This coming weekend is Michigan’s winter Free Fishing Weekend! Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16, both resident and nonresidents can fish for free. While no license is required, all regulations still apply. Due to the license sales system changeover this coming weekend, the DNR is waiving the need for a fishing license Monday, Feb. 17 as well. See Weekly Fishing Tip below for more details.

Aside from these days, all anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Perch and other panfish were caught by those fishing from the docks in the Metropark.    

Huron River: A couple steelhead have been caught. Those in boats fishing the deeper holes had better luck than those fishing from shore. 

Oakland County: Ice formation varies from lake to lake. It is still recommended to use a spud and have ice picks and other safety equipment if possible. The bluegill bite was good to excellent depending on the body of water. Most were using a small tungsten jig tipped with a wax worm or spike in 18 to 20 feet. Hot colors were white or yellow. Perch and crappie were hard to find, though a couple bigger crappie were caught 15 feet down in 20 to 25 feet. 

Lake St. Clair: Ice was forming again in the canals and marinas. Extreme caution needs to be used, as much of this ice has melted and frozen a few times now and is extremely variable in hardness. A few anglers were fishing off the Selfridge boat launch while shore anglers were fishing the open water 50 yards away. No boat anglers had been out. There is a lot of slush and ice flows that shift and move with the wind and the current. Catch rates were slow.

Saginaw Bay: Fishing was slow, and ice conditions still vary. Much of the bay has open water. People are out ice fishing, but the ice is not uniform and there are bad spots. Anglers need to use caution. The ice from Whites Beach to Pinconning blew out. A few anglers were fishing at Pinconning Park, but no fish were caught. Near Quanicassee, a few anglers were fishing Vanderbilt Park though the water was stained, and no fish were caught. Those fishing were walking out only. A lot of the area cuts and rivers just froze over this past weekend. With the recent snow, it is impossible to see new ice versus old ice, so extreme caution needs to be used. 

There are numerous dark spots and a few spots that look like open water scattered off Geiger Road. Between Sebewaing and Bay Port, a four-wheeler broke through the ice near Rose Island. Perch fishing continues to be slow inside the islands between Sebewaing and Mud Creek. A few small ones were caught but very few bigger ones.  Pike fishing was also slow, with only the occasional fish taken when jigging or spearing in the marinas or closer to shore. A few panfish were caught in the marinas. There was very little activity around the pier at Caseville as the ice blew out one day, and new ice just formed. A few tried fishing off the beach at Port Austin, but the water was stained and no fish were caught. 

Saginaw River: Boat anglers were able to access all the launches except for the DNR launch at the mouth. Walleye fishing was good but not great. A few limits were taken, but most parties had anywhere from six to 12 per boat when fishing all day. The better fishing spots were the confluence in Saginaw, near the silos at Zilwaukee, Cass Avenue, Wheeler Landing, Veterans Park in Bay City, Liberty Bridge, Independence Bridge and downstream to the railroad bridge. Try the edge of the channel in 25 to 32 feet. Plastics and minnows worked best. White ice and green ice were good colors. Anglers are reminded that snagged fish must be released immediately. 

Tittabawassee River: Catch rates slowed, so not much to report.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Ice conditions were marginal, as most lakes still had unsafe ice because of temperatures and recent snowfall. Anglers are still venturing out, but extreme caution needs to be used. Stay away from the deeper lakes that take longer to freeze. Bluegill and crappie have been caught when using small glow jigs tipped with spikes or wax worms. 

New Buffalo: Had good coho action for boat and pier anglers.

St. Joseph: Coho action continues to be good. Most are using spawn bags on the bottom between the piers or trolling small spoons and plugs around the piers and along the beach.    

St. Joseph River: Anglers have caught steelhead. Walleye were caught near Berrien Springs and downriver.    

Holland: Pier anglers have caught a few lake trout. 

Grand River near Grand Rapids: Steelhead could still be found up near the dam when using spawn, wax worms and beads. Very cold air by the end of the week will slow the bite once again. For walleye, try fishing off the wall or Fulton Street. 

Kent County: Murray Lake was not safe on the north end.    

Muskegon River: Continues to produce some nice steelhead, including some fresh fish. There was open water on Croton Pond. On the Little Muskegon River, some good-size pike were taken from Morley Pond. 

White Lake: Anglers had taken some limit catches of crappie and bluegill near the Lion’s Den. Decent-size perch and pike were caught off the south shoreline. 

White River: Steelhead fishing was slow. Look for fish in the deeper holes during the cold spell. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake: Catch rates had slowed. Most were lucky to get a few perch after fishing for several hours. A couple small pike or walleye were caught on tip-ups.   

Montmorency County:  East Twin Lake had very slow fishing, with only a few small perch taken. West Twin Lake was extremely slow. Lake Fifteen had good catches of pike, panfish, brown trout and smelt. Clear Lake is slow overall, but splake are being caught.

Lake Margrethe: Ice conditions were questionable, as a vehicle went through the ice. 

Higgins Lake: Ice fishing is in full swing, though caution still needs to be used near Big and Little Creek and Detroit Point. Those fishing near the bottom in 80 to 100 feet caught lake trout on smelt and golden shiners. Whitefish were caught on spawn. Pike were found in 20 to 25 feet by those using tip-ups and by those spearing. Smelt have been caught all over the lake in 40 to 60 feet. 

Houghton Lake: Ice fishing is going strong, though the bite was a bit slower. Anglers still need to use caution as there was a large pressure crack with open water from Long Point to the west shore and another one running from Long Point to the south. Those moving around and drilling multiple holes seem to do better than those staying in one place. Bluegills, crappie and sunfish can be found in the weed beds, but again, anglers need to move around and follow the schools of fish. Not as many pike have been caught, but anglers were finding some bigger perch in 8 to 10 feet. A couple walleye were also caught.

Tawas: Ice anglers were getting some walleye and lake trout out near the artificial reef in 20 to 22 feet when using spoons or jigging rapalas tipped with a minnow. Some pike were taken on tip-ups in 10 to 15 feet. 

Au Gres: Several pike were taken on tip-ups with minnows at Northport Marina. There were a lot of anglers at Eagle Bay Marina near Standish. Fishing was slow, with only a few pike taken on tip-ups and small bluegills on wax worms. The ice off Palmer and Sagatoo Road blew out, and there was very little shore ice. 

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Cold nighttime temperatures did help firm up the slush on the inland lakes. There is a fresh 4 or 5 inches of snow on top, but that should pack down as the week goes on. Fishing for panfish was hit or miss, depending on the lake and the day.

Thumb Lake: Had ice on most of the lake; however, ice thickness in the 150-foot hole was unknown. While catch rates slowed, anglers were still getting a few perch off the beach access. Those fishing off the boat launch caught smaller perch up to 8 inches in 5 to 15 feet with minnows and wax worms. A few splake were caught in 3 to 12 feet off the beach access when jigging minnows on the bottom. Those fishing in 30 to 40 feet found splake 12 feet down. Perch were hitting wax worms on the bottom. 

Jordan River: Was producing some steelhead. 

Grand Traverse County: Several large pike, walleye and perch were caught on Fife Lake. 

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Ice fishing here was still going strong, with anglers getting perch, crappie and pike. 

Manistee River: Was still producing some steelhead; however, the cold snap by the end of the week will most likely slow the bite.   

Pere Marquette River: Was also producing steelhead. 

Pentwater River: Steelhead fishing was slow, with varying water temperatures and fish holding up in the deeper holes. 

Mecosta County: Bluegill, crappie and small perch were caught on Lake Mecosta.  Pike were hitting on tip-ups with minnows. Pretty Lake was producing bluegill, crappie and pike. Those on Chippewa Lake caught perch, bluegill and crappie. Haymarsh Lake was producing crappie and bluegill. Those on Lower Evans caught small perch and bluegill. 

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Catch rates were hit or miss. Those lucky enough to catch fish found splake, brown trout, coho, lake trout, whitefish or herring when using tip-ups or when jigging. Some were trying for smelt and burbot at night, but no reports came in. Those still-fishing from shore in the mornings had the same luck as those fishing on the ice. 

Little Bay De Noc: Very cold temperatures helped improve ice conditions and access throughout the bay, and anglers could be found across the entire area and as far south as Portage Point. It was pretty much ATV’s and snowmobiles at Gladstone and south.  A few walleye were caught between Gladstone and just south of the Escanaba River when using tip-ups with minnows or jigging small rapalas in 30 to 40 feet. While there were still a lot of undersize fish, a better number of keepers were also reported. Perch anglers reported good catches off the ship docks in Escanaba in 35 feet or so and near Gladstone off the east bank in 25 to 35 feet when using minnows. Whitefish were caught near Gladstone when jigging the channel with minnows in 35 feet. Good pike action near the lighthouse in Escanaba when using tip-ups with minnows in 28 to 33 feet. 

Munising: Ice conditions did improve with the cold nights; however, there was unsafe ice at the Grand Island ferry access to Grand Island. Anglers broke through the ice with their sleds, and it will not be safe for those wanting to ski over to Grand Island during the ice fest. Anglers should still avoid Sand Point and the area around Christmas due to pack ice that has skimmed over or open water. Anglers reported that the ice conditions off Brown’s boat launch, the city docks, Powell Point, Anna River access and the Sunset Motel improved. Most are targeting whitefish, splake and coho. Catch rates varied.  Whitefish were deeper in 60 to 70 feet and hitting on spawn or single eggs with a combination of natural or artificial bait. The average fish was 12-13 inches. The coho action was very slow, with only a few schools coming through. Try jigging spoons or Swedish pimples. Splake were hitting jigs with minnows, though most anglers were pinching off the heads. Those using tip-ups reported slow catch rates. There have been no reports of smelt activity. 

Cedarville and Hessel: Anglers fishing in Musky Bay caught some perch, but the action did slow. There was no word on pike fishing. There was some fishing activity in Government Bay off Bay Point and in Cedarville Bay in the East Channel; however, success rates and ice conditions are unknown. Fishing slowed in Hessel Bay, but those jigging mousies, wigglers, wax worms and minnows in 17 to 23 feet did find some smaller perch. Splake and pike were caught on minnows. Wilderness Bay just iced over, so ice conditions were unknown. 

Mackinac County: Inland lakes in the west end were producing walleye, pike and panfish. 

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Fishing Tip: Fish for FREE this weekend

Just a reminder this Saturday and Sunday brings the 2020 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.

The weekend coincides with the DNR’s move to a new license sales system. Due to the changeover, which will run Saturday, Feb. 15, through noon, Tuesday, Feb. 18, no licenses can be purchased online or in stores during that time. The DNR also is allowing free fishing on Monday, Feb. 17, to make things easier for customers during the license sales system changeover.

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.

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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.