Heavy snowfall has made things difficult in several parts of the state, but in other areas there has still been plenty of action. 

Don’t forget it’s the 2018 Winter Free Fishing Weekend this Saturday and Sunday! More details are below in this week’s fishing tip.  

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Overall: The inland lakes still had ice however there is a lot snow on top that will most likely turn slushy and make travel difficult.     

Lake Erie:  Those targeting panfish in the canals and marinas had success.  

Huron River:  The steelhead bite slowed but should pick back up with the warmer weather.      

Lake St. Clair:  Heavy snow has covered pressure cracks and has made traveling on the ice more difficult because of the slush.  Many anglers had a hard time getting around on quads.  Anglers have reported seeing a lot of inactive fish.     

Saginaw Bay:  For those heading out, ice conditions have not improved much and new snowfall has covered areas of thin ice and soft spots making them harder to see and judge.  Anglers need to be extremely cautious.  A good rule of thumb is; if nobody is fishing in a particular area, there may be a good reason for it and maybe you shouldn’t go there either!  Many walleye anglers were going miles offshore but some have taken limit catches 1 to ½ miles out from Pinconning south to Linwood in 10 feet.  The biggest share of activity was off Linwood in 17 to 20 feet.  Catch rates were hit-or-miss with some getting limits while others did not do as well.  Perch anglers were getting fish in six-and-a-half to seven feet off the end of Linwood Road. Quite a few anglers fishing seven to eight miles off the Bay City State Park were getting walleye.  Anglers did well around Spoils Island off the mouth if the Saginaw River.  The fish were suspended at 18 feet in 30 feet over the shipping channel and were hitting on smaller jigs and lures.  On the south end of the bay, walleye anglers were going seven miles out from Finn Road to fish in 20 feet however anyone that goes out from Finn Road needs to watch out for thin ice created by the Hot Pond discharge.  Perch fishing finally picked up off Vanderbilt Park near Quanicassee in eight feet but so many people descended on that area that apparently the fish left.  Fishing should be better during the week when there’s less pressure. Sunset Bay Marina had a lot of activity with walleye anglers fishing along the Bar which is about a mile west of the deepest part of the Slot.  Ice conditions off Thomas Road are not good and anglers should avoid the area.  Perch fishing was slow from Sebewaing to Bay Port.  Not many anglers were out and the deep snow made the ice hard to judge.  There was open water off the Sebewaing VFW and off Rose Island.  In Wildfowl Bay, some did really well on perch but most caught very few.  The key seemed to be spending enough time on the ice and either sitting tight and letting the fish come to you or moving around a lot and finding some active fish. At Caseville, ice anglers hugging the south side of the pier caught a few lake trout and walleye.  They also reported seeing whitefish but were not catching many.  Port Austin had little activity with only a couple ice shanties out.     

Saginaw River:  Fishing along the lower river was pretty good with lots of anglers around the U.S.S Edson and at the river mouth getting good numbers of walleye, but the snowstorms on Friday and Sunday stopped everything as anglers reported marking lots of fish but they would not bite.  Good depths were 17 and 23 feet downstream of the Independence Bridge near the Edson, and in the channel in 28 feet at the mouth.  Anglers are cautioned to be extra careful where they are walking; as an angler went through in a large fishing hole that was cut and abandoned without being marked near the Edson.  There’s been so much activity at some locations, the ice looks like Swiss cheese.  At the upstream end of the river, there wasn’t much activity off Wickes Park but the turning basin by Ojibway Island had a few anglers and many were scattered all the way from First Street to Bay City, but success was spotty and small fish dominated the catch. Watch for bad ice conditions around both sides of the Zilwaukee Bridge and around Crow Island.

Back to Top

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: The inland lakes have ice and now slush because of all the snow.  The bite was good in the evening just before dark for bluegill and crappie using wax worms and tear drops. The pike action was good for those using tip-ups or spearing.   

St. Joseph River:  Froze up during the cold spell but warmer temperatures this week should help to open it up.  Anglers have caught steelhead during the warm ups.    

Kalamazoo River:  Froze up but should open back up as well.  Look for steelhead and walleye up near the Allegan Dam.    

Grand River at Grand Rapids:  Look for increased steelhead action with the warmer weather.  Steelhead and walleye anglers can usually be found below the 6th Street Dam.  Look for steelhead in the Rogue River as well.    

Lake Lansing:  The bite was slow but some bluegills and crappie were caught on wax worms.  The better fishing was just off the bottom in about 10 feet in the early morning. 

Jackson County:  Those fishing the inland lakes reported fair to good panfish action.   

Muskrat Lake:  In Clinton County was producing some bluegills in 10 to 12 feet.  

Gratiot County:  Had reports that the ice in this area of the state was not safe.  

Crystal Lake:  In Montcalm County was producing bluegills and crappie.  Those spearing have taken some pike.     

Muskegon Lake:  Perch anglers are getting fish near the black buoy and to the west of it in 30 to 45 feet.  Fish were also caught out from the sand docks in 42 to 44 feet.  While many were heading out further, those fishing about 50 yards offshore were taking a good number of fish.  They are sorting out the small ones but those putting in the time have taken some limit catches of good size fish.  Pike anglers were still taking a fair to good number of fish off Heritage Landing.  

Muskegon River:  Water levels were up some with the snow melt.  Those seeking steelhead have caught some nice fish on flies and streamers.  

Back to Top

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Black Lake:  Fishing slowed but some walleye were caught on minnows in 18 feet in the morning or at dusk.  Many of the walleye were around 21 inches but some were undersize.  Some 10 to 12 inch perch were caught on wigglers, spikes and minnows in 10 feet.  A few 24 to 36 inch pike were speared or caught on tip-ups with large minnows.  There were no reports of any musky caught.  

Burt Lake:  The better fishing for walleye and perch was in the morning or evening.  

Mullett Lake:   Fishing activity slowed but anglers were still getting some perch and a few walleye.  A couple large pike were speared.  

Higgins Lake:  Ice fishing continues but anglers should still use caution near the inlets.  The lake had five to seven inches of snow on top.  Pike spearing continues with some nice fish taken in 15 to 20 feet.  The lake trout bite slowed.  Perch anglers are getting some but were also doing a lot of sorting to get some keepers.  Most of the action has been around the Main Island, Sunken Island and on the south end.  Smelt anglers were still getting fish mainly at night in 40 to 60 feet. 

Houghton Lake:  Anglers are still advised to stay clear of the large pressure crack in the East Bay which runs from the canal on the west side of the East Bay and shoots northeast.  Anglers can fish inside the East Bay but do not try to cross over into the main body of the lake.  There is also a pressure crack at the entrance to the North Bay so use caution.  Walleye anglers are seeing fish but the bite was slow.  Orange and glow jigs tipped with a wax worm seemed to work best.  

Tawas:  Ice fishing was kind of spotty off Jerry’s Marina and out near Tawas Point.  A few perch were caught near the reef.  Walleye and pike fishing were slow but a decent number of pike were speared.  

Au Gres:  Walleye and pike were caught on the northeast side of the breakwall. Off Booth Road near the tip of Pointe Au Gres, some walleye and lake trout were taken in eight to nine feet.  Down in Wigwam Bay, anglers going out off the end of Hale Road caught walleye and perch to the south or southwest towards the mouth of the Pine River in eight to 10 feet.  The perch were running seven to 10 inches with a few up to 12 inches.  Be sure to watch for the active pressure crack out there!

Back to Top

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Thumb Lake:  In Charlevoix County was producing some perch.  Anglers were catching splake but many were small.  

Portage Lake:  Lake herring fishing remains strong over the deeper water.  Perch fishing was hit-or-miss.  Most anglers were concentrated along the shallow sandbar off North Point and to the west.    

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:  Ice anglers are getting a few walleye.  Panfish including crappie and perch have been caught on both lakes including the coves on Mitchell.  

Manistee Lake:  In Manistee County had a lot of anglers fishing out from Penny Park.  Rumor has it they caught some nice pike on tip-ups or when spearing.  Perch and crappie were also caught.  

Big Manistee River:   Steelhead fishing should pick up with the warmer weather especially up around Tippy Dam.  The river was frozen in the lower end.  

Pere Marquette River:  Should also have some good steelhead action.    

Back to Top

Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay:  Smelt fishing was good at the head of the bay as well as out from the Baraga Marina after dark.  The lake herring action was fair in 40 to 60 feet.  Lake trout fishing was good out from the Whirl-I-Gig.    

Little Bay De Noc:  Catch rates slowed considerably and as a result angler participation was low.  Walleye anglers reported very few catches even though they were marking fish.  Anglers were as far south as the Ford River but no reports came in.  Most of the walleye fishing was near the Escanaba River and south to Portage Point when jigging rapalas in 25 to 40 feet.  Mixed catches of walleye and perch were reported off the Second and Third Reefs when using rapalas tipped with minnows or wigglers in 30 feet.  Overall perch catches were down but some nice jumbo fish were caught.  Many small perch were reported around Butler Island.  Walleye were caught at the mouth of the Day’s River but most were undersize.  A few large northern pike were caught in the same area when using tip-ups with sucker minnows in 18 feet.  

Munising:  The ice was holding within the Bay.  It is not recommended that anyone cross the channel especially from Sand Point due to unsafe ice and strong currents in the area.  Ice anglers did fair to good for coho and whitefish and fair to good smelt action was reported off Sand Point.  Coho were averaging 14 to 16 inches and whitefish up to 18 inches.   Coho anglers were using jigging spoons such as Swedish Pimples and the smelt anglers were using Hali jigs.  The splake action was slow and the majority of fish caught were undersize.  Those burbot fishing at night have done well with fish up to 28 inches caught on cut bait or smelt.  

Grand Marais:  The harbor had fishable ice and anglers did well for Menominee.  There is ice just beyond the bay but it was not safe at this time.

Cedarville and Hessel:  Fishing was slow around the Les Cheneaux Islands once again.  A few perch were taken on minnows, wigglers, wax worms and mousies in 15 feet.  Many were around nine inches with a few up to 12.  Anglers are seeing smelt and splake but no fish were harvested.     

Back to Top

Fishing Tip: Fish for FREE this weekend!

Just a reminder this Saturday and Sunday brings the 2018 Winter #MiFreeFishingWeekend to Michigan! 

On those two days all fishing license fees will be waived. Residents and out-of-state visitors can enjoy fishing on both inland and waters of the Great Lakes for all species during their respective open seasons. Please note all other regulations still apply during that time. 

There are plenty of ways to take advantage of the upcoming Free Fishing Weekend – whether that means heading out to your favorite fishing hole or taking your family to an organized event. Please note all events are subject to local weather conditions.

More information on this weekend’s unique opportunity to fish for free and this year’s official events can be found at Michigan.gov/freefishing.  

Back to Top