Weekly Fishing Report: January 16, 2014
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 01/16/2014 08:00 AM EST
Weekly Fishing Report
January 16, 2014
Weekly Fishing Tip: Finding panfish through the ice
Have you been attempting to target panfish during your ice fishing trips this winter, but aren’t having much luck? Consider the following things.
Are the panfish sticking to shallow or deep depths? Are they hanging out in the weeds or on the rocks? Are they suspended or are they hugging the bottom?
Due to the weather much of the state has experienced recently, panfish are likely to be in deeper water to find more oxygen. Keep that in mind when you look for them!
Also keep your presentation efforts in mind. A popular effort includes putting a jig on the bottom and using a twitch-pause-twitch routine with it.
For more information on winter fishing in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/fishing.
This tip was adapted from Michigan Outdoor News.
Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most:
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Upper Peninsula
With ice fishing in full swing, anglers are reminded that safety is a must so be sure to check the ice ahead of you, use the buddy system, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return, take a cell phone, and remember a life jacket could save your life.
Lake Erie: Perch fishing was steady late in the day when using small jigs tipped with a minnow or red spike at the Metro Park Marina. Some did well with mousies. Perch and the occasional walleye were caught in 19 feet off the Banana Dike. Walleye were caught in Brest Bay in the morning and evening. Anglers are jigging rapalas or a spoon with a shiner minnow.
Huron River: Shelf ice is limiting access and fishing.
Detroit River: Has a lot of ice coming down the river. Airport Bay was producing some jumbo perch and those fishing up near the Ecorse River caught perch off the seawall at Bellanger Park.
Lake St. Clair: Still has ice. Water clarity has been very good for spearing. Catch rates for perch were spotty with lots of small ones caught.
Saginaw Bay: Rain left the ice covered with anywhere from six to 12 inches of slush and standing water which made travel difficult. Linwood had a lot of anglers. They are going three to four miles out and getting walleye near and beyond the first pressure crack. Walleye are being caught in the old shipping channel off the Bay City State Park. Open-water anglers fishing at the mouth of the Hot Pond are taking some walleye and pike when casting any lure with a chrome or silver finish. Over at Quanicassee, those spearing off Vanderbilt Park are getting a few pike. Anglers off Thomas Road are going to the middle of the Slot and taking walleye in 15 feet. The only activity at Sebewaing is pike spearing. At Mud Creek, persistent perch anglers are getting an average of 10 keepers per trip and those pike spearing are taking a few fish. Perch were caught at Caseville.
Saginaw River: A few limit catches of walleye were taken near Wickes Park by those using a white jig with minnows or a blue and silver rapala in 10 feet of water. There was a lot of fishing activity in front of the St. Mary’s Health Building on Washington Avenue. Walleye were caught on a chartreuse jig with minnows in 25 feet of water in the mid-channel. Walleye caught between the Zilwaukee Bridge and Bay City were smaller. There was a lot of fishing pressure downstream of the Independence Bridge. Walleye were caught but anglers had to sort out the small ones. Perch were taken on perch rigs. Some decent catches were taken near the railroad bridge down by Essexville and the mouth.
Tittabawassee River: Anglers are being warned to stay off because of increase flow with all the rain. The ice is not safe anywhere.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
The ice is holding in this region but there was a lot of slush which should firm back up with colder temperatures. Anglers are still doing well for bluegills on most lakes with the better fishing in the evening and at day break. Wax worms were the ticket. A few northern pike have been taken near the inlets by those using tip-ups and minnows.
St. Joseph River: Is producing some steelhead however the bite is slow which is typical for time of year.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead were caught below the Allegan Dam. Try small plugs or a jig and wax worm.
Gull Lake: In Kalamazoo County has some nice pike for those using tip-ups.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Water levels are up and steelhead are still being caught. Try a jig and wax worm, wobble glows or spinners.
Lake Lansing: Was producing a few crappie. Try tip-ups for pike.
Round Lake: Was producing some nice bluegills but catch rates were spotty.
Muskegon River: Water levels are up and the steelhead fishing improved with the warmer weather.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Au Sable River: Even with the drastic change in weather, anglers will be able to access the river at most of the access sites. The launch on Rea Road is open but iced up after the thaw and refreeze. A limited number of vehicles can park there but anglers will need 4-wheel drive to launch from there. Foote Dam is still open for vehicles although the snow was still pretty deep in some areas. Most of the fishing platform was accessible and some trails were broken along the edge of the river. High Banks has open parking but watch the stairs as they are very icy. A two track was broken to the Boy Scout Camp but the hard snow makes it difficult to get to. The Whirlpool is open but the access road and the launch were very icy. Steelhead are in the river. Check out the deeper holes along the bends.
Higgins Lake: Had water on the ice but it is going down. Lake trout are being caught in 100 feet of water by those jigging Swedish Pimples or using tip-ups just off the bottom. A few pike were taken in 30 feet off Sam-O-Set which is off the southern part of the north end. Perch were caught off Big Creek in 40 feet. Try minnows or wax worms. Pike were also caught by those jigging a spoon that resembles smelt. Rainbow trout could be found in shallow water near the Conference Center and Big Creek. Anglers are setting up for smelt as they begin to move their shanties off the west launch.
Houghton Lake: Has good ice covered with slush. Pike and perch have been caught along the weed beds. Fair to good walleye action reported in the East Bay.
Tawas: Snow and slush is making for difficult travel on the bay. They’re getting some small perch in 15 feet and walleye in 20 feet off Jerry’s Marina. Those not able to get out on the bay have also caught perch and walleye inside the State Harbor.
Au Gres: Anglers have caught some walleye three to four miles off Santiago Road in 20 feet of water. Some are heading south and going off the end of Hale Road.
Au Gres River: Is mainly producing sub-legal walleye with a few keepers.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Ice fishing is going strong on the inland lakes.
Green Lake: In Grand Traverse County is producing some smelt. The better fishing is at night when using a jig.
Lake Cadillac: Has been good for pike, panfish and the occasional walleye. For panfish, try small jigs with minnows or spikes and for walleye try jigging rapalas or using tip-ups. Pike are being taken by those using tip-ups and by those spearing.
Lake Mitchell: Is good for pike and panfish. For bluegill, try the coves on the west side of the lake with teardrops and wax worms. Crappie are good off the State Park.
Lake Missaukee: Is producing bluegill, crappie and the occasional perch. The better fishing is usually along the weed beds on the west side of the lake.
Portage Lake: Is producing bluegill, crappie and some pike.
Manistee River: Still had some shelf ice in the lower river however the upper section had open water and was producing some steelhead.
UPPER PENINSULA
Menominee: A few whitefish were caught in front of Hennes Park however the ice is very rough which makes for difficult travel.
Menominee River: Anglers had fair to good catch rates when jigging for panfish at the Menekaunee landing area and off the Foundry parking lot. They are using wax worms and minnows. In front of the Mystery Ship Marina and boat launch, anglers were targeting pike and walleye but the bite was slow. Steelhead were caught in the open water near Stephenson Island when casting spoons and rapalas or drifting spawn. Open water on the Michigan side near the Hattie Street Dam was also producing some steelhead. Anglers are fly fishing, casting rapalas or drifting spawn and wax worms. Some nice walleye were caught through the ice on the Wisconsin side. Anglers are jigging minnows or wax worms and the bite improved after dark.
Little Bay De Noc: Still has ice but the warm weather caused the pressure cracks to open up and getting across them is causing some issues especially for those taking motorized vehicles out. Anglers still need to use CAUTION especially in the southern part of bay where the ice varied more than the northern end. Walleye catches were fair to good between Aronson Island and Portage Point for those jigging rapalas or using tip-ups with a minnow in 25 to 35 feet. Fish were also caught near the mouth of the Escanaba River in 20 to 35 feet. The perch were active but most caught only small fish. Try out from Brach’s Cabins in 15 to 24 feet with wigglers or minnows or out from the Day’s River in eight to 26 feet. Good catches of whitefish were taken at Gladstone in 30 to 40 feet with minnows or spawn.
Munising: Anglers are catching splake and whitefish in the bay.
Manistique Lake: Is producing some yellow perch and pike. Walleye were slow, but a few have been caught.
Munuscong: Has more snow on the ice than Cedarville and Hessel. Perch fishing was fair but the walleye were spotty for those fishing tip-ups with minnows in three feet of water near Grassy Island.
Cedarville and Hessel: Musky Bay and Hessel Bay are slow. Anglers are seeing fish and trying a variety of baits but catch rates were slow.
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