped with spikes and waxworms working best. Also the last few days lights are a must. Fisherman are getting out on the south access by the out let of the Little Betsie and doing good.
Manistee Lake -Has a good pike bite right now with a few perch being caught
Lake Missaukee -Was good for panfish and pike were hitting on tip-ups with a variety of minnows.
Cadillac Area: Lake Cadillac - Is producing some crappie along with a few perch and bluegills. Pike action continues for those spearing or using tip-ups. Lake Mitchell - Is still producing a good number of pike. Mid Season fishing has picked up. Good catches of crappie, often limits are back. Consistent crappie fishermen tell us to concentrate on 8 foot depths, early and before dark. Often they’re just under the ice. Most are fishing the bottom and may miss them. Even electronics may not work when they’re suspended so high.
Fife Lake they are catching perch,pike and some gills on waxworms.
Elk Lake has some brave souls venturing out for Lake trout.
Little Glen is producing pike and perch.
Big Glen has many trying with a few perch being caughtit is really hit or miss.
Lake Leelanau has slowed on perch and walleye bite on the south end with some trout and walleye coming off the north-end. For bigger bluegills, try the south lake. Call the Fishook for the latest bite @ 231-256-9496
Long Lake is producing walleye and perch but the catch rate has slowed this week.
Portage lake the perch have started to bite, with some pike being caught.
Skegemog is producing perch with many small ones now with wigglers and perch minnows working best for the perch.
Lake Bellaire they are just starting to venture out on and a few big walleye being caught.
Around Leroy fishing is good for pike.
Lake Charlevoix - Is providing moderate success for both yellow perch and walleye. The South Arm was producing the best.
Intermediate Lake - In Antrim County also has walleye anglers targeting the south end of the lake.
Manistee River -Not a lot of reports have come in since the return of arctic weather. Those brave enough to head out should still find some steelhead to catch.
Some are starting to get back out on Mullet, Black and Burt but be very careful.
Spider and Arbutus Lake by TC have been good for panfish
Haymarsh Lakes - In Mecosta County, were producing limit catches of bluegill.
Crystal Lak eSmelt have been caught at night in 40 to 50 feet of water. Try Hali jigs with spikes or wax worms. Perch off Lobb Rd. but sorting many small perch.
Hamlin Lake - Should also be giving up bluegill, crappie and perch. For crappie, try the drop-off along the Narrows. For walleye, try just south of the Narrows and fish early morning or late evening.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Higgins Lake Is producing some smelt out from Amvets Lodge on the west side of the lake, off the North State Park and out from Big creek. Try 20 to 35 feet of water in the morning until about 10am or in the evening. Pike spearing was good and lake trout were hitting on tip-ups with minnows or smelt. Perch anglers are fishing the weed beds in the morning.
Houghton Lake -Has safe ice with lots of small pike and walleye being caught. Still has good walleye action along the north shore and in the East Bay in 8 to 11 feet of water along the drop. Pike action is also good on the south end when using tip-ups. Panfish are hard to find and the bite is slow. Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake is reporting things are tough to get out on the lake.and will give you info where his shanty is you can call or visit him at his store phone# 989-422-5230. Also he has started to rent shanties this week so give him a call. Also Dave got a shipment of Otter shanties in for sale.
Tawas - Catch rates for perch, walleye, and pike were slow. Fishing pressure was light due to deep snow.
Lake Margrethe has ice and the fishing has slowed for perch, and a few walleye and pike are being caught..
Otsego Lake off the state park has been good for pike, perch, and some are trying there luck for strugeon Bradford Lake a few are getting out perch fishing. Chub lake trout have been biting on blues
Harrison report all the lakes are froze and have safe ice with panfish and pike biting great with first ice.
Lake St Helen has a good pike and panfish bite with a few walleyes being caught.
West Branch has safe ice with many pike and gills being caught
Black Lake - Was producing some nice perch but catch rates were slow. A few muskie were also caught..
Wixom Lake has slowed with many fishing off the access site reporting catches of gills and pike. Crappie have started to bite.
Grand Lake - Is producing some perch and panfish. For pike and walleye, try tip-ups in Whiskey Bay or Black Bass Bay.
Long Lake - Try tip-ups with a minnow on the bottom for northern pike. Those looking for perch will want to fish along the north and south shores.
Mullett Lake - Anglers still catching perch on minnows and wigglers in 20 to 45 feet of water. Spearing action was still slow but those fishing hook and line did manage to catch a few pike. Cisco and walleye fishing were slow.
Hubbard Lake - Is producing a few walleye.
McCollum Lake - In Oscoda County, is producing good numbers of panfish.
Sugar Springs, Wiggins and Pratt Lake have been good for pike and a few gills being caught.
Secord Lake has had a good bite this winter for big crappie and pike.
Upper Peninsula
keweenaw Bay - Coho and a few lake herring were caught out from the L’Anse Marina, just north of the Legion, off Sand Point and out from the Tribal Police Station. Try 8 to 15 feet down in 20 to 70 feet of water. Lake trout were caught out from Jentoft’s and the Tribal Police Station when jigging in waters between 70 and 220 feet deep. Perch were caught near the Baraga Marina and the Whitefish Hole east of Baraga was producing a mix of lake trout and whitefish in 80 to 105 feet of water. On average, the bite was slow except for smelt hitting at night. Best times were 7-10pm and midnight until 2am.
Little Bay De Noc - Has pretty good ice conditions and just enough snow for easy access. Some reported problems when trying to cross the pressure cracks, especially near the Terrace Bay Inn. Extreme caution needs to be used. Catches were mixed but the best area was near Kipling where walleye and perch were taken by those jigging rapalas or minnows in 30 feet of water. Good numbers of jumbo perch were also reported. Fair to good walleye catches out from the Terrace Bay Inn and south to the Escanaba River when jigging rapalas or using tip-ups in 25 to 33 feet of water. Some reported good catches near Portage Point however this area is still dangerous and caution needs to be used. Some have marked and caught good numbers of smelt in this area when using shiners. Whitefish anglers are out in force near Sand Point. Most are jigging spawn or minnows in 70 to 90 feet of water.
Munising - Most anglers are concentrating on whitefish. Catch rates were fair when using a single egg in 50 to 80 feet of water. The size and number varies but most anglers were bringing in fish. Lake herring and splake were slow. Burbot have started to bite and are hitting in the early morning. Some lake trout were caught in deep water in the channels around Grand Island. Live bait is permitted in the waters around Pictured Rocks however anglers must retain proof by means of a receipt that they are fishing with certified bait, which means it is VHS free.
Indian Lake - Anglers with vehicles are getting stuck in snow drifts. Accessing the lake off Elm Street is not advised as the ice has shifted near shore and there is now a pool of water on top of the ice. Those trying to drive around it are creating very deep ruts, so lower vehicles are getting stuck. Those heading out on the northeast side of the lake should use Danielson’s Landing. Someone was nice enough to plow the road which makes access much easier. On the northwest side, the launch in Lange’s Bay is still a good place to access the lake however watch for deep snow. The pressure crack on the north end has opened up even more. On the south end, anglers were still crossing but caution needs to be used. Anglers should stay away from the mouth of the Indian River and use extreme caution near Silver Creek on the west side, Palm Springs area on the northwest side and north of the Lange’s Bay launch where there are springs. A few perch were taken by those still-fishing or jigging with minnows. Those using tip-ups with bigger minnows were taking a few walleye and pike. Best time to fish was at dusk or just after dark.
Munuscong Bay - Walleye catches have slowed considerably as the fish remain scattered in waters up to 30 feet deep. Perch are slow, but can still be found in shallow waters 3 to 6 feet deep.
Cedarville and Hessel - Only those that are persistent have caught a few perch along the west side of Hessel Bay, off Haven Island, and the east end of Hessel Bay in 6 to 14 feet of water when using wigglers and minnows. Musky Bay was slow but a few did manage to catch some perch in 10 feet of water.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Catch rates were spotty in Brest Bay and near the Banana Dike and Metro Park Marina. Deep snow on the ice is making travel more difficult.
South Lake - In the Pinckney Recreation Area is producing some black crappie and pike. For crappie, try jigging minnows in 20 to 25 feet of water.
Detroit River - Perch can still be found off Gibraltar. Airport Bay was fair to good for bluegill, perch and pike. Most of the marinas are also providing fair to good action for bluegill and perch.
Lake St. Clair - Had a great deal of snow on the ice which is making travel much more difficult. Perch reports were spotty with most anglers only taking a few fish. The big winter storm slowed all the action in Anchor Bay.
Lexington - Anglers are still fishing for rainbows but catch rates were slow. The water is very clear, so anglers can see good numbers of rainbow, perch and suckers.
Saginaw Bay - Anglers are complaining about access sites being snowed in. Snow removal is in the process however it may take some time. Perch anglers are heading out 8 miles off Pine River Road, but catch rates were slow. Fair walleye action 5 miles off Pinconning and Linwood anglers are heading out to the Spark Plug for walleye. Vanderbilt Park is producing a few perch. Not much activity on the east side and the water is too muddy for spearing. At Caseville, a few lake trout were taken through the ice.
Saginaw River - Sublegal walleye continue but a few keepers were caught at Essexville near the Anderson Marina and the Coast Guard Station. Those fishing near the Independence Bridge have also caught the occasional keeper. Smaller walleyes were caught between Bay City and Saginaw. A few perch were taken off Patterson Road near the mouth.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Should have fair to good steelhead action by the weekend.
Randall Lake - In Branch County is producing good catches of panfish and pike.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead action is starting to pick back up.
Grand River at Lansing - Is still good for pike at both the Moore’s Park Dam and the North Lansing Dam when using pike or sucker minnows under a bobber.
Lake Lansing - Is good for pike and panfish.
Muskrat Lake - Is giving up bluegill and crappie.
Sessions Lake - Has been good for bluegill and crappie. Anglers are fishing off the point along the south end of the lake.
Muskegon Lake - Is producing some perch. Most were small however a few keepers were taken as well.
White Lake - Is producing perch, but many were small. Try 20 to 30 feet of water off Indian Point. Pike anglers using tip-ups or spears caught fish in the Narrows.
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