Northeast Lower Peninsula

Black Lake:  The 2016 lake sturgeon fishing and spearing season will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 6.  All anglers must register with the DNR to participate and must also possess a lake sturgeon tag which can be obtained for free at any license vendor. 

Grand Lake:  Was producing walleye and perch.  No large numbers but the fish were good size.    

Long Lake:  Anglers were catching walleye and perch. 

Hubbard Lake:  Walleye and perch were starting to bite in 50 to 55 feet.  Anglers using tip-ups with blues near the bottom had better success.  

Van Etten Lake:  Was producing a large number of small perch.    

Higgins Lake:  Still has ice fishing however anglers should still be careful and drill their way out as ice thickness varies in some areas.  Lake trout fishing has been very good in 85 to 110 feet when using greys on tip-ups or jigging.  Swedish pimples and big spoons also caught fish.  Good perch fishing in 40 to 60 feet.  Try the area near the church camp.  Trout and pike were caught off the south end.   

Houghton Lake:  Ice fishing continues.  Anglers should avoid the areas near inlets and outlets and use caution near the pressure cracks.  Bluegill, crappie and perch have been caught off Saunders Point near the Cut River.  Those using tip-ups caught some big pike measuring 30+ inches.  

Lake St. Helen:  Was producing pike and panfish.   

Tawas:  Most of the ice blew out leaving only shore ice. The only fishable spots left were the north end of Tawas Bay in the “armpit” and west of Jerry’s Marina but again, extreme caution needs to be used.   

Northwest Lower Peninsula

River fishing remains consistent, although water levels will be rising due to significant melt and rainfall.   

Betsie River:  Has steelhead fishing.   

Green Lake:  Smelt fishing has been poor.  Numbers are low and the fish are small.         

Lake Cadillac:  Has had a good number of anglers fishing mostly for crappies and northern pike.  Tip-ups with large minnows or spearing have done well for pike.   

Lake Mitchell:  Ice anglers continue to do well for crappie and the bluegill bite did pick up some.  Anglers are using minnows, spikes and wax worms.  No word on walleye.  Pike are still being caught.  

Portage Lake:  Some decent catches of perch and bluegill were reported.      

Manistee River:  Has steelhead fishing and those heading out have caught some nice fish throughout the river. 

Hamlin Lake:  Anglers are taking bluegills, perch and some walleyes.  Those seeking pike are spearing or using tip-ups with sucker minnows.     

Upper Peninsula

Lake Gogebic:  Had good walleye fishing with some limit catches reported.  Some jumbo perch were also caught.    

Menominee River:  The 6th Street Slip was the hot spot for walleye due in part to the lack of ice by the Hattie Street Dam.  Anglers are jigging with a variety of small spoons and jigs tipped with minnows.  Those fishing the open water near the dam have caught a few rainbow and brown trout when casting small spoons or rapalas.    

Little Bay De Noc:  Warmer temperatures were creating a few hazards throughout the Bay especially the southern waters were the ice was not that thick.  Anglers reported minor problems crossing Butler Island in a few areas.  Anglers were fishing north of Gladstone Bay.  Fair walleye catches reported south of the Escanaba River and out from the Power plant in 25 to 35 when jigging raps or sucker minnows on tip-ups.  Use caution in this area which is known for dangerous ice conditions. Fair catches reported from the Center Reef south to the Second Reef in 20 to 35 feet when using tip-ups with sucker minnows.  The number of perch caught has not been high but the fish are averaging eight to 16 inches.  The best areas were between the Second and Third Reefs with minnows or spikes in 17 feet and off the Second reef in 23 to 30 feet.  The head of the Bay reported catches in 10 to 20 feet.  The Escanaba Yacht Harbor had good catches but many were small.  Whitefish anglers started fishing off Sand Point but the ice conditions worsened so no one was fishing.  A few whitefish were caught on minnows in Gladstone in 27 to 35 feet.  The northern pike action was good off the mouth of the Day’s River and the Second and Third Reefs but many were undersize.  Most were using tip-ups with sucker minnows in 14 to 30 feet. 

Munising:  Ice conditions in the bay varied and caution needs to be used.  There may also be more open water after the strong winds.  Most anglers were targeting whitefish or splake.  The whitefish are running small.  The keepers were between 12 and 14 inches.  Catch rates for splake were slow and most of the fish were sublegal.  Most are using a single egg but a few were jigging fatheads in 50 to 60 feet.  The ice off Powell Point had areas of open water and was questionable.  The area near the city docks is limited due to tugboats that have been operating on a daily basis. Off the Anna River access, anglers were fishing in about 60 feet and reporting fish within one or two feet from the bottom.  Most were small whitefish and splake.  The area off Sand Point was not safe as there was open water within 100 to 200 feet offshore.    

Indian Lake:  In Schoolcraft County was slow for perch and walleye but a fair number of brown trout were caught.    

Big Manistique Lake:  Was producing good catches of walleye and large perch.  

Brevoort Lake:  Was producing some northern pike and a few walleye.  Water depths vary but most were in 12 to 15 feet.  Minnows worked best.  Anglers still need to use caution.    

Munuscong Bay: Was slow for walleye except for the area around Grassy Island.  Perch are pretty much scattered throughout.  The ice east of Roach Point was still “iffy” so use caution when traveling on the ice. 

Cedarville and Hessel:  Les Cheneaux and Hessel Bay were good for perch with some nice catches reported.  A few splake were also caught.  Muskie Bay was slow for perch.  Government Bay was very good for pike.  Anglers are still encouraged to use caution on the ice.