While extremely cold weather slowed the bite, anglers are hoping next week’s warm-up will improve fishing. Walleye and pike season on the Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, the St. Marys River and inland lakes as well as all the Lower Peninsula inland waters will close at midnight on March 15.

All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake St. Clair: Recent cold temperatures have firmed up conditions in the canals, marinas, and nearshore areas. For the rest of the lake, please do not drive vehicles on the ice this late in the season. Use caution near the Fair Haven ramp due a truck going through the ice. Fishing success was sporadic now that the fish are in that slow mid-winter pattern.

St. Clair River: This time of year, boat anglers are often lured out to try to get in some early spring fishing. Ice from southern Lake Huron will often clog at the Bluewater Bridge and temporarily stop the flow of ice. Conditions can change drastically in a short time period, so anglers need to use extreme caution as shifting winds or changes in ice flow can completely cut off access to the boat launch.

Saginaw Bay: Ice anglers targeting perch off the park inside Pinconning Bay did not catch anything. A few were taken off Linwood in five to six feet which was as far as the ice went out. There was a bigger sheet of ice hanging on off the Bay City State Park where anglers were heading out, but the bite was slow. There was fishable ice off Vanderbilt Park near Quanicassee. Anglers were taking mainly perch but a few walleye were also found in seven feet. A couple limit catches of perch were taken however the average catch was 10 to 12 per angler. Some of the fish were good size. On the east side, large piles of ice 20 to 30 feet high put an end to fishing from Thomas Road to Sebewaing. A couple anglers tried at Geiger Road but reported some bad ice that was hard to see because of snow. At Caseville, anglers caught a couple lake trout and burbot. The water off the Pigeon River and Mud Creek was still muddy.

Saginaw River: There was open water in the channel at Wickes Park. A few anglers were out on the turn basin near Ojibway Island, but they did not catch much.

Anglers were scattered from First Street to Zilwaukee and on down to Cass Avenue, fishing away from the main channel, but nobody did very well as the water was still a bit muddy. There was open water near the Boys & Girls Club at the south end of Bay City. A couple eater-size walleye were caught in 18 feet downstream of the U.S.S Edson below the Independence Bridge, but from there down to the mouth fishing was slow. Anglers are warned to stay away from the main channel, as the ice out there was questionable.

Tittabawassee River: Had a few shore anglers from the Caldwell ramp upstream along the bank, but they did not catch much. A couple walleye were caught by those ice fishing off Center Road.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Allegan County: When anglers could find them, near limit catches of panfish were taken on several inland lakes including Duck Lake and Swan Lake.

Britsol Lake: In Barry County was producing a fair to good number of panfish.

Muskegon Lake: Had some ice issues so anglers will need to use caution. There is not much snow on the ice however there were some bad spots where the ice might only be a couple inches thick. Foot traffic as opposed to machines would be wise and be sure to take a spud to check the ice ahead of you. Perch were caught on the west side in 45 feet and in the bays and marinas in as shallow as 10 feet. Walleye anglers were found off Fisherman’s Landing.

Muskegon River: Steelhead fishing was slow. A couple pike were taken from Croton and Hardy Ponds.

White Lake: Those heading out need to use caution as a couple anglers went through the ice and had to be rescued.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Montmorency County: Anglers were getting lake trout in Avalon Lake, brown trout in McCormick Lake and some nice pike in Lake Fifteen.

Otsego Lake: Ice conditions were holding in most areas however deep slush in some is making travel much more difficult. Fishing slowed. Anglers were seeing fish move but the bite was very light. Some walleye and pike were caught with blue minnows, perch minnows and jigging raps in eight to 15 feet. Many walleye were too small at 10 and 12 inches. The sturgeon action was good mid-day and at dusk with minnows in eight to 12 feet. Many were 48 to 52 inches and the minimum size limit is 50 inches. Sturgeon season closes on March 15.

Higgins Lake: Anglers were getting some smelt though the bite was still slow. Lake trout were hitting in 80 to 100 feet. A few jumbo perch were caught off the north Sunken Island.

Houghton Lake: Still had about six to eight inches of snow on the ice. Anglers still need to use caution and watch for the large pressure crack that runs from the West DNR launch to Johnsons Point as well as the one that formed off that and runs north to south northeast of Heights Marina. Walleye anglers were getting more fish including some taken in waters as shallow as seven feet deep. Most are jigging spoons. Hot colors were glow, pearl, nickel blue, orange and gold. The bluegills were still scattered so move around to find them.

Lake St. Helen: Crappie were caught off the Third Lake.

Tawas: There was still some ice up in the northern part of Tawas Bay and anglers fishing out of Jerry’s Marina near the artificial reef got a few walleye and lake trout in 20 to 25 feet. A couple pike were speared closer to shore. Pike spearing season closes on March 15.

Au Gres: Fishing was generally slow with a few perch taken. Fish shanties south of the break-wall had been removed. Fishing off Booth Road also slowed with just a few perch and whitefish taken. Down at the Pine River/Palmer Road area, a few perch were taken but the average catch was maybe 10 per angler.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: Ice fishing continues however extremely cold temperatures coupled with blowing snow kept most at home. There have been a few reports of steelhead being caught in the rivers however ice, snow and very cold-water temperatures have hampered fishing efforts.

Lake Charlevoix: Travel on the ice was difficult with the snow and slush however those that managed to get out caught the odd walleye and perch.

Torch Lake: Was producing some lake trout.

Traverse City: Anglers were seen fishing in the East Bay near Acme and Yuba.

Crystal Lake: In Benzie County was producing lake trout, whitefish, perch and a couple large pike. Smelt fishing on both Crystal and Green Lake was slow.

Portage Lake: Near Onekama was producing some perch.

Hamlin Lake: Anglers were getting panfish a half mile east of Wilson Hill Park however the action was hit-or-miss depending on the day. The better bite was in the evening. A number of crappie were caught in the crappie hole off Lincoln Road. The fish were suspended 10 feet off the bottom in 35 to 40 feet and hitting teardrop jigs with plastics, spikes or minnows. A couple walleye were caught in the evening off Duneview Drive. For the most part, fishing was slow. The only consistent bite was small perch.

Pentwater Lake: Was producing some perch.

Pentwater River: A couple steelhead were caught in the South Branch.

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Travel on the ice was difficult for 4-wheelers and foot travel due to slush and snow. The slush is too deep for short track snowmobiles. Those walking were using the snowmobile tracks and setting up a short distance from them. Water coming up on the ice after holes are drilled has been a common problem. Lake trout fishing was slow with limited success in 100 to 250 feet. Splake were caught in 15 to 40 feet. The coho bite was slow. A few Chinook salmon were caught about 50 feet off the bottom in 150 to 200 feet though anglers were not targeting them. No whitefish report. The smelt bite was fair after dark when using a jig and wax worm with a light.

Little Bay De Noc: Snow has made access difficult pretty much all winter. Catch rates for walleye were spotty. The better reports came from the mouth of the Escanaba River when jigging rapalas in 25 to 35 feet, off Gladstone and the Kipling Flats with tip-ups and sucker minnows or when jigging rapalas. Those fishing near the Ford River reported few catches. The better perch fishing was between the First and Second Reefs off Kipling with minnows and wigglers in 27 to 35 feet. Whitefish and burbot were caught off Sand Point with minnows or spawn in 70 to 80 feet.

Munising: Travel on bay is difficult because of deep snow and more slush closer to shore. A few coho and splake were caught. Anglers reported possible markings of either herring or smelt suspended within the bay. Those targeting burbot continue to do well at night primarily off Sand Point, Trout bay and in the area off Christmas.

Grand Marais: Has deep snow on the ice. Anglers fishing for menominee within the harbor are using a single egg or wax worm. There have been some recent reports of anglers doing well on smelt along with a few coho. Most were jigging with shiver minnows, jigging spoons and Swedish pimples with or without cut bait or minnows. One nice steelhead was caught on a Hali jig when fishing for smelt.

Cedarville and Hessel: Ice conditions were holding however anglers and snowmobilers need to be aware of the areas with a strong current around the islands. Perch fishing picked up with anglers taking fish up to 12 inches on jigging raps, wax worms and spikes. More anglers were seen in Government Bay, but no reports came in.

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Fishing Tip: Understanding fish posture to help with ice fishing success

Fish often maintain one of two postures – one where they are ready to strike (fins up and backs arched) or one where they are focused on traveling (fins tucked in). Understanding these postures can aid in your fishing success, particularly through the ice.

The first step when using fish posture to impact your ice fishing techniques is to have appropriate equipment, such as sonar. This tool allows you to visualize the posture and react effectively.

Secondly, pay attention to time periods of aggressive posture. Most likely you will see it exhibited around sunrise and sunset – plan your trips accordingly.

Michigan offers some of the best fishing throughout the year. Plan your next outing by visiting Michigan.gov/Fishing.

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This report is intended to give you an idea of what is going on around the state. Updates come from Fisheries staff and Conservation Officers. With more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not all locations can be listed. However, it is safe to say if a species is being caught in some waters in the area, they are likely being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species