Weekly Fishing Report
March 31, 2013
Weekly Fishing Tip: Storing you ice fishing equipment for next season
It’s about that time when you’ll need to get ready to store your ice fishing equipment. The key is to doing it properly so you’ll be ready to hit the ice next winter! Here is a checklist of things to do:
1. If you have an auger, check it for any damage and then dry all the blades before storing it. You may want to consult your power auger’s manual to know how to appropriately handle any leftover gas and how to protect the engine.
2. Remove the batteries from any of your electronics to prevent any potential damage from leaking batteries.
3. Make sure your portable shelter is completely clean and dry before storing. You may want to put some moth balls in it or hang it to keep pests at bay.
4. Take a full inventory of your rods, reels and tackle to see what you might need/want to purchase next year. Also remove all bait or line from your hooks and lures for storage and make sure everything is dry.
By the time everything is properly stored you’ll be itching to get out on your favorite stream, river or lake for some springfishing!
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Southeast Lower Peninsula
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Upper Peninsula
Remember, walleye and pike season are open all year on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River and the Lower Peninsula Great Lakes which includes Saginaw Bay. Ice fishing continues to the north while boat anglers are starting to come out in Southeast Michigan.
Lake Erie: A few holdouts were fishing the ponds at Pointe Mouillee. A couple boats were seen out in Brest Bay but other than that, there was little activity.
Huron River: Is producing a few steelhead. Anglers are using small jigs in a variety of colors with spawn or wax worms.
Detroit River: Boat anglers are jigging minnows for walleye. Try the hot water discharge off the Trenton Edison Plant. The launch at Elizabeth Park is not open yet so most are using the Metro Park. Boat and shore anglers caught jumbo perch in the canals and marinas of Grosse Ile and Gibraltar. They are using perch rigs with shiners, a piece of crawler or leaf worm. A few pike were caught in the canals and marinas. Boat anglers need to go slow and watch for ice coming down the river.
Lake St. Clair: Is in between fishing seasons. There is no ice left. The boat launches were ice free however the docks were not in. Anglers will need waders if they want to launch a boat.
Clinton River: A few perch were starting to move into the river and the spillway. Minnows were the preferred bait.
Harbor Beach: A couple anglers were fishing right off the boat launch.
Saginaw Bay: Palmer Road had limited ice fishing in five feet of water. Catch rates for perch were slow. Very small perch were caught in the Eagle Bay Marina. Those fishing off Neuman Road, Townline Road and the State Park caught perch on minnows and beads in four to six feet of water. Walleye were in seven feet. The ice in Wildfowl Bay was bad. Small perch were caught in the Sebewaing Marina and off Caseville. Most were using perch rigs with ice fishing poles.
Saginaw River: Not much going on since walleye season closed. Ice is still a problem along the river.
Quanicassee River: Boat anglers were fishing in the morning.
Flint River: Suckers were starting to move in before the cold weather returned.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
There are still a few lakes providing ice fishing opportunities. Check with local bait shops for locations and use extreme caution. There have been some reports of anglers going through the ice.
St. Joseph River: Has decent steelhead fishing below the Berrien Springs Dam. Most anglers are back bouncing spawn.Fish were in the deeper holes. Video files from the fish cam indicate that a large push of steelhead moved through the ladder on March 10. Fish movement has slowed with the return of the colder weather however preliminary signs suggest that there is going to be a good run.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead fishing is fair to good. The bite is better on warmer days. Try spawn or wax worms under a bobber, spinners or back trolling plugs.
Grand Haven: Pier anglers were catching the occasional steelhead. The activity was light and very weather dependent.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Had some steelhead activity at the Sixth Street Dam. With the water clarity try using bright colored yarn and flies. Boat anglers are plugging the deeper holes with the colder weather.
Grand River at Lansing: Was producing a few crappie in the backwaters. The fish ladders at Lyons, Webber, Portland and Grand Ledge are open but no steelhead yet. It’s time to starting thinking catfish. Try live baits, fresh dead minnows, shrimp or small bluegills.
Muskegon River: Water levels are still a bit high and clarity is not so good but anglers are catching steelhead. Most are fly fishing with egg patterns. Yellow perch were caught near Davis Bridge which is on White Cloud Road, north and west of Stanwood, just off U.S. 131.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Oscoda: Those fishing off the end of the pier have caught steelhead on small spoons. Some walleye were also caught but most are targeting steelhead. If anglers are looking for walleye, be sure of the boundary cut-off between the lake and the river. Ice conditions are not safe for the most part. Shorelines are receding and pressure cracks are forming because of the strong winds.
Au Sable River: Even with a down turn in the weather fishing continues to get better. Steelhead were plenty between the mouth and the dam. The fish are hitting on spawn or wax worms.
Higgins Lake: Still has good ice, no slush and four to five inches of the powder snow. Lake trout can be found along the drop-off in 80 to 100 feet of water. Rainbow trout and brown trout have been caught near the creeks where the warm water comes in. Anglers have caught a 24 inch rainbow and a 27 inch brown trout. Perch fishing was slow but the bigger fishshould start moving closer to shore. Try around Treasure Island in 20 to 30 feet of water or the drop-off around the Sunken Island with minnows and wigglers. Smelt fishing was good until the weather changed. Catch rates should pick back up by the weekend.
Houghton Lake: The ice is still good and the bluegill action will pick up. Try near the canals or out by the Middle Grounds in seven to nine feet of water with minnows, wigglers or wax worms.
Tawas: Ice anglers are still fishing off Jerry’s Marina. Perch and lake trout were caught in 10 to 15 feet of water. The State Harbor and marina were producing brown trout and lake trout for those using treble hooks and minnows.
Tawas River: Those floating spawn bags have caught steelhead.
Au Gres: A few walleye were caught in four feet of water north of the breakwall.
Au Gres River: Some are surfcasting for steelhead off the East Branch. Ice is a problem in the lower river.
Rifle River: Was high, turbid and too much ice.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Winter continues to hang on in this region of the state. There is plenty of snow and ice fishing continues.
Thumb Lake: In Charlevoix County is producing small perch and the occasional splake.
Green Lake: Is giving up smelt.
Crystal Lake: Continues to give up smelt.
Betsie River: Is producing a fair number of steelhead. Try flies, spawn or a wax worm in the deeper holes until it warms up.
Manistee River: Steelhead fishing was decent. Bright chrome fish have been caught in the deeper holes.
Lake Missaukee: Ice fishing continues for panfish.
Lake Cadillac: Ice fishing continues for panfish. Bluegill and crappie are hitting on minnows, wigglers and wax worms. Try early morning or late afternoon.
Lake Mitchell: Still had good ice. Anglers are catching more panfish.
Pere Marquette River: Is producing steelhead. Try flies, spawn, wax worms, small spoons or spinners.
UPPER PENINSULA
Copper Harbor: Has no ice and no anglers.
Keweenaw Bay: Catch rates for coho and lake herring were poor. Lake whitefish smelt and lake trout were spotty. Anglers could be found at the Center Reef, Newton’s Reef and Big Reef in waters 80 to 260 feet deep. Try ¾ to 1 ounce jigs with smelt or cut bait such as suckers. Some are using Swedish pimples in 80 to 150 feet. Hot colors were white, orange and white, green and white or hammered brass.
Marquette: Was starting to produce a few coho and splake. Fishing was limited by a large area of ice. Those fishing near the “Bubblers” are using assorted jigs and spoons with spawn or cut bait. Dawn is the best time to fish. Strong winds will be shifting the ice packs this week. Most of the area still had ice with large pressure cracks near shore. Use caution. Whitefish action was slow.
Carp River: Anglers caught a couple steelhead. Try small orange in-line spinners, spoons or spawn. Not much open water at the mouth.
Groveland Mine Ponds: Travel on the lakes remains difficult. Island Lake had good bluegill action with a few nice ones in the mix. East Lake was producing some bluegills for those jigging wax worms. A few limit catches were reported.
Lake Antoine: Travel is difficult due to deep snow. Anglers need to use caution. There are two layers of ice after the thaw and refreeze. Some got caught up on broken ice. Bluegill and perch were in the middle of the lake but the bite was slow.
Little Bay De Noc: Ice remains but travel is difficult because of the snow cover. With walleye season closed, anglers are targeting perch. A few jumbo perch were caught in the Kipling Flats. Try wigglers or wax worms in 19 to 25 feet of water. Near Gladstone, try 30 feet of water. The better catches came near the Day’s River for those using large minnows in 14 feet. Those targeting whitefish off Sand Point had fair catches in 80 feet of water when using minnows or spawn. Anglers need to use caution in this area as the Coast Guard has cut shipping lanes
Au Train: Few anglers fished the Bay because of limited access with ice and snow.
Ice extends out past Au Train Island. The Rock River remains frozen with no water flow over the spillway. Ice is still packed in tight at the mouth. The Brownstone ramp still has a good three feet of snow. Those jigging for coho off the mouth of the Au Train River said catch rates were poor.
Munising: Was producing a few splake, smelt and coho in the waters of Lake Superior. Perch were caught in Garden Bay but fishing was slow.
Munuscong Bay: Still has ice however fishing was slow. Anglers will start perch fishing soon.
Cedarville and Hessel: Perch fishing is fair to good. Hessel Bay, Musky Bay and Government Bay were the hot spots for anglers using minnows, wigglers or wax worms in 10 feet of water.
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