01-11-2008, 12:10 AM
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday January 10, 2008 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.michigan.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]
Ice conditions in much of the Lower Peninsula have deteriorated but anglers in the Upper Peninsula are ice fishing. Warm temperatures have increased the steelhead action in many of the rivers however anglers will need to use caution because of the high water levels.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Boat anglers are going out of Lake Erie Metro Park for perch and bluegills. Those fishing the marina have caught a good number of bluegills but many were running on the small side. Wax worms and spikes worked best.
Huron River - Shore anglers and those in drift boats are catching trout when using a small jig with spawn or a wax worm under a bobber. Some are casting spinners or Hot-n-Tots. The best action has been at Rockwood near Labo Park.
Detroit River - Boat anglers are catching some nice perch between Gibraltar and the River Rouge. Some are fishing the many canals around Gibraltar. Shiner minnows and perch rigs seem to work best.
Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions are deteriorating fast all over Saginaw Bay. Right now the water is really muddy because of all the runoff, so fishing has not been all that good. Anglers would be better off waiting for the next cold snap to tighten up the ice.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier anglers are taking a few whitefish on a small hook and egg.
St. Joseph River - Water levels are high and muddy. Fishing has been slow.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Boat and shore anglers are steelhead fishing. With water levels on the rise, look for the steelhead up near the dam while using choker bags with 7 to 15 eggs. A couple of brown trout were caught. Those fishing off the bridges will want to use spawn just off the bottom. Walleye are being caught on jigs with wax worms or minnows.
Grand River at Lansing - Has high water levels. A few small walleye and some pike have been caught over at Moore's Park.
Muskegon - Pier anglers have a good chance to catch steelhead with the warm water coming downstream.
Muskegon Lake - Boat anglers are still going out. By day, they are catching pike and steelhead. Those fishing the west end of the lake are taking perch, but some sorting will be necessary. At night, anglers are catching pike and walleye.
Muskegon River - High water levels should push more steelhead upstream towards Bridgeton and Newaygo.
White River - Look for steelhead up near Hesperia.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Grand Lake - A few anglers were still taking some perch and walleye, but most people are staying away from the ice because of the warm spell.
Long Lake - Has some ice anglers catching walleye and perch, but caution needs to be used.
Thunder Bay River - Steelhead action could increase with the onset of warmer temperatures.
Hubbard Lake - Does not have safe ice at this time. Anglers will need to wait for the next cold spell.
Au Sable River - There are reports of some steelhead being caught from Oscoda to Foote Dam. Some of the boat ramps are useable, but not sure how long that will last as they could be ice coated by the weekend. Those fishing the backwaters are limiting out on panfish. Limits of pike were reported east of M-65.
Higgins Lake - Finally froze over, but warm temperatures this week have pushed the ice anglers back closer to shore. A few brown trout have been caught in shallow waters near the Conference Center. Those fishing down on the south end of the lake off the State Park are believed to be catching perch.
Houghton Lake - The snow is off and the ice is holding. Those jigging minnows are taking walleye and the pike are hitting on tip-ups. Panfish are also being caught.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Boat anglers have been catching whitefish near Dock Road in the East Bay and near the Gravel Pit in the West Bay. Try Swedish Pimples or whitefish jigs in 85 to 250 feet of water, as the fish are scattered. Small lake trout have also been caught.
Boardman River - Has warm water and good steelhead action.
Crystal Lake - Boat anglers report fair to good perch fishing.
Betsie River - Has good steelhead movement.
Manistee River - Not much has been said about steelhead but high water levels by the end of the week could spur some action.
Lake Missaukee - Ice anglers have caught good numbers of panfish.
Lake Cadillac - Has ice, but it is very sloppy right now. Fishing continues to be good for pike and crappie.
Lake Mitchell - Has about 3 inches of water on top of the ice but the fishing has been good for pike and crappie.
Upper Peninsula
Portage Lake - In Houghton County has been good for ice fishing. Chassell Bay has been productive for pike when using tip-ups with smelt or shiners. Jigging with spoons or rapalas can also be productive. Walleye were caught near the Humps when jigging a Swedish Pimple tipped with a minnow. Best times were just before dark or just after daybreak.
Keweenaw Bay - Has no ice. It is usually around the end of January before the ice sets up in this large bay of Lake Superior.
Fortune Lake - Near Crystal Falls has good pike fishing. The fish are bigger this year and are hitting on live bait.
Michigamme Reservoir - A few walleye and pike have been caught.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions were still favorable in the northern parts of the Bay only. Several very large ice breaks have formed pushing walls of ice up so be on the lookout. South of the Escanaba River, the shipping channel is open so conditions are dangerous. Warm weather this week could cause some problems, so extreme caution needs to be used. Walleye anglers were taking fish near Kipling when jigging minnows with glows just off the bottom in 30 to 40 feet of water. The better catches were reported near Gladstone out near the break when fishing 6 to 10 feet off the bottom in 28 to 40 feet of water. Perch anglers had mixed results with most reporting very good numbers of small fish. Try jigging wax worms in 28 to 36 feet of water near Kipling and the Narrows. Those spearing northern pike have taken several nice fish in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when using 8 inch suckers in 6 feet of water.
St. Mary's River - Ice conditions on Raber Bay are not safe.
Cedarville and Hessel - Cedarville Bay, Hessel Bay and Musky Bay are all good for yellow perch when using minnows or wax worms in 10 to 14 feet of water. You might even pick up a pike or two while jigging with minnows in Cedarville Bay. Walleye and perch have been caught when jigging minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water. The fish are scattered so move around. Use caution near the islands and the points.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are catching walleye and yellow perch while jigging with minnows and wax worms.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Ice conditions in much of the Lower Peninsula have deteriorated but anglers in the Upper Peninsula are ice fishing. Warm temperatures have increased the steelhead action in many of the rivers however anglers will need to use caution because of the high water levels.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Boat anglers are going out of Lake Erie Metro Park for perch and bluegills. Those fishing the marina have caught a good number of bluegills but many were running on the small side. Wax worms and spikes worked best.
Huron River - Shore anglers and those in drift boats are catching trout when using a small jig with spawn or a wax worm under a bobber. Some are casting spinners or Hot-n-Tots. The best action has been at Rockwood near Labo Park.
Detroit River - Boat anglers are catching some nice perch between Gibraltar and the River Rouge. Some are fishing the many canals around Gibraltar. Shiner minnows and perch rigs seem to work best.
Saginaw Bay - Ice conditions are deteriorating fast all over Saginaw Bay. Right now the water is really muddy because of all the runoff, so fishing has not been all that good. Anglers would be better off waiting for the next cold snap to tighten up the ice.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier anglers are taking a few whitefish on a small hook and egg.
St. Joseph River - Water levels are high and muddy. Fishing has been slow.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Boat and shore anglers are steelhead fishing. With water levels on the rise, look for the steelhead up near the dam while using choker bags with 7 to 15 eggs. A couple of brown trout were caught. Those fishing off the bridges will want to use spawn just off the bottom. Walleye are being caught on jigs with wax worms or minnows.
Grand River at Lansing - Has high water levels. A few small walleye and some pike have been caught over at Moore's Park.
Muskegon - Pier anglers have a good chance to catch steelhead with the warm water coming downstream.
Muskegon Lake - Boat anglers are still going out. By day, they are catching pike and steelhead. Those fishing the west end of the lake are taking perch, but some sorting will be necessary. At night, anglers are catching pike and walleye.
Muskegon River - High water levels should push more steelhead upstream towards Bridgeton and Newaygo.
White River - Look for steelhead up near Hesperia.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Grand Lake - A few anglers were still taking some perch and walleye, but most people are staying away from the ice because of the warm spell.
Long Lake - Has some ice anglers catching walleye and perch, but caution needs to be used.
Thunder Bay River - Steelhead action could increase with the onset of warmer temperatures.
Hubbard Lake - Does not have safe ice at this time. Anglers will need to wait for the next cold spell.
Au Sable River - There are reports of some steelhead being caught from Oscoda to Foote Dam. Some of the boat ramps are useable, but not sure how long that will last as they could be ice coated by the weekend. Those fishing the backwaters are limiting out on panfish. Limits of pike were reported east of M-65.
Higgins Lake - Finally froze over, but warm temperatures this week have pushed the ice anglers back closer to shore. A few brown trout have been caught in shallow waters near the Conference Center. Those fishing down on the south end of the lake off the State Park are believed to be catching perch.
Houghton Lake - The snow is off and the ice is holding. Those jigging minnows are taking walleye and the pike are hitting on tip-ups. Panfish are also being caught.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Boat anglers have been catching whitefish near Dock Road in the East Bay and near the Gravel Pit in the West Bay. Try Swedish Pimples or whitefish jigs in 85 to 250 feet of water, as the fish are scattered. Small lake trout have also been caught.
Boardman River - Has warm water and good steelhead action.
Crystal Lake - Boat anglers report fair to good perch fishing.
Betsie River - Has good steelhead movement.
Manistee River - Not much has been said about steelhead but high water levels by the end of the week could spur some action.
Lake Missaukee - Ice anglers have caught good numbers of panfish.
Lake Cadillac - Has ice, but it is very sloppy right now. Fishing continues to be good for pike and crappie.
Lake Mitchell - Has about 3 inches of water on top of the ice but the fishing has been good for pike and crappie.
Upper Peninsula
Portage Lake - In Houghton County has been good for ice fishing. Chassell Bay has been productive for pike when using tip-ups with smelt or shiners. Jigging with spoons or rapalas can also be productive. Walleye were caught near the Humps when jigging a Swedish Pimple tipped with a minnow. Best times were just before dark or just after daybreak.
Keweenaw Bay - Has no ice. It is usually around the end of January before the ice sets up in this large bay of Lake Superior.
Fortune Lake - Near Crystal Falls has good pike fishing. The fish are bigger this year and are hitting on live bait.
Michigamme Reservoir - A few walleye and pike have been caught.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions were still favorable in the northern parts of the Bay only. Several very large ice breaks have formed pushing walls of ice up so be on the lookout. South of the Escanaba River, the shipping channel is open so conditions are dangerous. Warm weather this week could cause some problems, so extreme caution needs to be used. Walleye anglers were taking fish near Kipling when jigging minnows with glows just off the bottom in 30 to 40 feet of water. The better catches were reported near Gladstone out near the break when fishing 6 to 10 feet off the bottom in 28 to 40 feet of water. Perch anglers had mixed results with most reporting very good numbers of small fish. Try jigging wax worms in 28 to 36 feet of water near Kipling and the Narrows. Those spearing northern pike have taken several nice fish in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when using 8 inch suckers in 6 feet of water.
St. Mary's River - Ice conditions on Raber Bay are not safe.
Cedarville and Hessel - Cedarville Bay, Hessel Bay and Musky Bay are all good for yellow perch when using minnows or wax worms in 10 to 14 feet of water. You might even pick up a pike or two while jigging with minnows in Cedarville Bay. Walleye and perch have been caught when jigging minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water. The fish are scattered so move around. Use caution near the islands and the points.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are catching walleye and yellow perch while jigging with minnows and wax worms.