Weekly Fishing Report: January 22, 2015
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 01/22/2015 08:00 AM EST|
Find out where the fish are biting this week! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Weekly Fishing Report
January 22, 2015
Weekly Fishing Tip: Four tips for fishing for Northern Pike in winter
As ice fishing season continues to plug along, now may be the time to learn some tips and tricks for targeting northern pike!
1. Consider using a fluorocarbon leader that will be practically invisible to any pike, as opposed to a steel leader.
2. Keep your bait lively, both by using a well-aerated bait container and very sharp hooks to minimize injury.
3. Consider using something flashy with your bait, such as a small spinner blade, to entice pike in murky water.
4. Don’t be afraid to keep some slush around your hole in the ice to prevent pike from being spooked by your opening.
Want more information on fishing for northern pike? Visit their website to get started.
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
Ice fishing on the inland lakes is pretty much in full swing for the most part. Caution still needs to be used on the deeper lakes which take longer to form safe ice. Use caution near the pressure cracks on all bodies of water. Safety is a must when ice fishing, so always take a buddy and never fish alone.
Do you schedule bass tournaments? Check out the DNR's Michigan Fishing Tournament Information System to schedule a tournament or to view scheduled fishing tournaments for a particular water body, ramp and date. This system is designed to help both tournament organizers and recreational anglers and boaters avoid ramp conflicts. In addition, tournament organizers can electronically report their catch data and help Fisheries Division effectively manage the state's valuable fisheries resources.
Lake Erie: Is producing some perch in the marinas. Bluegill and crappie were caught off Sterling State Park. A few walleye were taken in Brest Bay however anglers need to pay close attention to a west wind which will blow out the ice beyond the pressure crack.
Lenawee County: Finally had enough ice for anglers to get out on the lakes. A few panfish were caught on Wampler’s Lake but overall the bite was slow. Anglers are urged to use caution when venturing out.
Detroit River: Word has it Airport Bay was still producing some yellow perch. For access, anglers will have to walk about ¾ of a mile down Frenchman Creek. Those fishing the canals around Gibraltar have caught a handful of bluegills. Pike have been caught around Belle Isle.
Lake St. Clair: Had mixed reports all over the lake. Lots of small perch as the bigger fish were not as active. Those spearing perch had the best luck because fish would come in to investigate but would not bite. Some perch were caught near Geno’s and the Metro Park. Good reports were coming from the marinas and shallow weed beds where pumpkinseed were hitting on teardrops and spikes. A lot of anglers were fishing Anchor Bay off the Palms Road access site.
Port Austin: Had a few shanties in the harbor.
Saginaw Bay: A few perch were caught off White’s Beach however beware of the ice past the first pressure crack. Perch were caught off Newman Road just south of Pinconning. Walleye fishing was pretty good three miles off Linwood with a fair number of limit catches but use extreme caution beyond the first pressure crack.
Walleye fishing was good and some perch were caught near Spoils Island. Along the east side of the bay, most anglers were after perch near shore. A few were caught off Vanderbilt Park however there was still some open water out there so anglers need to use extreme caution. Crappie were caught in Sunset Bay Marina. Walleye were caught out in the Slot in 15 feet however be very careful beyond the first pressure crack. Perch fishing from Sebewaing to Caseville was slow and spotty throughout much of the area including the marina at Sebewaing and off Geiger Road. Most of the activity was off the Mud Creek access site in Wildfowl Bay where catch rates range from getting “skunked” to maybe 25 taken by the luckiest anglers that found a school of active fish. Success rates declined with all the noise from anglers traveling across the ice.
Saginaw River: Had a lot of anglers but catch rates were slow. There are a lot of sub-legal walleyes in the river this time of year so anglers at all locations have to do a lot of sorting. Jigging rapalas are the standard however spoons also work and hot colors are blue and silver, perch or fire-tiger. The slowest action was down in Saginaw and as far north as the Zilwaukee Bridge as the water was muddy after the snow-melt. Most of the walleye caught between the Zilwaukee Bridge and Bay City were sub-legal. Those fishing around the U.S.S. Edson only caught the occasional keeper. Watch the ice near the mouth as there were some areas with open water and some thin ice close to shore.
Tittabawassee River: Was not fishable at the time of this report. There was too much ice for open-water fishing but the ice was not safe to walk on. The current increased after the weekend thaw.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Warmer weather opened up river fishing again, so anglers are back out on the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, and the Grand. The launches are snow covered and icy, so come prepared. Ice conditions are better towards the middle of the state near Lansing because the west side of the state had much more snow cover. Anglers need to be extremely careful.
Gull Lake: In Kalamazoo County was producing some smelt.
Gun Lake: In Barry County is producing a few perch and bluegills. For walleye, try east of Murphy’s Point.
Kalamazoo River: Has anglers targeting steelhead below the Allegan Dam.
Lake Macatawa: Had some decent reports for bluegill and perch.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is still producing some steelhead. Try a jig and wax worm, spinners, wobble glows or flies. Good colors are usually blue and silver.
Grand River near Lansing: Catch rates dropped right off during the cold spell and have not rebounded.
Lake Lansing: Is producing some bluegill and crappie. Some are using tip-ups for pike while others are spearing. The bite is slow, try light line and very small tear drops with very small bait.
Livingston County: A fair number of panfish have been caught in Lake Chemung, Upper Chilson Pond or Appleton Lake.
Jackson County: Had lots of anglers but catch rates were slow.
Clinton County: Ice fishing was in full swing though anglers were having little success. Most caught small bluegills.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Ice conditions are improving on all water bodies in this region however anglers should still use caution.
Lake Avalon: Is producing a few splake.
Grand Lake: Continues to produce perch in good numbers. A few pike and walleye were also caught.
Long Lake: Was good for walleye with a few perch and pike mixed in. Try jigging.
Hubbard Lake: Try the North Bay or the East Bay for perch.
Au Sable River: There are steelhead below Foote Dam but fishing pressure has been light. Try casting plugs while drifting downstream from the dam to the mouth.
Higgins Lake: Perch were hitting wax worms, wigglers or minnows in 20 to 60 feet around the Sunken Island and the Main Island. Pike were caught on sucker minnows near Big Creek. Those spearing have taken fish up to 40 inches near Sam-O-Set Park which is in the north basin. Lake trout were caught in the north basin by those jigging spoons near the bottom or using tip-ups with minnows. Most of the fish caught were not big but legal size. Rainbow trout were caught on wigglers in shallow water near Big Creek and the Conference Center. A few smelt were taken along the west side of the lake.
Houghton Lake: Still had open water in the North Bay off Long Point. The East Bay has iced over however the ice was thin. Catch rates slowed with all the traffic on the ice however the walleye bite was starting to come back. Some of the fish caught were sub-legal but anglers are still taking some keepers.
Lake St. Helen: Is producing panfish and pike were caught on tip-ups.
Tawas: Had good walleye fishing in 15 to 20 feet in the Bay. Some limit catches were reported. Perch fishing was also good with a fair number of 7.5 to 10 inch fish caught. Fishing inside the harbor was slow.
Au Gres: The best walleye fishing was off Booth Road at Point Au Gres in 15 feet. At Palmer Road, walleye fishing was good with some limits reported. Perch fishing was spotty but the fish range seven to nine inches.
Au Gres River: Was producing mostly sub-legal walleye.
Genesee County: Panfish are being caught at Holloway Reservoir but no big numbers. Pike and small numbers of panfish were caught in Byram Lake.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
The inland lakes are producing pike, walleye, perch, and panfish. While most lakes are in good shape anglers will still need to use caution on the deeper ones.
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing continues to be good. Pike are being taken on tip-ups and spears and panfish were hitting on minnows, spikes and wax worms.
Lake Mitchell: Is producing bluegills, crappie and even some perch in the coves. A good number of pike have been taken.
Lake Missaukee: Was producing walleye and smaller panfish.
Portage Lake: Had reports of walleye and yellow perch being caught.
Manistee River: Continues to produce steelhead and brown trout. Fish have been caught below Tippy Dam and by those wading above or below the coffer dam.
Hamlin Lake: Is producing a fair number of bluegill, crappie and perch. Try fishing the bayous with minnows, wax worms or spikes.
Pere Marquette River: Steelhead fishing has been good for those drifting or wading. Be sure to watch for shelf ice.
UPPER PENINSULA
Keweenaw Bay: Ice has finally developed. Anglers are finding access on the southern end of the bay along US-41 and fishing the drop-off located about 100 yards offshore. They have caught lake trout, splake, whitefish, and the occasional brown trout. Catch rates were light with the most fish caught at daybreak.
Otter Lake: In Houghton County was producing a light number of pike and crappie.
Lake Gogebic: Is producing a moderate number of walleye and perch.
Menominee River: Walleye are being caught below the dam at Hattie Street. Anglers are jigging rapalas or small spoons tipped with a minnow. Good colors were fire-tiger or blue and silver.
Little Bay De Noc: Warmer temperatures caused problems with ice conditions in the Escanaba shipping channel. Anglers have been fishing this area but it is considered DANGEROUS. Please use caution at all times when navigating the southern areas of the Bay. Ice conditions were favorable north of the “Narrows” where catch rates for walleye and perch were up. In Kipling, most were jigging rapalas with minnows in 24 to 30 feet or 27 to 35 feet in Gladstone. Some were using tip-ups or jigging rapalas between the shipping docks and the river in Escanaba. Perch anglers reported fair catches with the Kipling area the best for those jigging minnows or wigglers in 10 to 30 feet or 17 feet straight out from the first Masonville access site. Several pike were speared from the Escanaba Yacht Harbor in eight feet when using live decoys. Whitefish anglers were marking good numbers of fish but few catches were reported out from the Terrace Bay Inn in 35 to 40 feet. Although many are driving their vehicles out on the Bay it is not recommended for safety reasons.
Au Train Lake: Was producing some pike and small perch. Anglers were heading out from Forest Lake Road and the access site in Buck Bay.
Munising: The bay is frozen from Christmas to Sand Point and there was fishing pressure in all the usual locations. Splake up to 20 inches were caught on occasion but many were under the 15 inch size limit. Anglers were taking good catches of whitefish but they are also running small. Some lake trout anglers were venturing out to the west side of Grand Island however the ice is variable out there and extreme caution needs to be used.
Schoolcraft County: Thunder Lake and Round Lake were slush covered and the bite was not good. Pete’s Lake was producing some small perch and pike. Fishing slowed on Indian Lake after the cold spell.
St. Mary’s River: Munuscong has slowed down. Very few walleye and perch have been caught.
Cedarville and Hessel: Activity picked up some in Hessel Bay. Some days anglers are reporting good catches in 12 to 14 feet when using minnows. Musky Bay and Cedarville Bay were slow.
Brevoort Lake: Was producing a fair to good number of yellow perch for those using minnows or cut bait in 10 to 12 feet.
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!
Revenue from fishing and hunting license sales supports DNR activities to enhance Michigan’s natural resources. These license sales also increase federal revenue to the State of Michigan for the management of these resources. Please help support Michigan’s abundant natural resources by purchasing a fishing and hunting license each year. You can purchase fishing licenses online 24-hours a day!