2020 fishing licenses will go on sale starting Sunday, March 1. This gives anglers one month to purchase a new license, which is required by April 1 of each year.

While ice fishing continues for most of the state, the southern areas of the Lower Peninsula had questionable ice once again.

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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Boat launches in Monroe County were iced-over. 

Detroit River: A few anglers were catching small perch in Milliken Harbor.  

Oakland County: Small lakes in the northern section of the county were producing bluegill, crappie and perch; however, with warmer temperatures and heavy snowfall, anglers will need to use extreme caution.   

Lake St. Clair: Ice conditions remain variable. Those fishing behind the library caught a few decent-size perch, but the action was slow. 

St. Clair River: Ice flow had slowed fishing activity. 

Saginaw Bay: At Bay County Park near Pinconning, some perch were caught in 5 to 6 feet when using minnows or walleye in 6 to 7 feet in the evening when jigging rapalas.  Off the state park, those heading out to 13 feet caught walleye on spoons; however, ice conditions were not known after the warm weather. Slow fishing continues from Quanicassee to Port Austin. Ice conditions still vary, and extreme caution needs to be used as some areas just had skimmed over or frozen up before the warm temperatures and south winds. A few areas, including some of the cuts near Fish Point, had opened up. Slow fishing was reported out of Vanderbilt Park. Sebewaing to Bay Port had little activity, with only a few perch or panfish caught in the marinas.  Those fishing out of Mud Creek in Wildfowl Bay caught small perch but very few keepers. Strong winds have moved the ice in and out at Caseville all winter, and the ice against the pier is gone once again. 

Saginaw River: Had three launches open, Zilwaukee, Rust Avenue and Cass Avenue; however, conditions are changing daily. Walleye fishing was slow in most areas, with only a few caught in downtown Saginaw on a jig tipped with a minnow or past the confluence of the Shiawassee River when casting jigs. Watch for ice coming down the river. 

Tittabawassee River: Center Road had a lot of ice at the bridge and no activity. The Caldwell launch up to the Dow Dam was open, but shore anglers did not have much luck. Boat anglers caught walleye when casting jigs opposite the launch on the far side of the river and at Dow Dam. Most were using a chartreuse jig with a chartreuse minnow. 

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

New Buffalo: Had pier anglers targeting coho when using spawn on the bottom. 

Galien River: Coho salmon were caught in New Buffalo near the mouth, including some limit catches. 

St. Joseph: Also had pier anglers fishing the channel for coho.     

St. Joseph River: Anglers continue to catch steelhead and walleye in Berrien Springs. 

Kalamazoo County: Ice conditions did improve with the colder temperatures, and anglers were using ice cleats. Use caution, as accumulating snow will cover areas of concern. 

Grand River near Grand Rapids: Steelhead are being caught at the 6th Street Dam. Boat anglers found fish on the east side of the Johnson Boat Launch in Kent County. A couple walleye were found off the wall and off Fulton Street. 

Kent County: Anglers were having limited success for panfish on the inland lakes.    

Muskegon Lake: Attention anglers: A ship will be departing from the Mart Dock at noon Saturday, per the Coast Guard. The Mart Dock is on the southeast end of the lake not far from Heritage Landing, so anglers will need to be aware. Those fishing near the sand docks caught perch; however, after the sun and warm temperatures, the shoreline ice had broken up. Walleye were caught off 2^nd Street; however, some anglers went through the ice, and nobody had been out since. Pike were caught off Heritage Landing when using tip-ups with golden shiners. Cold weather by the end of the week might help with the ice; however, anglers need to use a spud and extreme caution if venturing out.   

Muskegon River: Catch rates were slow, as anglers did not have much luck. 

White River: Fishing was slow. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake: Though fishing had slowed, a good number of anglers were targeting burbot. 

Montmorency County: Anglers on East Twin Lake did well for perch. West Twin has been slow. McCormick Lake had lots of brown trout being caught. Splake were caught in Clear Lake and Lake Avalon. 

Grand Lake: Was producing perch and some walleye.    

Fletchers Pond: Anglers caught pike, perch and panfish.    

Higgins Lake: Is producing lots of small perch along with a few keepers. Good lake trout action near the bottom in 70 to 100 feet. A few brown trout were caught on the north end. The fish were suspended in 20 to 40 feet. Anglers are getting a few pike, and the smelt bite was coming back in 30 to 65 feet. 

Houghton Lake: Anglers may want to bring cleats for easier travel on the ice. While the pressure cracks were closed up, caution still needs to be used, as strong winds can open them up again. Not much to report on walleye; however, anglers have caught bluegills and a few pike. Crappie were caught on the north end. 

Tawas: Fishing was slow, with only a few walleye and lake trout caught in the evening when jigging spoons or rapalas tipped with minnows in 17 to 22 feet. 

Au Gres: Had slow fishing in Eagle Bay Marina, with only a couple bluegill or rock bass taken on wax worms and a couple pike on tip-ups with minnows. The odd walleye or perch was caught at the Pine River access when using jigs tipped with minnows in 5 to 8 feet. Several pike and one lake trout were caught on tips-ups with minnows at North Port Marina.

Gladwin County: A few perch were caught on Wiggins Lake.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Thumb Lake: Had water and slush on top. Anglers were catching some perch, and while a few were 8-9 inches, most were under 7 inches and were found off the beach access when jigging wax worms or minnows on the bottom in 8 to 30 feet. Some bigger fish, 7-9 inches, were caught off the boat launch in 7 to 13 feet. One splake was caught off the beach when using a minnow at dusk. 

Lake Charlevoix: Anglers could be seen east of Hemmingway Point. Some were looking for lake herring, but no reports of any caught. A couple walleye were caught in the South Arm near East Jordan and in Dutchman’s Bay. 

Kalkaska County: Anglers were getting a few brown trout on Bear Lake and Guernsey Lake. Try a jigging spoon with minnows and wigglers or tip-ups with minnows off the access site in 30 feet or so. 

Grand Traverse County: Some smelt were caught on Green Lake.     

Benzie County: River fishing was picking up.    

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Ice fishing continues for walleye, pike and panfish. 

Manistee River: Steelhead anglers found some fish during the warm-up.   

Osceola County: The inland lakes were producing some panfish.    

Mecosta County: Lake Mecosta continues to produce pike, perch and sunfish. Brockway Lake was producing sunfish and the occasional crappie. Morley Pond had pike, perch and panfish. Lower Evans had slower catch rates, with only a few small catches of perch and sunfish. 

Oceana County: Fishing was slow, with poor ice conditions on the west side of the county. East-side lakes had fishable ice, but the activity was slow.

Pentwater River: Steelhead fishing was slow.

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Upper Peninsula

Copper Harbor: Anglers have caught splake. Many were small, but some were above the 15-inch size limit. 

Portage Lake: Was producing walleye. Crappie were caught in Pike Bay.     

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers were seeing a decent number of fish; however, catch rates were slow, as they did not want to bite. Those who did have success caught splake, coho, brown trout, whitefish or the occasional Chinook or lake trout. Most were caught by jigging, but some were taken on tip-ups and jaw-jackers in both shallow and deep water. Smelt fishing at night was slow, but a couple burbot were caught. 

Little Bay De Noc: Drifting snow made for poor travel except for snowmobiles. Walleye anglers reported fair to good catches, mostly in southern waters, with the better fishing near No-See-Um Creek and near the Escanaba River in 20 to 30 feet with jigging raps or tip-ups with minnows. A good number of large fish were reported in this area. Walleye have started showing up at the head of the bay, but only a few catches were reported with tip-ups in 18 to 25 feet. Perch anglers reported spotty catches. The best areas were Kipling and south near the Escanaba ship docks in 30 feet with wigglers or minnows. 

Indian Lake: Anglers caught walleye and a couple nice pike. 

Manistique River: Was producing some steelhead. 

Big Manistique Lake: Good-size walleye were caught, but anglers were putting in a lot of time to get them. Pike also have been caught. 

Munising: Warm, sunny weather and southerly winds caused some changes in ice conditions. Anglers should avoid the following areas: West and East Channel, along Grand Island and the eastern end of Sand Point due to areas with open water. Strong wind deteriorated some of the top ice and created some small pressure cracks near Sand Point. There is open water near the boathouse and only a couple hundred yards of pack ice near the park service. Fishable ice was reported off the Grand Island Ferry access, Christmas, Powell Point, the city docks and the Anna River access points. Fishing was hit or miss, with anglers doing the best for whitefish. Try 60 to 70 feet with a single egg, spawn, wax worms or minnows. Splake were caught on a jig tipped with a minnow head, though several were sublegal. The coho and smelt action was sporadic, with only a few caught. A couple rainbow trout and lake trout were caught recently. Night anglers had been out for burbot, but only a few were caught. 

Whitefish Bay: Had some fishing activity in Emerson Bay, but the ice was not good. 

Munuscong Bay: Anglers caught walleye, pike and perch.    

Cedarville and Hessel: Perch fishing was hit or miss around the Les Cheneaux Islands. Those jigging minnows and wax worms in 15 to 20 feet found fish in Musky Bay. Perch anglers were reported in Government Bay and the Cedarville Channel. In Hessel Bay, perch ranging from 7-10 inches were caught on minnows and wax worms in 15 to 20 feet. Pike were taken on tip-ups with minnows. More splake were seen in Hessel Bay, but no harvest reports came in. There is some slush and areas with higher water flow that have lost some of the ice, so anglers need to use caution.  

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Fishing Tip:

Tips to stay safe when ice fishing in early spring

Winter is winding down, but there’s still time to go ice fishing. Remember, there are a few important safety precautions to take if you plan to do so:

1. Toward the end of the season, ice becomes rotten and soft. Although ice may still be more than a foot thick, it might not be strong enough to hold someone safely.
2. Don’t forget to keep carrying the appropriate safety items, such as ice picks and a throw rope. And remember to wear a personal flotation device when heading out.
3. Continue to use the buddy system and have someone with you to help if you fall through the ice.
4. Carry a fully charged cell phone in a waterproof plastic bag. Make sure it is easily accessible in case of an emergency.
5. Pay attention to the weather. If it hasn’t been consistently cold or if there has been a lot of wind, you can’t guarantee there will be solid ice to head out on.

For more information on ice fishing, visit 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.