Southeast Michigan still had open-water fishing for walleye and perch. With the cold temperatures, the inland lakes were starting to freeze, but the southern sections of the Lower Peninsula did not have safe ice for the most part. Ice jams were causing some problems on a few rivers.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Open-water fishing continues. Some boat anglers were still heading out from the Metropark Marina, though no reports had come in.    

Huron River: Anglers caught the occasional steelhead off Labo Park and Dodge Park.        

Detroit River: A few boats were still heading out; however, watch for ice coming down the river. Those fishing the cuts, canals and marinas were getting small perch. 

St. Clair River: Had ice moving downstream at Port Huron.     

Saginaw Bay: Ice was finally starting to form along the west shoreline from Whites Beach to the Bay City State Park, though you cannot get out very far. Ice was starting to form along the east side; however, extreme caution needs to be used as there was still open water in some areas. Ice anglers were found from Sebewaing to Bay Port, where the occasional pike or bluegill was caught near shore. Perch fishing was very slow.  Caseville had stained water, and fishing was slow. Ice had just formed around the pier, but no anglers were on it as it is still early. Ice conditions were not uniform, so use caution. 

Saginaw River: Was still running high, fast and muddy with a lot of ice coming down. A couple anglers were ice fishing at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club, but caution needs to be used. They caught a few small perch and undersize walleye as the water was muddy.   

Tittabawassee River: Was still high, fast and muddy with a lot of ice coming down.    

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Ice was starting to form; however, it was not safe in most places. Extreme caution needs to be used, especially with the amount of snow that came down during the initial freezing process. Very few anglers had been out. 

Grand River near Lansing: High water levels continue, so try staying out of the current and fish the quiet backwaters where pike and catfish may be found. 

Big Blue Lake: In Muskegon County was producing pike and bluegills. 

Muskegon Lake: Frozen over; however, anglers should stay away from the newly formed black ice and stay away from the channel, which had open water. Those heading out would be wise to take a spud and check the ice ahead of you. A few pike were taken on tip-ups off Heritage Landing. A few anglers could be found in the northeast corner near the Conservation Club. For bluegills, try on the north end in Snug Harbor. 

Muskegon River: Was still a bit high, but those fishing near the bank did manage to find a couple steelhead. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake: Ice anglers need to use caution and stay away from any pressure cracks. Some are getting the occasional steelhead or brown trout, while most were targeting walleye, perch, crappie and bluegills. 

Mullett Lake: Ice conditions were unknown. Those heading out should stay away from the rivers on both the north and south ends. 

Lake Margrethe: Ice fishing continues for walleye, pike, bluegills and perch.   

Higgins Lake: Was iced over for the most part; however, the ice thickness is not uniform by any means, and there is slush in the middle of the lake, where water had come up. Anglers may find 4 inches in one spot and only an inch in the next. Snow cover on the lake will slow the freezing process. Those looking to fish may want to target rainbow trout in shallow waters only with wigglers or wax worms. Try near Big Creek and off King Road. 

Houghton Lake: Anglers should stay clear of the Muskegon River, Cut River, Denton Creek and Backus Creek as vehicles have gone through the ice. Anglers should not cross the pressure crack that runs from Long Point to the Heights area due to unsafe ice. Vehicles should not go off the launch on the west side due to poor ice conditions. The bite was slow, but walleye and a few perch were found in 8 to 12 feet by those jigging a rattle jig to lure them in then dead sticking with a minnow. Pike were caught by those using tip-ups with golden shiners. Bluegills were hitting in the morning and late afternoon.   

Lake St. Helen: Continues to see a good number of anglers. Most have caught bluegill, crappie and walleye. The better pike fishing is usually off the boat launch on the First Lake.    

Tawas: Had no fishable ice.

Au Gres: There was some ice inside Northport Marina, where anglers were getting a few walleye and pike on jigs tipped with minnows. Several pike were taken on tip-ups at Eagle Bay Marina. Decent-size bluegills and crappie were taken on wax worms, and a few small perch were caught on minnows.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Thumb Lake: Had ice in both the east and west basins, especially along the edges. Ice conditions in the deep hole were unknown. Anglers need to be aware of where the deep holes are and any areas with natural springs. There was some slush on the ice with a good 8 inches of snow on top. Anglers were taking limits of perch off the beach access site when jigging wax worms and minnows in 5 to 15 feet. Anglers reported schools of jumbo perch but could not get them to bite. Most of the fish harvested were 7-9 inches.  Splake 14-21 inches were caught off the beach access, around the island and off the boat launch when jigging minnows.     

Lake Charlevoix: Ice anglers were fishing the South Arm. Those targeting perch had mixed results.  

Long Lake: In Grand Traverse County had slow fishing, with just a few small perch and small walleye caught. Over a foot of snow has resulted in slushy ice conditions. 

Lake Missaukee: A few anglers were out getting panfish.

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Both lakes had anglers out targeting walleye, pike and panfish. On Mitchell, anglers could be found off the state park and in Big Cove. 

Manistee River: Anglers are finding steelhead when drifting spawn or beads in the slower water. Those fishing below Tippy Dam caught the occasional brown trout. 

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Upper Peninsula

Little Bay De Noc: Was hit with another big snowstorm. There is ice from the Kipling area and north. There was still some open water in the “Narrows,” so the area should be avoided. There are pressure cracks from Gladstone south to the Terrace Bay Hotel.   Those fishing near the Escanaba Power Plant and the Escanaba Beach were using caution. A few vehicles have started driving out, but this is dangerous due to variable ice thickness throughout the bay. Others are traveling by foot or snowmobile. Those chasing walleye could be found along the east bank at Gladstone in 30 to 35 feet or the Third Reef in 28 to 32 feet with minnows and jigging raps. Catch rates were spotty, and most fish were undersize. Perch catches remain steady; however, fewer jumbo perch were caught. Try Kipling in 18 to 30 feet, the Second Reef in 30 feet or near the Escanaba Power Plant in 30 to 35 feet with minnows and wigglers.  Northern pike were active throughout, with good numbers of undersize fish caught.  Those spearing pike reported good action southwest of Butlers Island in 6 feet or so. 

Cedarville and Hessel: Fishing pressure picked up, and catch rates improved. Those fishing Musky Bay caught perch in 7 to 10 feet or pike in 20 feet when jigging minnows and wax worms. The snow and drifts are getting deep, and those with four-wheelers were having trouble in some areas. Ice conditions in Government Bay, Cedarville east channel and Mackinac Bay were unknown. Perch, pike and splake were caught in Hessel Bay. Perch measuring 7-9 inches were caught in 15 to 17 feet when jigging minnows and wax worms. A few splake were caught in 5 to 10 feet when jigging minnows.

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Fishing Tip: Four tips for fishing for northern pike in winter

Now may be the time to learn some tips and tricks for targeting northern pike through the ice:

1. Consider using a fluorocarbon leader, which will be practically invisible to any pike, as opposed to a steel leader.
2. Keep your bait lively by using both 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 the northern pike page on our website.

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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.