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Whacky weather will continue to affect fishing across the area

FISHING REPORT


LAPEER COUNTY — Those wanting to go ice fishing will have to head north, as the southern half of the Lower Peninsula had no safe ice. The only fishing available was open-water fishing. Those heading out will need to use caution, especially with warmer temperatures and rain in the forecast over the weekend and into next week.

SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Lake Erie: Is producing some walleye for those trolling bandits 50 to 80 feet back off Bolles Harbor, Fermi and Sterling State Park. Panfish were found in the canals and marinas.

Detroit River: Bluegills, perch and crappie have been caught in the cuts, canals and marinas when using minnows, wax worms or spikes.

Lake St. Clair: Water clarity is poor with the windy conditions. Those trolling crank baits in the southwest corner of the lake were still finding some walleye. Shore anglers were catching bluegill and pumpkinseed in the marinas when using ice fishing techniques from the docks.

Saginaw Bay: Boat anglers heading out of Linwood Marina and trolling crank baits in 18 to 20 feet out near the Spark Plug and 2 miles northeast of Spoils Island caught some walleye. The average size was 3 to 5 lbs. Perch fishing was very slow, with only a few caught at Finn Road and in some of the cuts along the east shoreline. The fishery should improve if we ever get some ice. Sebewaing to Bay Port had little activity. At Caseville, some lake trout were caught on a variety of artificial baits and live minnows. A few pike, burbot and whitefish were also caught.

Saginaw River: Did not have much to report, as the river was running very high and muddy. A few boats were marking fish on their graphs but had no success with the strong current. A couple shore anglers were casting jigs but had no luck.

Tittabawassee River: Also had high water and a strong current.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

There is no safe ice in this area of the state. Small lakes and ponds may have skim ice but no safe ice. Some are chasing steelhead in the rivers; however, above-average flows are making it difficult to fish.

St. Joseph River: Was high, and catch rates were slow.

Kalamazoo River: Also had slow catch rates.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Water levels were still high, but anglers are finding some steelhead when using a jig and wax worm, spawn or beads near the dam. Some big brown trout were also caught.

Rogue River: Is also producing some steelhead.

Muskegon Lake: Water clarity was low after runoff from the river. Those targeting walleye might want to use bright colors or glow-in-the-dark. A few shore anglers were casting for pike off Heritage

Landing.

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Higgins Lake: Is still wide open, and no anglers were out.

Houghton Lake: Has ice, and anglers are out; however, still use caution and stay away from any inlets or outlets where there is moving water. Anglers could be found on the East Bay, off the south DNR launch and off Flint Road. A couple walleye were taken on blue spoons or Do-Jiggers. Pike anglers are using tip-ups with blues. Bluegills and a few perch were caught off the south launch or Flint Road by those using wax worms, spikes and mousies.

Lake St. Helen: Is producing bluegills and crappie. No big numbers, but enough for a meal. Walleye were caught on First Lake. Try a Swedish pimple with a small minnow.

Tawas: Pier anglers caught some walleye when casting various body baits and other lures in the late evening or very early in the morning. A couple lake trout were also caught when still-fishing with minnows or casting lures.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Steelhead have been caught; however, the rivers are quite high right now, which makes fishing much more difficult.

Thumb Lake: In Charlevoix County was producing a few smaller perch for those fishing off the boat launch with tip-ups or when jigging. Fish were caught near the bottom in 10 to 16 feet.

Long Lake: In Grand Traverse County was making ice. A few anglers were just starting to head out and were fishing close to shore.

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: There was heavy fishing pressure on Lake Mitchell. Some were out on Lake Cadillac; however, the shore ice was in poor condition.

Manistee River: Is producing some steelhead for those using beads or spawn.

UPPER PENINSULA

Ice conditions still vary in the eastern Upper Peninsula. It seems some lakes have good ice while others have slush. Inland lakes closer to Lake Michigan had a bit less snow on them.

Little Bay De Noc: Ice conditions were not the best, as the ice at Gladstone and to the south was broken up and there was open water. Rumor has it the access site near the Escanaba Power Plant has been sold and the new owner is not letting anglers access the area anymore. Anglers were fishing the north end between Kipling and Garth Point with the majority on the Second and Third Reefs. Most are using portable shanties only and many were walking out. Extreme caution needs to be used, as a few machines have gone through the ice in some areas and drifts have caused problems for those on ORVs. Stay clear of the

“Narrows” as the ice is very dangerous with open water. Perch anglers are reporting similar results to last year with low creel numbers, but some nice jumbo perch were caught in 30 feet or so with minnows and wigglers near the Kipling Flats and the Third Reef. Walleye anglers reported very good numbers of small fish near the Second and Third Reefs when jigging raps or minnows in 28 to 40 feet.

Manistique Lake: Had some fishing action on both lakes. No large numbers, but a couple walleye and panfish were caught.

Munising: There was no ice on Munising Bay.

Cedarville and Hessel: Musky Bay out of Cedarville had open water on the south side. Ice conditions in the channel were unknown. Ice on the west side of Hessel Bay had broken up after the high winds, so ice conditions were unknown. A few small perch were caught when jigging wigglers in 13 to 15 feet. A few pike were seen, but none were caught.