01-09-2010, 02:35 PM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Weekly Fishing Report[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, January 7, 2010 [/font][font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report
517-373-0908[/font][font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.michigan.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]Mixed reports are still coming in regarding ice safety. Snow cover does insulate the ice and slow the freezing process. Avoid structures such as docks or pilings and stay off any soft or discolored ice. Always test the ice thickness with a spud. Use the buddy system and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Be sure to wear a flotation devise and take rescue gear such as a rope, ladder, or anything that you could use to extend your reach.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Ice anglers were catching some jumbo perch around the Banana Dike when using teardrops with minnows or wax worms. Those fishing the main channel heading into the Metro Park Marina caught yellow perch and bluegills on small teardrops with wax worms or spikes. A few northern pike were also caught however the fish were running small. Detroit River - Anglers were open water fishing for perch off Gibraltar. A couple ice anglers caught a few perch in shallow waters behind the Wyandotte Hospital. Lake St. Clair - Has shore ice near Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Ice thickness is extremely variable so anglers need to use extreme caution. They caught small perch along with a few keepers mixed in. Continued sub-freezing temperatures this week should make for good ice by the weekend. Port Austin - Anglers have started to venture out on the ice, but use caution. Saginaw Bay - Ice anglers are fishing shallow waters. Early shelf ice was good for perch but that has slowed. There were reports of fish caught near the Bay City State Park. The Bay still had some open water so anglers need to use caution. Saginaw River - Walleye anglers are catching fish near the mouth. Southwest Lower Peninsula
There is ice in southwest Michigan but it varies. Some lakes in the region such as Gull Lake still have open water or skim ice only. Anglers need to use extreme caution and travel by foot only when going out on the ice. Northern pike have been biting very well and the yellow perch bite was good. Bluegills were caught in the morning and evening.
St. Joe River - Boats were still trolling for steelhead and walleye. Grand River at Grand Rapids - Fishing has slowed and there is ice coming over the dam. Those braving the cold were still picking up the occasional steelhead when using spawn or a jig and wax worm. A few walleye were also caught. Lake Lansing - Pike have been caught on tip-ups with pike minnows. Muskrat Lake - A few anglers were out fishing for crappie and bluegills. Lake Ovid - Has ice and a few anglers have been going out with portable shanties. Muskegon Lake - A freighter left from the Mart Dock and headed to Lake Michigan so anglers will want to avoid the ice near that area. Perch have been caught on the west side and bluegills were hitting off the State Park and in the marinas. Pike were caught off Hartshorn Marina. Most anglers are fishing the bays, coves and marinas. Muskegon River - Steelhead anglers should still find fish in the upper sections. White Lake - Those out spearing have taken some pike. White River - Should also have steelhead in the upper sections. Northeast Lower Peninsula
Recent snowfall along with blowing and drifting snow in this region has put a lot of pressure on relatively thin ice, creating slush and hazardous conditions on area inland lakes. Extreme caution needs to be used.
Grand Lake - Is iced over however caution should be used and foot traffic only. Perch of all sizes have been caught along with a few walleye and pike. Thunder Bay River - There is ice in the turning basin and marina. Only a few perch were caught. Steelhead were caught below the dam however catch rates were slow. Hubbard Lake - Is always the last to produce safe ice. Anglers are advised to not go beyond the more sheltered areas such the East Bay just yet. Au Sable River - Steelhead and brown trout were still being caught in the deeper holes. The Mio Pond was producing some crappie. Higgins Lake - Is just freezing over however the deepwater ice is not safe. Anglers should fish the shallow waters only. Those spearing for pike can be found off the southwest side of the lake. Rainbow trout were caught in the shallows near Big Creek. Anglers were using wigglers and wax worms. Houghton Lake - Ice anglers are taking northern pike on tip-ups with minnows. Walleye have been caught out by the Middle Grounds. Most are jigging along the weeds in 6 to 8 feet of water. Tawas - Ice anglers are fishing the shallows for brown trout. Northwest Lower Peninsula
Deep snow across the region has covered some inland lakes with slush and that makes for difficult travel across the ice. Anglers need to be careful. Traverse City - Both the East Bay and the West Bay have shoreline ice only. The open water is due to strong north winds. Boardman River - A few anglers are still seeking the occasional steelhead. Lake Missaukee - Has ice and anglers are out targeting panfish. Lake Cadillac - Is producing some nice northern pike for those spearing or using tip ups with large minnows. Walleye anglers were doing well when using tip-ups with light line. Those seeking panfish have caught good numbers of crappie along with some bluegills and perch. Many are fishing the west side of the lake. Lake Mitchell - Is also producing some nice northern pike. The better walleye bite has been in the early morning or late evening. Black crappie were caught. Manistee River - Still has steelhead for those that can fish in arctic conditions. Pere Marquette River - Should also have a fair number of steelhead.
UPPER PENINSULA
There were no reports this week for the Upper Peninsula. Though ice continues to build, anglers are reminded to use extreme caution when venturing out.
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[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, January 7, 2010 [/font][font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report
517-373-0908[/font][font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font][url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]Mixed reports are still coming in regarding ice safety. Snow cover does insulate the ice and slow the freezing process. Avoid structures such as docks or pilings and stay off any soft or discolored ice. Always test the ice thickness with a spud. Use the buddy system and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Be sure to wear a flotation devise and take rescue gear such as a rope, ladder, or anything that you could use to extend your reach.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Ice anglers were catching some jumbo perch around the Banana Dike when using teardrops with minnows or wax worms. Those fishing the main channel heading into the Metro Park Marina caught yellow perch and bluegills on small teardrops with wax worms or spikes. A few northern pike were also caught however the fish were running small. Detroit River - Anglers were open water fishing for perch off Gibraltar. A couple ice anglers caught a few perch in shallow waters behind the Wyandotte Hospital. Lake St. Clair - Has shore ice near Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Ice thickness is extremely variable so anglers need to use extreme caution. They caught small perch along with a few keepers mixed in. Continued sub-freezing temperatures this week should make for good ice by the weekend. Port Austin - Anglers have started to venture out on the ice, but use caution. Saginaw Bay - Ice anglers are fishing shallow waters. Early shelf ice was good for perch but that has slowed. There were reports of fish caught near the Bay City State Park. The Bay still had some open water so anglers need to use caution. Saginaw River - Walleye anglers are catching fish near the mouth. Southwest Lower Peninsula
There is ice in southwest Michigan but it varies. Some lakes in the region such as Gull Lake still have open water or skim ice only. Anglers need to use extreme caution and travel by foot only when going out on the ice. Northern pike have been biting very well and the yellow perch bite was good. Bluegills were caught in the morning and evening.
St. Joe River - Boats were still trolling for steelhead and walleye. Grand River at Grand Rapids - Fishing has slowed and there is ice coming over the dam. Those braving the cold were still picking up the occasional steelhead when using spawn or a jig and wax worm. A few walleye were also caught. Lake Lansing - Pike have been caught on tip-ups with pike minnows. Muskrat Lake - A few anglers were out fishing for crappie and bluegills. Lake Ovid - Has ice and a few anglers have been going out with portable shanties. Muskegon Lake - A freighter left from the Mart Dock and headed to Lake Michigan so anglers will want to avoid the ice near that area. Perch have been caught on the west side and bluegills were hitting off the State Park and in the marinas. Pike were caught off Hartshorn Marina. Most anglers are fishing the bays, coves and marinas. Muskegon River - Steelhead anglers should still find fish in the upper sections. White Lake - Those out spearing have taken some pike. White River - Should also have steelhead in the upper sections. Northeast Lower Peninsula
Recent snowfall along with blowing and drifting snow in this region has put a lot of pressure on relatively thin ice, creating slush and hazardous conditions on area inland lakes. Extreme caution needs to be used.
Grand Lake - Is iced over however caution should be used and foot traffic only. Perch of all sizes have been caught along with a few walleye and pike. Thunder Bay River - There is ice in the turning basin and marina. Only a few perch were caught. Steelhead were caught below the dam however catch rates were slow. Hubbard Lake - Is always the last to produce safe ice. Anglers are advised to not go beyond the more sheltered areas such the East Bay just yet. Au Sable River - Steelhead and brown trout were still being caught in the deeper holes. The Mio Pond was producing some crappie. Higgins Lake - Is just freezing over however the deepwater ice is not safe. Anglers should fish the shallow waters only. Those spearing for pike can be found off the southwest side of the lake. Rainbow trout were caught in the shallows near Big Creek. Anglers were using wigglers and wax worms. Houghton Lake - Ice anglers are taking northern pike on tip-ups with minnows. Walleye have been caught out by the Middle Grounds. Most are jigging along the weeds in 6 to 8 feet of water. Tawas - Ice anglers are fishing the shallows for brown trout. Northwest Lower Peninsula
Deep snow across the region has covered some inland lakes with slush and that makes for difficult travel across the ice. Anglers need to be careful. Traverse City - Both the East Bay and the West Bay have shoreline ice only. The open water is due to strong north winds. Boardman River - A few anglers are still seeking the occasional steelhead. Lake Missaukee - Has ice and anglers are out targeting panfish. Lake Cadillac - Is producing some nice northern pike for those spearing or using tip ups with large minnows. Walleye anglers were doing well when using tip-ups with light line. Those seeking panfish have caught good numbers of crappie along with some bluegills and perch. Many are fishing the west side of the lake. Lake Mitchell - Is also producing some nice northern pike. The better walleye bite has been in the early morning or late evening. Black crappie were caught. Manistee River - Still has steelhead for those that can fish in arctic conditions. Pere Marquette River - Should also have a fair number of steelhead.
UPPER PENINSULA
There were no reports this week for the Upper Peninsula. Though ice continues to build, anglers are reminded to use extreme caution when venturing out.
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[url "http://www.michigan.gov/business"][/url][url "http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29701_29702_30045---,00.html"][/url][url "http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29929---SERV,00.html"][/url][url "http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--141079--,00.html"][/url][url "http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153----RA,00.html"][/url]Related Content[#3f605d][size 2] • [/size][/#3f605d][url "http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364-97542--,00.html"][blue][size 2]HELP!! I lost my fishing license...[/size][/blue][/url][#3f605d][size 2] • [/size][/#3f605d][url "http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52261_50497---,00.html"][#3f605d][size 2]Free Fishing Weekend[/size][/#3f605d][/url]