Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Ice Fishing is About Done
In Northern Michigan ice fishing is close to being done as ice is breaking away from shore. Higgins Lake is still good with quads were on the ice today and they are still catching smelt
Pilgrims in Cadillac reports, a few die harts haven??t let winter go. Should they be ice fishing on Mitchell or Cadillac? Probably not! It??s time get your boat ready for spring, the ice is black. The shore is heaving in places and open in others. Getting on is a problem, but getting off can be worst. It??s time to call it quits. Don??t be fooled by the thickness of the ice. It is definitely honey combed. A few steps can make a big difference.
Rain is forecasted the remainder of the week which will be the finally. This season has been the longest, most consistent for snow and ice in years. An area lake that currently has good ice is Missaukee. Panfish activity has picked up with the warm weather. Spikes, waxworms or mousees are the baits of choice.
Marshall Olsen makes several trips to Cadillac and always does well. The day before pike season closed, he caught a nice pike while fishing the causeway on Lake Cadillac. The weather was still cold. Last ice angler Chris Labbe is pictured with a mixed catch of crappie and bluegills.
Once the majority of ice melts and the lakes start to warm, the first place to catch a good mess of specks will be the causeway on Lake Cadillac. Warm water and food brings them to the shallows, a pre spawn ritual. The shoreline will be filled with anglers hoping to get their share.
Steelhead
The Tippy Dam area has slowed for steelhead, but those scrappy browns are there. Best steelhead catches are coming from the Bear Creek, Rainbow Bend areas. Warm weather and rain will bring more fish up. The best is yet to come.
PIKE ALERT
The DNR is seeking input on new draft management strategies for pike and muskellunge in Michigan. The plans are available on the DNR website at DNR-Pike .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Comments about the northern pike and muskellunge plan can be emailed to each respective address.
The DNR is encouraging the public to read the options and make comment by April 30, 2009.
Carefully read page 21. Which has the following options.
1.) No minimum size limit, Bag 5 maximize sustainable harvest.
2.) 24? minimum size limit, Bag 2 - maintain current structure for fast growth
populations.
3.) Protected slot 24-34, Bag 2 fish immediately released between 24-34 inches to improve population size structure.
4.) 26 or 30? minimum size limit reduced harvest.
Dark House Anglers (Spear Fishermen), slot limits will dramatically influence this sport, especially since the season was extended.
The DNR study does not account for mortality in released pike.
A slot limit may help develop Trophy fish. But most fishermen are happy to harvest pike in the 24 to 30 inch range. Anything larger is a bonus.
Make your comments known.
Remember
2009 licenses are available now. You must have your new license by April 1, 2009.
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