03-02-2007, 12:10 AM
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, March 1, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.mi.gov/images/fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif)
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[url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
The new 2007 fishing licenses go on sale today. Anglers are reminded that the season to take walleye, northern pike and muskellunge on the Upper Peninsula inland waters, Great Lakes and the St. Mary's River closed on February 28th and will not re-open until May 15th. Ice shanties placed upon waters in much of the southern half of the Lower Peninsula must be removed by midnight of March 1st. Ice shanties on Lake St. Clair should have been removed on February 25th.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Walleye fishing has slowed however anglers are still jigging in Brest Bay. Perch action on the north end of the Banana Dike slowed, but the ice was still fishable. Perch action off the Metropark Marina has picked up when using shiner minnows, wax worms, and wigglers with teardrops. Ruby red and chartreuse green have been good colors.
Detroit River - Good perch action continues on the south end of Grosse Ile when fishing in not only Gibraltar Bay, but also in the cuts and canals. The fish are running 10 to 14 inches long and have been caught in about 4 feet of water. Pike activity was a bit slower.
Saginaw Bay -On the West side of the Bay, walleye have been caught in 6 feet of water off the mouth of the Rifle River and the Pine River. Perch action was slow. Really good walleye fishing was reported south of Pinconning off Erickson Road about 3 to 5 miles offshore in 19 to 23 feet of water. Caution needs to be used and watch out for the pressure cracks! At Linwood, anglers are fishing about 4 miles out on the south side of the Black Hole. Some are fishing in 11 feet of water near the Bay City State Park, but most are in 20 feet of water. Those wading out near the Hot Ponds are taking pike, white bass and catfish. Near Quanicassee, some pike were speared near Vanderbilt Park. Off the end of Thomas Road near Fish Point, anglers have caught walleye in 20 to 26 feet of water, which is about 8 to 10 miles out. At Sebewaing, anglers have caught a few small perch and speared a couple pike in the marina. Action has been slow off Geiger Road.
Saginaw River - Anglers are catching walleye near the Zilwaukee Bridge. While many of the fish are running small, anglers are taking some keepers home.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - The harbor is still iced up.
St. Joesph River - Has opened up from Berrien Springs down to I-94. Boat anglers reported good steelhead fishing when using flat fish or Hot-n-Tots. Gold was the hot color. Good walleye fishing when jigging with minnows or twister tails.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Has good steelhead fishing above Fulton Street. Anglers are using jigs with wax worms, spawn, or minnows under a bobber. The waters below Fulton Street are frozen. Fair to good walleye fishing was reported between 5 and 9am between Fulton Street and the Sixth Street Dam. The action has also been good when night fishing between 10pm and 2am.
Cranberry Lake - In Ottawa County has good crappie fishing with limit catches reported. A few pike have also been taken.
Reeds Lake - Crappie have been caught near the sunken island. Bluegills can be found in the deep hole just north of the island which is 30 feet deep. Pike fishing has been very good when setting tip-ups about 3 feet down in waters 8 to 10 feet deep.
Dean Lake - Near Rockford, reported a couple muskie taken when using 3 to 4 inch shiners with the tails cut off.
Angel Lake - In Kent County has hit-or-miss bluegill fishing, but those lucky enough to catch them reported some nice fish in the 8 to 10 inch range.
Grand River at Lansing - Has little angler activity. Anglers need to get out and try Moore's Park for walleye, or hit the shallow backwaters for perch and crappie.
Lake Lansing - Anglers after pike are using tip-ups or jigging artificial lures.
Muskrat Lake - Is still ice covered, but catch rates were slow.
Lake Ovid - Catch rates for bluegill have been spotty, but some keepers were reported after the sorting. Rumor has it someone hooked into a nice muskie.
Muskegon River - Boat anglers reported fair to good steelhead fishing.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Mullett Lake - Has very good perch fishing in 25 to 35 feet of water.
Alpena - The wind has blown the ice off Thunder Bay. Those fishing around the marina have caught walleye, brown trout, steelhead and whitefish.
Thunder Bay River - Anglers are reminded that river ice is always a higher risk than lake ice and extreme caution needs to be used. Those fishing have caught a mixed bag of walleye, brown trout and steelhead. Good numbers of perch were reported in downtown Alpena.
Big Chub Lake - In Otsego County is producing some nice trout, mainly rainbows.
Hubbard Lake - Numerous walleye have been coming in. Anglers are catching as many as 3 to 4 per trip. The action is in deep water about 50 to 60 feet, although, the 35 foot range is getting limited action as well on both the north and south ends of the lake. Small perch are hitting on minnows in 12 feet of water but catch rates are slow.
Au Sable River - Fair to good numbers of steelhead are in the river.
Tawas - Walleye have been caught in 25 to 30 feet of water, with the better fishing in the evening. Perch were also caught, but sorting out the small ones is necessary. A few menominee were caught inside the harbor.
Au Gres - Walleye are hitting in 30 feet of water off North Point, the hotel, and straight off the mouth of the river in the evenings. A few pike were speared in the bayou just south of the river mouth.
Higgins Lake - A good number of lake trout have been caught just off the bottom in 90 to 100 feet of water. Smelt are hitting on jigs and wax worms off the North State Park and near Big Creek. Evenings have been best, and the fish can be found top to bottom in waters 25 to 50 feet deep. Rainbow trout can be found in shallow waters in front of the Conference Center and off Big Creek. Perch have been caught off Flag Point and Point Detroit when using minnows or wigglers in 15 to 50 feet of water.
Houghton Lake - Walleye and pike fishing continue to be good. Anglers are jigging for walleye in 8 to 12 feet of water while the pike anglers are using tip-ups in 6 to 9 feet. Bluegill action is still slow. Use caution around the pressure cracks.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Lake Charlevoix - Activity has picked up over the last week as anglers are reporting 9 to 18 inches of ice. Perch were the target in Dutchman's Bay, Sequanota Bay, through the Ironton Channel and off Young State Park. Try using large perch minnows, blues and wigglers in waters 25 to 60 feet deep. Walleye fishing was slow with only a few fish averaging 18 to 24 inches taken near East Jordan. A few pike have also been taken when using blues or sucker minnows in 15 to 30 feet of water. Fish ranging from 18 to 38 inches have been caught. Whitefish anglers are doing well off Hemmingway Point in 60 to 70 feet of water using spawn. Anglers are targeting lake trout and burbot near the Ironton Channel but had no luck so far.
Traverse City - Perch and whitefish have been caught in the West Bay when fishing in 45 to 85 feet of water near the Boardman River.
Glen Lake - Has pretty good lake trout and rainbow trout fishing. Perch and cisco have also been caught when fishing the narrows.
Green Lake - Has smelt, and the fish are hitting on spikes or wax worms in 45 to 60 feet of water. A few pike were caught along with some 8 to 10 inch perch.
Crystal Lake - In Benzie County has good perch fishing near Beulah. Whitefish are hitting on smelt, wigglers or a single egg fished near the bottom.
Portage Lake - Some nice perch have been caught.
Manistee River - Has good numbers of steelhead. Boat anglers have done well when fishing above High Bridge Road. About half of the fish caught were skippers which is a good sign the spring run is just beginning. A few brown trout were caught.
Lake Cadillac - Still has ice with lots of snow. Pike and crappie have been caught.
Lake Mitchell - Good pike fishing continues on the west side of the lake near the Boy Scout Camp and in the small cove on the north end of the lake. Fair to good crappie fishing was also reported.
Lake Missaukee - Is a good place to take the family for panfish.
Pere Marquette River - Has good numbers of steelhead but not many anglers have been fishing.
Upper Peninsula
Keweenaw Bay - Good fishing continues for lake trout, whitefish, herring and coho. A word of caution seems in order though as strong northeast winds this week could make travel on the ice very tricky especially out past Squaw Beach and north of the lighthouse.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions remain favorable north of the Escanaba shipping channel however; heavy snow of 15 inches or more along with strong winds creating large drifts are making access and travel more difficult. Perch anglers still doing very good throughout the Bay. Some nice jumbos were taken in 30 to 40 feet of water northeast of Kipling. Many 10 inch fish were taken as well as several 15 inches or larger. Good perch fishing was reported north of Escanaba. Those fishing near Butler Island have reported good catches, but the fish were running small. Whitefish action near Escanaba is getting better by the day when jigging minnows or spawn in 70 to 85 feet of water just off the mouth of the harbor. Limits were reported.
Munising - Ice conditions are still very good with most areas in the bay averaging 10 to 12 inches. Whitefish action was slow and splake have been fair. Anglers are heading out to deeper waters for lake trout and reporting fair success. There is no sign of any coho yet.
Munuscong Bay - Perch action has picked up on the west end of the bay near Grassy Island.
Raber Bay - Some herring have been speared, but overall action has been slow.
Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers are fishing with wigglers in Cedarville Bay and around Little Joe Island. Musky Bay is still the hot spot however the catch rate there is still only fair to good. Wigglers and wax worms are the preferred baits.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
The new 2007 fishing licenses go on sale today. Anglers are reminded that the season to take walleye, northern pike and muskellunge on the Upper Peninsula inland waters, Great Lakes and the St. Mary's River closed on February 28th and will not re-open until May 15th. Ice shanties placed upon waters in much of the southern half of the Lower Peninsula must be removed by midnight of March 1st. Ice shanties on Lake St. Clair should have been removed on February 25th.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Walleye fishing has slowed however anglers are still jigging in Brest Bay. Perch action on the north end of the Banana Dike slowed, but the ice was still fishable. Perch action off the Metropark Marina has picked up when using shiner minnows, wax worms, and wigglers with teardrops. Ruby red and chartreuse green have been good colors.
Detroit River - Good perch action continues on the south end of Grosse Ile when fishing in not only Gibraltar Bay, but also in the cuts and canals. The fish are running 10 to 14 inches long and have been caught in about 4 feet of water. Pike activity was a bit slower.
Saginaw Bay -On the West side of the Bay, walleye have been caught in 6 feet of water off the mouth of the Rifle River and the Pine River. Perch action was slow. Really good walleye fishing was reported south of Pinconning off Erickson Road about 3 to 5 miles offshore in 19 to 23 feet of water. Caution needs to be used and watch out for the pressure cracks! At Linwood, anglers are fishing about 4 miles out on the south side of the Black Hole. Some are fishing in 11 feet of water near the Bay City State Park, but most are in 20 feet of water. Those wading out near the Hot Ponds are taking pike, white bass and catfish. Near Quanicassee, some pike were speared near Vanderbilt Park. Off the end of Thomas Road near Fish Point, anglers have caught walleye in 20 to 26 feet of water, which is about 8 to 10 miles out. At Sebewaing, anglers have caught a few small perch and speared a couple pike in the marina. Action has been slow off Geiger Road.
Saginaw River - Anglers are catching walleye near the Zilwaukee Bridge. While many of the fish are running small, anglers are taking some keepers home.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - The harbor is still iced up.
St. Joesph River - Has opened up from Berrien Springs down to I-94. Boat anglers reported good steelhead fishing when using flat fish or Hot-n-Tots. Gold was the hot color. Good walleye fishing when jigging with minnows or twister tails.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Has good steelhead fishing above Fulton Street. Anglers are using jigs with wax worms, spawn, or minnows under a bobber. The waters below Fulton Street are frozen. Fair to good walleye fishing was reported between 5 and 9am between Fulton Street and the Sixth Street Dam. The action has also been good when night fishing between 10pm and 2am.
Cranberry Lake - In Ottawa County has good crappie fishing with limit catches reported. A few pike have also been taken.
Reeds Lake - Crappie have been caught near the sunken island. Bluegills can be found in the deep hole just north of the island which is 30 feet deep. Pike fishing has been very good when setting tip-ups about 3 feet down in waters 8 to 10 feet deep.
Dean Lake - Near Rockford, reported a couple muskie taken when using 3 to 4 inch shiners with the tails cut off.
Angel Lake - In Kent County has hit-or-miss bluegill fishing, but those lucky enough to catch them reported some nice fish in the 8 to 10 inch range.
Grand River at Lansing - Has little angler activity. Anglers need to get out and try Moore's Park for walleye, or hit the shallow backwaters for perch and crappie.
Lake Lansing - Anglers after pike are using tip-ups or jigging artificial lures.
Muskrat Lake - Is still ice covered, but catch rates were slow.
Lake Ovid - Catch rates for bluegill have been spotty, but some keepers were reported after the sorting. Rumor has it someone hooked into a nice muskie.
Muskegon River - Boat anglers reported fair to good steelhead fishing.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Mullett Lake - Has very good perch fishing in 25 to 35 feet of water.
Alpena - The wind has blown the ice off Thunder Bay. Those fishing around the marina have caught walleye, brown trout, steelhead and whitefish.
Thunder Bay River - Anglers are reminded that river ice is always a higher risk than lake ice and extreme caution needs to be used. Those fishing have caught a mixed bag of walleye, brown trout and steelhead. Good numbers of perch were reported in downtown Alpena.
Big Chub Lake - In Otsego County is producing some nice trout, mainly rainbows.
Hubbard Lake - Numerous walleye have been coming in. Anglers are catching as many as 3 to 4 per trip. The action is in deep water about 50 to 60 feet, although, the 35 foot range is getting limited action as well on both the north and south ends of the lake. Small perch are hitting on minnows in 12 feet of water but catch rates are slow.
Au Sable River - Fair to good numbers of steelhead are in the river.
Tawas - Walleye have been caught in 25 to 30 feet of water, with the better fishing in the evening. Perch were also caught, but sorting out the small ones is necessary. A few menominee were caught inside the harbor.
Au Gres - Walleye are hitting in 30 feet of water off North Point, the hotel, and straight off the mouth of the river in the evenings. A few pike were speared in the bayou just south of the river mouth.
Higgins Lake - A good number of lake trout have been caught just off the bottom in 90 to 100 feet of water. Smelt are hitting on jigs and wax worms off the North State Park and near Big Creek. Evenings have been best, and the fish can be found top to bottom in waters 25 to 50 feet deep. Rainbow trout can be found in shallow waters in front of the Conference Center and off Big Creek. Perch have been caught off Flag Point and Point Detroit when using minnows or wigglers in 15 to 50 feet of water.
Houghton Lake - Walleye and pike fishing continue to be good. Anglers are jigging for walleye in 8 to 12 feet of water while the pike anglers are using tip-ups in 6 to 9 feet. Bluegill action is still slow. Use caution around the pressure cracks.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Lake Charlevoix - Activity has picked up over the last week as anglers are reporting 9 to 18 inches of ice. Perch were the target in Dutchman's Bay, Sequanota Bay, through the Ironton Channel and off Young State Park. Try using large perch minnows, blues and wigglers in waters 25 to 60 feet deep. Walleye fishing was slow with only a few fish averaging 18 to 24 inches taken near East Jordan. A few pike have also been taken when using blues or sucker minnows in 15 to 30 feet of water. Fish ranging from 18 to 38 inches have been caught. Whitefish anglers are doing well off Hemmingway Point in 60 to 70 feet of water using spawn. Anglers are targeting lake trout and burbot near the Ironton Channel but had no luck so far.
Traverse City - Perch and whitefish have been caught in the West Bay when fishing in 45 to 85 feet of water near the Boardman River.
Glen Lake - Has pretty good lake trout and rainbow trout fishing. Perch and cisco have also been caught when fishing the narrows.
Green Lake - Has smelt, and the fish are hitting on spikes or wax worms in 45 to 60 feet of water. A few pike were caught along with some 8 to 10 inch perch.
Crystal Lake - In Benzie County has good perch fishing near Beulah. Whitefish are hitting on smelt, wigglers or a single egg fished near the bottom.
Portage Lake - Some nice perch have been caught.
Manistee River - Has good numbers of steelhead. Boat anglers have done well when fishing above High Bridge Road. About half of the fish caught were skippers which is a good sign the spring run is just beginning. A few brown trout were caught.
Lake Cadillac - Still has ice with lots of snow. Pike and crappie have been caught.
Lake Mitchell - Good pike fishing continues on the west side of the lake near the Boy Scout Camp and in the small cove on the north end of the lake. Fair to good crappie fishing was also reported.
Lake Missaukee - Is a good place to take the family for panfish.
Pere Marquette River - Has good numbers of steelhead but not many anglers have been fishing.
Upper Peninsula
Keweenaw Bay - Good fishing continues for lake trout, whitefish, herring and coho. A word of caution seems in order though as strong northeast winds this week could make travel on the ice very tricky especially out past Squaw Beach and north of the lighthouse.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions remain favorable north of the Escanaba shipping channel however; heavy snow of 15 inches or more along with strong winds creating large drifts are making access and travel more difficult. Perch anglers still doing very good throughout the Bay. Some nice jumbos were taken in 30 to 40 feet of water northeast of Kipling. Many 10 inch fish were taken as well as several 15 inches or larger. Good perch fishing was reported north of Escanaba. Those fishing near Butler Island have reported good catches, but the fish were running small. Whitefish action near Escanaba is getting better by the day when jigging minnows or spawn in 70 to 85 feet of water just off the mouth of the harbor. Limits were reported.
Munising - Ice conditions are still very good with most areas in the bay averaging 10 to 12 inches. Whitefish action was slow and splake have been fair. Anglers are heading out to deeper waters for lake trout and reporting fair success. There is no sign of any coho yet.
Munuscong Bay - Perch action has picked up on the west end of the bay near Grassy Island.
Raber Bay - Some herring have been speared, but overall action has been slow.
Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers are fishing with wigglers in Cedarville Bay and around Little Joe Island. Musky Bay is still the hot spot however the catch rate there is still only fair to good. Wigglers and wax worms are the preferred baits.