02-02-2007, 01:25 AM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Weekly Fishing Report[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, February 1, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.mi.gov/images/fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif)
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[url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Recent cold temperatures are helping to make ice, but anglers are again reminded to use extreme caution and common sense when traveling on any ice statewide. Recent snowfall will put extra weight on the already thin ice in many areas causing dangerous conditions. Ice conditions in many areas are not safe for motorized vehicles of any kind including 4-wheelers and snowmobiles.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Finally has ice, but caution should still be used. Those fishing off the Metro Park are catching bluegills and perch. Some are also starting to fish out near the Banana Dike.
Huron River - Anglers are catching steelhead in the deep holes between Flat Rock and Rockwood. Hair jigs with wax worms worked best.
Detroit River - Some big perch have been caught in the lower river when fishing the cut and canals, as well as the marina near Gibraltar. Some are fishing by boat and some are ice fishing. Try perch rigs with shiner minnows.
Lake St. Clair - Has ice and lots of fishing activity in and around Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Ice thickness is variable, so anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution when venturing out. Lots of perch being caught but the fish are running small. Try jigs with minnows, wax worms, spikes or wigglers.
Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions have improved around the Bay but anglers are cautioned that local ice conditions can still vary tremendously. Be careful, especially if you are riding snowmobiles or 4-wheelers, as ice in some areas may support walking anglers but not machines! A lot of people are fishing near the mouth of the Pine River and Palmer Road, but they are only catching small perch. From White's Beach south to the Bay City State Park, angling pressure was variable and success was slow at all locations. Be careful of ice thickness from Linwood south to the mouth of the Saginaw River due to reports of machines going through the ice. Those wading the mouth of the Hot Ponds have caught walleye but success depends on the weather. Near Quanicassee, walleye were caught in 6 feet of water and a couple pike were speared off Vanderbilt Park. A few walleye were taken in 15 feet of water off Thomas Road.
Saginaw River - Ice conditions have improved, but anglers need to use extreme caution as there are still thin spots especially around the bridges and pilings. BE CAREFUL! Lots of sub-legal walleye have been caught from Saginaw all the way down to the mouth. Perch have been caught at Essexville, near the mouth and in the marina basins.
Tittabawassee River - Is currently not fishable because of the ice which is thick enough to prevent launching a boat, but it is still too thin to walk on.
Port Austin - And the Thumb area got 8 to 9 inches of lake effect snow which has made travel difficult and dampened angler enthusiasm.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Ice fishing activity has started to pick up near Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Jackson. Areas close to the lake shore have received a lot of snow, which will insulate the ice and slow the freezing process. Anglers should use extreme caution in Allegan, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Berrien, and Cass counties.
St. Joseph River - Steelhead fishing remains good with the better catches coming between I-94 and Berrien Springs when using spawn or Hot-n-Tots. Boat anglers are launching at Shamrock Park or the Benton Township Park near I-94. Walleye fishing has also been good. Try jigging spoons or minnows in the deeper holes.
Austin Lake - In Kalamazoo County had several people fishing, but only small perch were caught.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Boat and shore anglers are still catching steelhead. Fish the deeper holes with wobble glows or spawn under a bobber. Look for walleye when fishing off the bridges.
Sessions Lake - Crappie are hitting on minnows.
Lake Lansing - Fishing has been spotty. Bluegills and crappie have been caught in the early morning and evening. Northern pike fishing was slow.
Jackson Area - Fishing is still slow with only a few panfish and pike being caught. The ice is getting better with most lakes having 2 to 4 inches but extreme caution needs to be used due to weak spots.
Lake Ovid - Has ice, but no vehicles or permanent shanties out there. Lots of portable ice shanties can be seen, but fishing has been slow.
Muskegon Lake - Over half the lake has open water and the ice close to shore is supporting foot traffic only. Anglers are fishing in the bays, coves and marinas while staying close to shore. Lots of small perch ranging from 3 to 5 inches have been caught. A few pike have also been taken on tip-ups with golden shiners.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Ice conditions in the northeast are still questionable. [b]While some areas are safe for walking, those with snowmobiles and 4-wheelers should stay off the ice.
Lake Avalon - In Montmorency County, the ice is questionable. Extreme caution needs to be used. Splake fishing has been excellent with limit catches reported.
Fletchers Floodwaters - Has not seen many anglers. A few limits of panfish are being taken, but the northern pike are not biting well at the moment.
East and West Twin Lakes - Near Lewiston, are offering some ice fishing. East Twin Lake is known for larger walleye, while more bites occur on West Twin Lake where good catches were reported.
Hubbard Lake - Anglers reported 5 to 6 inches of ice on the East Bay, but extreme caution must be used. On the south end there is up to 5 inches of ice close to shore, but out towards the middle there is a lot of slush which is making for unsafe ice. The north end which remains open long after the other areas freeze still has open water.
Tawas Bay - Some walleyes are being taken off Jerry's Marina in 15 to 20 feet of water, primarily in the early morning and evening. A few pike have been speared in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch fishing has been slow throughout the Bay. A few perch and brown trout have been caught inside the breakwall at the state dock. Those with cameras reported seeing perch but they are not biting.
Au Gres River - Anglers are catching lots of sub-legal walleye and a few perch.
Higgins Lake - The cold weather is making ice but the lake has about 5 inches of snow on it. It could be another week or so before good ice is seen on most of the lake. A few perch and brown trout have been caught off West Road however anglers are fishing close to shore. Try using tip-ups with minnows.
Houghton Lake - Is reporting about 5 inches of ice with snow cover and slush. Caution needs to be used especially near the inlets and outlets. Walleye have been caught when jigging on the east side of the lake near the Middle Ground. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Ice fishing is now going strong on most of the smaller inland lakes, but caution is still required. The large deep lakes such as Crystal and Green are not safe at this time.
Lake Charlevoix - Most anglers are still waiting for better ice before venturing out on the lake, but a few brave soles have started fishing the South Arm where a 34 inch northern pike was caught. The remainder of the lake just got its first layer of ice which is not safe ice at this time.
Traverse City - Both the East Bay and the West Bay have open water.
Lake Leelanau - Anglers are walleye fishing on both the north and the south ends of the lake. The only fishing so far has been close to shore. Anglers should avoid the middle of the lake as it is not safe.
Long Lake - Anglers are fishing, but staying close to shore.
Manistee River - Has good steelhead fishing for those willing to brave the cold.
Lake Cadillac - Those fishing off the city launch site on the northeast corner of the lake are catching limits of black crappie when using bright colored jigs with minnows, wax worms and spikes. Fish were caught in 18 feet of water in the middle of the day, but more were taken at night. Those fishing off the causeway near the Frosty Cup have caught perch in 12 feet of water, but anglers will need to sort out the small ones.
Lake Mitchell - Some nice large pike have been caught when fishing over the weed beds using tip-ups with golden shiners and sucker minnows. Ice condition are anywhere from 1 inch to 6 inches, so extreme caution needs to be used.
Lake Missaukee - Bluegills are hitting tear drops with wax worms.
Hamlin Lake - Is supporting foot traffic only. Fishing has been slow except for a few bluegills caught in the north corner of the lake.
Silver Lake - In Oceana County, anglers jigging for walleye were taking some decent size fish.
Upper Peninsula
Cisco Chain of Lakes - Anglers are taking some bluegills, rock bass and perch. A couple northern pike were taken on tip-ups.
Ellen Lake - In Iron County continues to provide fair to good trout action.
Peavy Pond - Walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are getting better but many hazards still remain so caution must be used. Ice averages between 6 and 10 inches, but most anglers are traveling by foot. Driving vehicles out on the ice is not recommended. In Escanaba near the shipping docks, the Coast Guard Cutter has been keeping lanes open for shipping making this a very dangerous area. Walleye were caught in 20 to 30 feet of water from just south of the narrows all the way up to Garth Point. Anglers were split between jigging rapalas with minnows or tip-ups with minnows. Perch fishing was fair to good out past Butler Island when jigging minnows in 19 to 28 feet of water out near the green buoy. Jumbo perch have been caught when jigging minnows and wigglers in 20 to 25 feet of water off Gladstone Beach. Northern pike have been very active throughout the Bay with several 10 to 15 pound fish speared in 10 feet of water near Butler Island.
Munuscong Bay - Anglers are reporting 8 to 10 inches of ice in parts of the Bay, but caution needs to be used. Fishing has been spotty with only a few perch and undersized walleye caught on minnows near the shore.
Raber Bay - [/b]The ice here should still be considered unsafe.
Cedarville and Hessel - [/b]Cedarville Bay and Little Joe Island are providing fair catches of perch on wigglers and wax worms. Musky Bay, however, is producing the best results in the area with anglers taking perch throughout the Bay. Pike and walleye have also been caught, but some are running small.
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[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, February 1, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Recent cold temperatures are helping to make ice, but anglers are again reminded to use extreme caution and common sense when traveling on any ice statewide. Recent snowfall will put extra weight on the already thin ice in many areas causing dangerous conditions. Ice conditions in many areas are not safe for motorized vehicles of any kind including 4-wheelers and snowmobiles.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Finally has ice, but caution should still be used. Those fishing off the Metro Park are catching bluegills and perch. Some are also starting to fish out near the Banana Dike.
Huron River - Anglers are catching steelhead in the deep holes between Flat Rock and Rockwood. Hair jigs with wax worms worked best.
Detroit River - Some big perch have been caught in the lower river when fishing the cut and canals, as well as the marina near Gibraltar. Some are fishing by boat and some are ice fishing. Try perch rigs with shiner minnows.
Lake St. Clair - Has ice and lots of fishing activity in and around Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Ice thickness is variable, so anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution when venturing out. Lots of perch being caught but the fish are running small. Try jigs with minnows, wax worms, spikes or wigglers.
Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions have improved around the Bay but anglers are cautioned that local ice conditions can still vary tremendously. Be careful, especially if you are riding snowmobiles or 4-wheelers, as ice in some areas may support walking anglers but not machines! A lot of people are fishing near the mouth of the Pine River and Palmer Road, but they are only catching small perch. From White's Beach south to the Bay City State Park, angling pressure was variable and success was slow at all locations. Be careful of ice thickness from Linwood south to the mouth of the Saginaw River due to reports of machines going through the ice. Those wading the mouth of the Hot Ponds have caught walleye but success depends on the weather. Near Quanicassee, walleye were caught in 6 feet of water and a couple pike were speared off Vanderbilt Park. A few walleye were taken in 15 feet of water off Thomas Road.
Saginaw River - Ice conditions have improved, but anglers need to use extreme caution as there are still thin spots especially around the bridges and pilings. BE CAREFUL! Lots of sub-legal walleye have been caught from Saginaw all the way down to the mouth. Perch have been caught at Essexville, near the mouth and in the marina basins.
Tittabawassee River - Is currently not fishable because of the ice which is thick enough to prevent launching a boat, but it is still too thin to walk on.
Port Austin - And the Thumb area got 8 to 9 inches of lake effect snow which has made travel difficult and dampened angler enthusiasm.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Ice fishing activity has started to pick up near Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Jackson. Areas close to the lake shore have received a lot of snow, which will insulate the ice and slow the freezing process. Anglers should use extreme caution in Allegan, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Berrien, and Cass counties.
St. Joseph River - Steelhead fishing remains good with the better catches coming between I-94 and Berrien Springs when using spawn or Hot-n-Tots. Boat anglers are launching at Shamrock Park or the Benton Township Park near I-94. Walleye fishing has also been good. Try jigging spoons or minnows in the deeper holes.
Austin Lake - In Kalamazoo County had several people fishing, but only small perch were caught.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Boat and shore anglers are still catching steelhead. Fish the deeper holes with wobble glows or spawn under a bobber. Look for walleye when fishing off the bridges.
Sessions Lake - Crappie are hitting on minnows.
Lake Lansing - Fishing has been spotty. Bluegills and crappie have been caught in the early morning and evening. Northern pike fishing was slow.
Jackson Area - Fishing is still slow with only a few panfish and pike being caught. The ice is getting better with most lakes having 2 to 4 inches but extreme caution needs to be used due to weak spots.
Lake Ovid - Has ice, but no vehicles or permanent shanties out there. Lots of portable ice shanties can be seen, but fishing has been slow.
Muskegon Lake - Over half the lake has open water and the ice close to shore is supporting foot traffic only. Anglers are fishing in the bays, coves and marinas while staying close to shore. Lots of small perch ranging from 3 to 5 inches have been caught. A few pike have also been taken on tip-ups with golden shiners.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Ice conditions in the northeast are still questionable. [b]While some areas are safe for walking, those with snowmobiles and 4-wheelers should stay off the ice.
Lake Avalon - In Montmorency County, the ice is questionable. Extreme caution needs to be used. Splake fishing has been excellent with limit catches reported.
Fletchers Floodwaters - Has not seen many anglers. A few limits of panfish are being taken, but the northern pike are not biting well at the moment.
East and West Twin Lakes - Near Lewiston, are offering some ice fishing. East Twin Lake is known for larger walleye, while more bites occur on West Twin Lake where good catches were reported.
Hubbard Lake - Anglers reported 5 to 6 inches of ice on the East Bay, but extreme caution must be used. On the south end there is up to 5 inches of ice close to shore, but out towards the middle there is a lot of slush which is making for unsafe ice. The north end which remains open long after the other areas freeze still has open water.
Tawas Bay - Some walleyes are being taken off Jerry's Marina in 15 to 20 feet of water, primarily in the early morning and evening. A few pike have been speared in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch fishing has been slow throughout the Bay. A few perch and brown trout have been caught inside the breakwall at the state dock. Those with cameras reported seeing perch but they are not biting.
Au Gres River - Anglers are catching lots of sub-legal walleye and a few perch.
Higgins Lake - The cold weather is making ice but the lake has about 5 inches of snow on it. It could be another week or so before good ice is seen on most of the lake. A few perch and brown trout have been caught off West Road however anglers are fishing close to shore. Try using tip-ups with minnows.
Houghton Lake - Is reporting about 5 inches of ice with snow cover and slush. Caution needs to be used especially near the inlets and outlets. Walleye have been caught when jigging on the east side of the lake near the Middle Ground. Northern pike are hitting on tip-ups.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Ice fishing is now going strong on most of the smaller inland lakes, but caution is still required. The large deep lakes such as Crystal and Green are not safe at this time.
Lake Charlevoix - Most anglers are still waiting for better ice before venturing out on the lake, but a few brave soles have started fishing the South Arm where a 34 inch northern pike was caught. The remainder of the lake just got its first layer of ice which is not safe ice at this time.
Traverse City - Both the East Bay and the West Bay have open water.
Lake Leelanau - Anglers are walleye fishing on both the north and the south ends of the lake. The only fishing so far has been close to shore. Anglers should avoid the middle of the lake as it is not safe.
Long Lake - Anglers are fishing, but staying close to shore.
Manistee River - Has good steelhead fishing for those willing to brave the cold.
Lake Cadillac - Those fishing off the city launch site on the northeast corner of the lake are catching limits of black crappie when using bright colored jigs with minnows, wax worms and spikes. Fish were caught in 18 feet of water in the middle of the day, but more were taken at night. Those fishing off the causeway near the Frosty Cup have caught perch in 12 feet of water, but anglers will need to sort out the small ones.
Lake Mitchell - Some nice large pike have been caught when fishing over the weed beds using tip-ups with golden shiners and sucker minnows. Ice condition are anywhere from 1 inch to 6 inches, so extreme caution needs to be used.
Lake Missaukee - Bluegills are hitting tear drops with wax worms.
Hamlin Lake - Is supporting foot traffic only. Fishing has been slow except for a few bluegills caught in the north corner of the lake.
Silver Lake - In Oceana County, anglers jigging for walleye were taking some decent size fish.
Upper Peninsula
Cisco Chain of Lakes - Anglers are taking some bluegills, rock bass and perch. A couple northern pike were taken on tip-ups.
Ellen Lake - In Iron County continues to provide fair to good trout action.
Peavy Pond - Walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions are getting better but many hazards still remain so caution must be used. Ice averages between 6 and 10 inches, but most anglers are traveling by foot. Driving vehicles out on the ice is not recommended. In Escanaba near the shipping docks, the Coast Guard Cutter has been keeping lanes open for shipping making this a very dangerous area. Walleye were caught in 20 to 30 feet of water from just south of the narrows all the way up to Garth Point. Anglers were split between jigging rapalas with minnows or tip-ups with minnows. Perch fishing was fair to good out past Butler Island when jigging minnows in 19 to 28 feet of water out near the green buoy. Jumbo perch have been caught when jigging minnows and wigglers in 20 to 25 feet of water off Gladstone Beach. Northern pike have been very active throughout the Bay with several 10 to 15 pound fish speared in 10 feet of water near Butler Island.
Munuscong Bay - Anglers are reporting 8 to 10 inches of ice in parts of the Bay, but caution needs to be used. Fishing has been spotty with only a few perch and undersized walleye caught on minnows near the shore.
Raber Bay - [/b]The ice here should still be considered unsafe.
Cedarville and Hessel - [/b]Cedarville Bay and Little Joe Island are providing fair catches of perch on wigglers and wax worms. Musky Bay, however, is producing the best results in the area with anglers taking perch throughout the Bay. Pike and walleye have also been caught, but some are running small.
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