Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Up North Fishing Report 3/6/09
Smeltville on Higgins Lake seems to be the place to catch fish right now as the fish are biting
I’m not hearing any great reports as we seem to be in ice fishing fatigue as most wait for nicer weather
Crystal Lake- Still had good smelt action at night off of Lobb Rd.!
Higgins Lake- The ice is holding but anglers should avoid taking cars and trucks out. The smelt are coming into shallow waters 10 to 15 feet deep and the bigger fish like perch and whitefish are following them. Perch were also found in 5 to 8 feet of water. Lake trout are still hitting just off the bottom in waters about 80 feet deep. You can call Phoenix Park @ 989-821-7220 for info off the west access site and Sports Barn @ 989-821-9511 for info on the south-end of Higgins Lake
Lake Margrethe has good ice and fishing has been slow. Call Skipâ??s Sport Shop @ 989-348-7111 for the latest info.
Portage Lake by Onekama has been good for perch, with some getting walleye right at dark. Call Osbornâ??s Sport Shop in Bear Lake @ 231-889-3775 or Donâ??s Sport Shop in Manistee @ 231-723-5028
Hamlin Lake- F Anglers are taking a mixed bag of panfish between the Wilson Hill Park and the Boy Scout Camp in 12 feet of water. Tear drops with wax worms just off the bottom worked best and bright colors stand out in the murky water. Try jigging with short strokes to entice the fish. Crappie are still hitting off Lincoln Road on the right day when using minnows hooked in the back just off the bottom in 30 feet of water. The pike have started to move into the shallows. Try the dense weeds in 5 to 10 feet of water off Layman’s or Sterns Landing. Call Pere Marquette Sport @ 231-843-8676 or Hamlin Grocery @ (231) 843-2058
The Eyes Have It reports great fishing in the Leroy area call Craig @ 231-768-5653
Houghton Lake - Still has lots of ice with about 2 inches of snow on top and there are still a few drifts here and there. The artic blast slowed the bite however warmer temperatures should help improve catch rates. Dave at Four season Party Store says he has a honey hole and have been catching walleye, pike and crappie. He will show you where if you visit him at his store. Dave phone# 989-422-5230. Call Lymanâ??s Sport and Shanty Rental @ 989-422-3231
Near the Kalkaska area, Skegemog Fishing pressure is still high for all species. Pike are hitting on minnows in 12 to 15 feet of water off the Baggs Road access site. Muskie spearing is still taking place but no fish were recorded. Anglers are fishing for perch off the Baggs Road access as well as in the northwest portion of the lake by the narrows. Try 10 to 15 feet of water with minnows, wax worms, wigglers or mousies and be ready to sort out the small ones.
Elk Lake - Few anglers have been out except for those targeting lake trout and whitefish. For lake trout, fish near Kewadin, Elk Rapids and the Whitewater Park while jigging Swedish Pimples with spawn or minnows in 80 to 140 feet of water. Fish up to 24 inches have been caught. For whitefish, try off Kewadin and Ringler Road in 30 to 50 feet of water. Herring were caught near Kewadin and Spencer Bay in 20 to 50 feet of water when using spawn or wax worms. Call Jackâ??s Sport Shop for the latest info @ 231-258-8892
Lake St Helen has been good this week for pike, walleye and panfish and has great ice conditions. Call Malcoms Sport @ 989-389-2100 for latest info
Sanford Lake at the first fill has been hot for crappie this week with minnow working best. Call Sanford Sport Shop @ 989-687-5161 for latest info.
Otsego Lake has a good perch bite with some walleye being caught and Bradford has nice perch being caught. Also some Stugeon being caught with three keepers last weekend. They have been seeing quite a few sturgeon in the evening. Call Stugeon Joe @ 989-732-5866 for the latest info.
Burt Lake has been slow this week.
Green Lake by Interlochen has been good for smelt off both access sites with halis and waxworms working best.
Big Glenn Lake In Leelanau County still had ice with a few slush spots. The perch seem to be moving into the shallows to feed. Anglers did well near Burdickville and on Little Glen. Minnows just off the bottom did the trick.
Traverse City - As of this report, both bays had ice. Anglers were fishing Bowers Harbor for perch and whitefish.
Big Glen Lake - Ice conditions are good Fishing is hit or miss with some nice perch caught off Inspiration Point. Try minnows in 14 to 20 feet of water. Perch over 10 inches were caught recently.
Betsie River - TSteelhead are hitting on spawn or wax worms.
Lake Missaukee - Lots of fisherman out this weekend catching gills and pike with ice conditions great.
Lake Cadillac - is treating anglers to panfish and pike.
East Twin Lake - Angler pressure was low however those going out have reported some decent perch fishing when using a small hook or small jig. Deep snow drifts are making travel on the ice a little more difficult.
West Twin Lake - Has decent walleye fishing. Try minnow jigs in perch colors in 8 to 10 feet of water. Perch fishing has picked up. The ice is holding however caution needs to be used as there are some pressure cracks the width of the lake and the snow cover makes it impossible to see them. Anglers should avoid taking cars or trucks out on the ice.
Lake Mitchell - Anglers are still ice fishing here for pike and panfish. Keep the cars and trucks off the ice!
Indian Lake by Manistique has a good perch and walleye bite this week. South Manistique Lake - Still has good walleye action when jigging or using tip-ups. For those spearing, try the southeast side between the access site and Norton Island in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Brevoort Lake - Is still producing some nice bluegills on the northwest end of the lake near the campground. Look for walleye along the east shoreline in the early morning or late evening.
Munuscong Lake has decent ice at this time but the temperatures are extremely cold. A few brave soles are getting out and fishing for perch using minnows and reeling in some good sized fish.
Around St.Ignace a few anglers are getting out on Christiansen Bay and pulling in a few perch and walleye on minnows.
Lake Gogebic near the Bergland area is giving up a few walleye, pike and perch on minnows. However it has been so frigid that most anglers are staying indoors. Ice shanties are appearing on the north and south ends of the Lake as anglers are getting geared up for ice fishing this weekend.
Near the Alanson and Boyne areas, Burt, Crooked, Pickeral, Mullett, and Walloon lakes are all freezing up nicely, as well as most of the rivers and parts of Lake Charlevoix. Ice fishing should be able to commence this weekend; however anglers should use extreme caution when attempting to walk out on any body of water.
Saginaw Bay - Ice fishing continues however anglers need to use extreme caution due to pressure cracks in most locations and bad shore ice. Walleye are nice to catch but they are not worth the risk of losing your life! Off Palmer Road, a large crack is making it hard for anglers to find a way to get out. White’s Beach has perch and walleye in 8 to 10 feet of water. Off Linwood and Erickson Road, the water is muddy and there is a large pressure crack. Walleye action was fair to good in 17 to 22 feet of water. Those heading northeast of the Bay City State Park are taking walleye as well as those fishing in 10 to 12 feet of water off Vanderbilt Park. Thomas Road was good for some limit catches of walleye when heading out 7 to 8 miles. Water in the marina in Sebewaing is high and muddy. Off Geiger Road, walleye have been caught about 9 miles out. Some perch were taken outside the islands in the Slot. Near Mud Creek, ice conditions are variable. Perch are hitting on minnows but many were small.
Saginaw River - Is full of walleyea and most are getting their boats out fishing with blues
Little Bay De Noc - till has ice however travel has been limited due to drifting snow. Anglers marked good numbers of fish but catch rates were a little slow. The better walleye action was near the mouth of the Escanaba River and the Center Reef. At Kipling, anglers were using tip-ups with sucker minnows in 30 to 40 feet of water while the river anglers were jigging rapalas and minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water. Lot’s of sub-legal walleye and some jumbo perch between the Narrows and the First Reef. Perch anglers reported the most consistency in 14 to 17 feet of water when jigging minnows and wigglers. Most of the jumbo perch were out deeper in 30 to 40 feet of water. Buckeye Cove still has some good pike spearing in 30 feet of water. The whitefish action slowed a bit but some fish were taken off Sand Point when jigging minnows and spawn in 80 feet of water.
Muskegon Lake- Ahose still fishing are taking a few but the action has not been fast and furious. The key is to move around until you locate a school of fish. Perch have been caught in 42 to 48 feet of water along the ledge behind Shoreline Marine. Those fishing the weed lines off the Sand Docks have caught perch, rock bass and a couple catfish. The waters between Second Street and river were wide open last week so anglers will want to avoid the area.
White Lake - Yellow perch have been caught along the southwest portion of the lake including Indian Bay. Look for pike up in the narrows off Montague.
Upper Peninsula:
Lake Gogebic continues to have good ice and perch biting on crappie minnows and wigglers. Walleye activity is picking up and fish are hitting on sucker minnows.
Slow activity taking place around the Marquette area this week. The ice is pretty broken up in the Harbor and an angler fell through the ice three times today, lucky for him he lived to tell about it. Use extreme caution the ice is rapidly changing due to windy conditions recently. A warm weather front is expected by the weekend bringing temperatures up to the 40 degree mark. Bay De Noc is giving up good counts of walleye on moonshine and shiver minnows and jigging Rapalas tipped with medium minnows. The walleye season is extended two weeks this year.
Anglers in the Manistique area have great ice thanks to 20 below temperatures, but not too many are braving the elements. Lots of snow is covering the ice as well making it difficult for anglers to get out.
Sault Ste. Marie anglers are doing well for whitefish in the upper St. Maryâ??s River with wax worms and teardrops. Off of Munuscong Bay walleye activity is good using minnows and Do-jiggers. Raber Bay is also giving good counts of walleye.
Around Escanaba the ice remains in good shape but the fish just donâ??t seem hungry. Only a few walleye, pike and good size perch are biting. Anglers are marking a lot of fish. With rain and warmer weather arriving for the weekend, fishing should be strong
Northwest:
The ice remains in good shape around the Alanson area but again this week cold weather has kept anglers from getting out. Slow action on Burt and Crooked lakes with only a few perch being caught on minnows this week.
It is very slow angling in the Traverse City area and cold to boot. Ice is good on most lakes with 18-24 inches remaining. Most lakes have snow covering the ice which can be very slushy. Rivers overall are slow and the steelhead bite very limited. Warmer temperatures should create strong fishing for the upcoming weekend.
Off of Frankfort the ice has refroze due to single digit temperatures this week and has just a little bit of snow cover. Ice fishing is still taking place on Portage and Crystal. Smelt, perch, whitefish, and burbot are doing well. Perch action is decent but you need to move around a lot, anglers fished in 18-20 feet of water with decent results. A few anglers have caught some young Coho and a few browns this past week. Minnows, wax worms, wigglers, perch rigs and jigs are working well for anglers. Crystal Lake anglers need to use caution on the far end, two anglers fell through the ice on snowmobiles. The river has iced back up and basically no activity is taking place.
Great fishing is taking place around Kalkaska where anglers are doing well on Torch Lake for lake trout on live minnows. Skegemog Lake is turning on for perch. Fife Lake is host to a fishing tournament Saturday. Registration takes place at the DNR boat launch at 7 a.m., contact 231-263-5262 for registration details. Bring your own bait.
Gaylord anglers have plenty of good ice as well as cold weather. Some perch and walleye are biting on Twin Lake in the morning and evening hours. Blue shiners work for perch and gray shiners for walleye.
Cadillac anglers canâ??t complain fishing has been good for crappie, pike, a few blue gill and small sized perch. The ice is still 12-15 inches thick, but a foot of snow currently is on top of the ice. If the warm weather rolls in for the weekend, this will make slush conditions but also a strong fishing weekend. Steelhead run is starting at the Tippy Dam.
West:
Some slow angling activity for anglers around the Ludington area this week. Steelhead action is taking place on the back side of the Pere Marquette Lake on slammer boards. Steelhead are active on the Pere Marquette River on spawn. On the upper Hamlin Lake crappie are hitting on minnows, blue gill on wax worms and walleye are hit or miss.
Good counts of perch being caught on the west half of Muskegon Lake; fish are biting on everything. The ice is one foot thick. Good steelhead activity heating up near the Coast Guard Station and the break arm on spawn. Rain and warm weather is anticipated to roll in by the weekend.
Chippewa Lake continues to give up good counts of pike, pan fish and specks. Wax worms are the popular bait. The ice is thick enough to hold a car as of this report.
Near the Grand Rapids area, Wabasis Lake is producing nice numbers of blue gill and crappie with minnows and wax worms working well.
Northeast:
Cooke and Foote Dam Ponds around the Oscoda area both have good ice and good fishing for pike, perch and blue gill. The Au Sable River has open water and some decent steelhead action. Van Etten Lake is producing pike, perch, and walleye. But anglers need to really check the ice before going out, may be unstable.
The ice remains in good condition on Houghton Lake where walleye action is hot. Pike action is not shabby either.
Higgins Lake continues to produce nice catches of lake trout on gray shiners and smelt on wax worms. Perch are small in size but hitting in good numbers on wax worms, minnows and wigglers. The Lake still has 14-15 inches of ice. Warm weather and rain is in the forecast for the weekend though.
Anglers in Au Gres are starting to see walleye starting up. Regular lures, small spoons, Northport Rattle Spoons, Cleoâ??s, standard Do-jiggers and airplane jigs seem to all be working well. Fish seem to be locating near Foster Road and in close. Blue gill are hitting on wax worms.
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