Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
What a Great Weekend to Fish
Big Glenn has a good perch bite as the photos above show a good catch from Dick Timmons.
Don’t forget you can use 3 lines per person this year.
Higgins Lake is safe and the smelt and lake trout are on the bite with the warm-up. Smelt have been caught in the evening when fishing about a foot off the bottom in 40 to 50 feet of water. Lake trout and whitefish were hitting on minnows fished on the bottom in 85 to 120 feet of water. Those fishing the shallow waters near the Conference Center have caught rainbow trout on wigglers. Pike were taken by those spearing or using tip-ups. Perch can be found along the drop-off in 20 to 40 feet of water but many were small.
Ice continues to build especially on most of the inland lakes however anglers are still reminded to use caution. Stay away from any pressure cracks because many of those areas had open water not even a week ago. Also stay away from river mouths and creeks due to unsafe ice. The panfish bite continues to be slow. Pike action has been good and perch anglers are sorting out the small ones. Some of the trout lakes are now producing lake trout and rainbow trout.
Lake St. Helen is reporting great pike and panfish bite and has a winter-fest this weekend
Down at Wixom Lake they are doing good off the access site with crappie and pike..
Margrethe and Otsego have good ice and many shaties are showing up on the lakes with a fair bite. A huge muskie was caught on Lake Margrethe also sturgeon are being spotted on Otsego 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 are biting. Some are getting off the north-end.
Mullet Lake - Fishing remains consistent. A few nice perch were caught on minnows in 10 to 45 feet of water, but many were small. Those targeting pike have not had much luck with spearing or still-fishing. Some have started to target lake herring.
Burt Lake - Ice anglers have started to catch a few walleye. Anglers should stay away from the large pressure crack between Colonial Point and Cedar Point. This area had open water last week and the ice that has formed is not safe. Perch fishing has been fair on Maple Bay
Crystal Lake is froze and should be a great weekend for fishing
Portage Lake is froze, and they report a good perch and walleye bite. Also lots of pike being caught on golden shiners.
Green Lake - Ice fishing continues and smelt are hitting at night. Try Hali jigs or teardrops with wax worms or spikes.
Cedar Lake - Ice anglers are doing well on pike when using tip-ups with large minnows. Those targeting smelt are fishing day or night with teardrops or Hali jigs with spikes and wax worms.
Lake Missaukee - Has been good for bluegills.
Lake Cadillac - Ice anglers continue to catch walleye, pike and crappie. Try the smallest jigs with a single spike and not much movement. Those with cameras are seeing panfish however they were not interested in biting.
Lake Mitchell - Has been good for pike and a few crappie. Look for bluegills when fishing near the coves on the west side of the lake.
Hamlin Lake Fishermen have been reporting nice bluegill and walleye catches. Action is spotty, but fish being caught are of nice size. Mornings and evenings are the best time
Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions remain extremely variable. Expansion cracks are active at many locations and anglers should not cross them. Colder weather has caused thin ice to form over previously open water. This ice is not thick enough to be safe. Anglers should avoid any area that recently had open water. No action near Pinconning because of pressure cracks. At Linwood, some are heading out to 18 feet of water however watch for the active pressure cracks and newly frozen ice which is not safe. There’s fishing activity out near Spoils Island, but anglers need to use extreme caution. A good number of pike have been caught by open water anglers in the channel by the Hot Ponds and Tietz Drain. There is a pressure crack out there that nobody should try and cross. Slow fishing off Sebewaing with only a few perch caught in the marina and the river but decent catches of perch were reported off Rose Island in 4 to 6 feet of water. A lot of small perch caught off Geiger Road. Bluegills were caught in the cuts and marinas between Sebewaing and Bay Port. At the Mud Creek access site, perch were caught on hook and line and those spearing took some pike.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions improved slightly as temperatures dropped however many dangers still exist and caution must be used at all times. Pressure cracks have caused problems and ice thickness varies. Anglers are advised to stay north of the Terrace Bay Inn due to extremely dangerous conditions to the south. Catch rates for walleye and perch dropped over the last week due to changes in the weather and no snow cover. Those traveling by foot will want to use creepers. The better walleye catches were out from the Terrace Bay Inn when jigging rapalas with or without minnows in 25 to 35 feet of water. Smaller fish were caught in the Narrows when jigging rapalas or using tip-ups with minnows in 25 to 33 feet of water. Perch reports were mixed but those jigging minnows or spikes in 14 to 17 feet of water did manage to catch fish on the Second Reef and along the head of the Bay when jigging minnows in 13 to 19 feet of water. Whitefish anglers did well off Gladstone when jigging dead minnows in 35 to 40 feet of water.
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.
Cedarville and Hessel - Those fishing Musky Bay have caught small pike and perch in 12 to 14 feet of water. The occasional legal size perch was also caught. Hessel Bay was slow but those able to locate fish did manage to catch some big ones. Anglers are using minnows, wigglers and wax worms. Red and white were hot colors.
Houghton Lake -Anglers should keep all motorized vehicles away from the mouth of rivers and creeks as some have gone through the ice. Walleye have been caught over the Middle Grounds and in the East Bay near Denton Creek. Most are jigging rapalas. Pike are hitting on tip-ups with large shiners. They are deeper so try fishing two feet off the bottom in 8 to 10 feet of water. Crappie were caught by the Cut River. Dave at Four Season party Store is out looking for a good spot and has done well the last few days so give him a call at 989-422-5230 for his hot-spot He caught four keeper walleye last night.. Lyman’s on the lake has shanties out and has a weekly pike contest with pike action getting better
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