Weekly Fishing Report: January 8, 2015
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 01/08/2015 08:00 AM EST|
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Weekly Fishing Report
January 8, 2015
Weekly Fishing Tip: Targeting perch on Lake St. Clair
When most anglers think of Lake St. Clair they often think of bass or muskellunge fishing – but during the winter months many think of it as a yellow perch destination!
There are a few techniques to employ if you wish to target fish on the lake, including keeping on the move and focusing on areas where the perch are most likely to be found. Perch on Lake St. Clair will often hang out on the vast, shallow flats as they look for smaller fish to prey on. Since structure is limited during the winter months they’ll use the shade of the ice cover to fill in that role. Fishing these areas can often offer anglers great success with large-size fish!
Want even more tips for fishing yellow perch – and not just on Lake St. Clair? Check out their page on the Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them website.
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
The cold weather is helping to shore up ice conditions around the state. Anglers are actively fishing in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. Anglers in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula should be ice fishing by the weekend.
Lake Erie: Ice anglers are getting some perch in the Metro Park Marina.
Huron River: Those bobber fishing with a jig and wax worm are still taking some steelhead but watch for flow ice coming down the river.
Detroit River: The marinas are freezing up. Some reported seeing ice shanties in Airport Bay which is at the south end of Grosse Ile. Anglers will need to watch for flow ice coming down the river.
Lake St. Clair: Had some ice in the canals and marinas and bluegill fishing has been very good. Some perch and crappie were also mixed in at some locations. By next weekend, there should be some ice fishing on the lake as well. The Selfridge Boat Access Site is under construction, but will remain open for ice fishing access this winter.
St. Clair River: Shore anglers have been catching brown trout and steelhead between the Blue Water Bridge and the Black River.
Saginaw Bay: Has some ice. People are out fishing however no reports have come in yet.
Saginaw River: Continues to produce some walleye for shore anglers casting stick baits in open water.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Ice is forming on some lakes in the region and a few anglers have been venturing out to fish the shallow bays and channels. Ice thickness should improve by the end of the week.
St. Joseph River: Steelhead fishing has slowed. A few fish were caught by those drifting spawn or skein and those casting plugs.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead fishing slowed. Those fishing below the Allegan Dam had some luck casting plugs or when drifting spawn and skein.
Grand River near Grand Rapids: Is still producing some steelhead but catch rates have slowed. Anglers are having some luck with plugs and drifting spawn and skein.
Grand River near Lansing: Walleye and pike were hitting on minnows and crawlers at the North Lansing Dam. At the Portland, Webber and Lyons Dam, steelhead were hitting on beads, pike and walleye on minnows. Closer to Eaton Rapids, some nice pike were taken on minnows, spinners or spoons at the Smithville Dam.
Ingham County: Fishing activity on the area lakes and rivers is minimal.
Muskegon River: Water levels were good and the water is clear. Steelhead fishing was steady in Newaygo County.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Conditions are still quite variable from lake to lake but improving for foot traffic.
Grand Lake: Anglers are ice fishing however there was still some open water so extreme caution needs to be used.
Long Lake: Should have some ice fishing however ice thickness may not be consistent. For bluegill and crappie, try jigging minnows, wax worms or spikes. For pike, try tip-ups in the coves.
Clear Lake: In Montmorency County has started to produce some splake. Catch rates for panfish and pike were mixed.
Fletchers Pond: Should be in good shape but anglers will still need to use caution especially where there is a current. Try jigs with minnows and wax worms for bluegill, crappie and perch. Pike will hit on tip-ups with sucker minnows.
Hubbard Lake: Anglers are ice fishing however rumor has it a snowmobile went through the ice. Anglers would be wise to travel by foot only. For perch and pike, target the North Bay and the East Bay.
Higgins Lake: Has iced over however it was not safe. Anglers would be wise to wait until the weekend before they start venturing out. Strong winds broke up the ice on the north end of the lake so even though the ice is rebuilding, extreme caution needs to be used. Be sure to use a spud to check the ice ahead of you.
Houghton Lake: Ice fishing is on but not all of the lake was frozen. With snow on the ice, anglers will need to careful and watch for open water in the North Bay and the East Bay. Pike were very active and hitting on tip-ups with sucker minnows or goldens. The walleye bite slowed with the onset of the cold front but the bite is coming back. Try blues, jigs and spoons. Some decent perch were caught by walleye anglers. For bluegills, try spikes and wax worms.
Lake Margrethe: Ice anglers caught bluegill, perch, pike and walleye.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Ice conditions were still variable from lake to lake with only foot traffic on most. Panfish and northern pike action has been steady.
Grand Traverse County: Some walleye were caught on Long Lake and bluegills were hitting on Fish Lake near Kingsley. Those fishing Duck Lake caught pike.
Manistee Lake: In Kalkaska County was producing some bluegill, perch, pike and walleye.
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing is on and shanties are on the lake. Those using tip-ups have caught some nice pike.
Lake Mitchell: Has ice and those fishing the coves are catching bluegill, crappie and the occasional perch. Jigs and wax worms seem to work best.
Portage Lake: Ice anglers are heading out and catch rates for panfish were fair.
Manistee River: Still has steelhead for the taking. With the cold weather, fish the slow water with spawn, jigs and wax worms, plugs or flies.
Hamlin Lake: Ice anglers can be found targeting bluegill, crappie and perch in Indian Pete’s Bayou, the North Bayou, Middle Bayou and the South Bayou.
Pere Marquette River: Steelhead fishing remains consistent.
UPPER PENINSULA
Ice conditions keep improving with the colder weather. Most lakes are now seeing ORV and snowmobile traffic however anglers need to use caution.
Menominee: Ice in the bay was extremely rough due to windy conditions.
Menominee River: Those fishing open water below the dam caught walleye and some brown trout.
Little Bay De Noc: Has ice and those out fishing have taken some nice catches of walleye, perch and pike. Anglers need to use caution especially near the pressure cracks.
Indian Lake: In Schoolcraft County had slow fishing with a mix of brown trout, and perch caught.
Manistique Lake: Fishing has been steady, with low numbers but a decent number of quality fish being taken. Anglers are targeting walleye, pike, and perch.
St. Mary’s River: Before ice impedes commercial navigation, several icebreakers have been assigned to the region. The Coast Guard would like to advise all recreational ice users there are currently no channel closures, and to plan their activities carefully, use caution on the ice, and stay away from the shipping channels.
The Weekly Fishing Report is intended to give anglers an ”idea” of what is going on around the state. Updates for the report come from our DNR Fisheries Creel Clerks (seasonal staff) and field staff as well as DNR Conservation Officers working in in the field. General information when available can be found in the first paragraph for each section of the report. For those looking for specific information on a certain body of water or port, it is safe to say if a certain species is being caught in some waters in the area, more than likely they are being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.
While we would love to include all waters and ports of the state that simply is not possible, especially with more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams.
Do you have a great spot to go fishing that you'd like to share? Consider submitting it to the DNR for the Family Friendly Fishing Waters project!
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