MIBowhunter
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Move in as ice fishing season draws to a close
Lower Peninsula
SOUTHEASTERN LP
Lake St. Clair
High winds and murky water has put a damper on fishing on Lake St. Clair. A few perch are hitting near the mouth of the Clinton River, but the action has not been red hot. A few salmon are being caught in the St. Clair River, west of Algonac in 65 to 70 feet of water. Walleyes have been caught just east of Decker’s Landing in 65 feet of water.
Lakeside Fishing Shops (586) 777-7003.
Jimmy’s Boat Livery (586) 468-6000.
Irish Hills Area
Ice is gone on area lakes, but few angles are venturing out. Turkey season should be pretty good with the local flock in great shape.
Knutson’s Sporting Goods (800) 292-0857 or (517) 592-2786.
Trenton Area
Walleye anglers are picking up a few fish on the Detroit River. The best action is coming to anglers fishing in the Trenton Channel near the warm-water discharge at the Edison plant. Jigs and minnows have been producing nice catches.
Bottom Line Bait & Tackle (734) 379-9762.
Trenton Lighthouse (734) 675-7080.
Horse Island Tackle (734) 692-9839.
SOUTHWESTERN LP
Coldwater Area
Th ice is gone, and a few anglers are catching crappies and bluegills in the channels on Coldwater, Marble, and Archer lakes. Black ants (ice flies) and spikes are producing good results.
Dancing Bear Trading Post (517) 278-4626.
D’s Bait and Tackle (517) 639-3243.
St. Joseph Area
Steelhead fishing has been pretty good on the St. Joseph River with good action being reported at both Berrien Springs and Niles. Fresh roe and spawn bags have been producing the best results. The spring turkey season should be a good one.
Halls Bait and Tackle (269) 641-2304.
Kalamazoo Area
Warm weather has triggered a decent steelhead run on the Kalamazoo River. Fresh fish are starting to move in. Bluegills and perch are hitting on Gun and Sugarloaf lakes. Winter didn’t take a toll on the local turkey flock.
D & R Sports (269) 372-2277.
CENTRAL LP
Saginaw Bay Area
The ice is gone in southern Saginaw Bay, but was lingering last week around Tawas. Anglers trolling Rapalas are taking fair numbers of fish in 10 to 15 feet of water between Linwood and Saginaw.
Franks Great Outdoors (989) 697-5341.
Hoyles Marina (989) 697-4415.
Baldwin Area
Steelhead fishing has been pretty good on the Pere Marquette River, but recent rain has muddied the water and cooled the action. Spring turkey season should be pretty good as birds made it through the winter in good shape.
Baldwin Bait & Tackle (231) 745-3529.
Holland Area
Steelhead fishing has been pretty good on the Kalamazoo River at Allegan. Anglers fishing with spawn and floating steelhead jigs with wax worms are enjoying good success. Pier fishing on Lake Michigan also has been good with anglers taking steelhead and brown trout.
American Tackle Outfitters (616) 392-6688.
Muskegon Area
Good numbers of fresh steelhead are moving into the Muskegon River, and fishing is improving. Decent success is being reported from anglers fishing near Croton Dam, with the best action coming in the mornings. Anglers fishing off the piers in Lake Michigan are catching steelhead and browns.
Angler Archer (231) 744-5992.
Dawn to Dusk (231) 767-9706.
THE THUMB
Caseville Area
Fishing has been good along Lake Huron at Caseville. Jumbo perch have moved in, and anglers are catching all sizes of yellowbellies in the local canals and streams. Steelhead are hitting Reef Runners and Rapalas off the breakwall in Caseville. Walleyes also are being caught off the wall. Whitefish are hitting minnows and nightcrawlers in the Pigeon River and in Caseville Harbor.
Walsh Gun & Tackle (989) 856-4465.
Port Huron
Anglers are catching good numbers of steelhead in Lake Huron off the sand bar at Lighthouse Beach. A decent number of browns and steelhead are hitting at the mouth of the Black River. Fishing has been slow in the St. Clair River. A few boats are getting out on Lake Huron at Lexington and Port Sanilac.
Anderson’s Pro Bait (810) 984-3232.
NORTHWESTERN LP
Indian River
Steelhead fishing has been good on the Sturgeon and the Pigeon rivers, but the water is running high.
Northland Sports Co. (231) 238-9382.
Kalkaska Area
Ice is holding up on some lakes and deteriorating rapidly on others. Ice anglers are catching decent numbers of brown trout on Bear Lake. The best action is coming on shiners fished near bottom in 50 to 60 feet of water. Crappies are hitting along the weedlines in 10 feet of water on Manistee Lake.
Jack’s Sport Shop (231) 258-8892.
Higgins Lake Area
Ice was deteriorating quickly last week on Higgins Lake, but at that time anglers were still getting out. Smelt were hitting off Big Creek in 14 feet of water. A few rainbows and browns were hitting in the shallows.
Higgins Lake Sport & Tackle (989) 821-9517.
Phoenix Party and Bait Store (989) 821-7220.
NORTHEASTERN LP
Hubbard Lake
The ice is shot on Hubbard Lake, and anglers are strongly advised to stay off the lake. The turkey crop in the area looks to be a strong one.
Side Door Bait & Tackle (989) 736-6418
East Bay Outfitters (989) 727-9916.
Oscoda Area
Steelhead anglers are taking limits off the pier in Lake Huron. Fresh spawn has been producing great results. Good steelhead action is being reported by anglers fishing in the lower stretch of the Au Sable River.
Wellman’s Sport Center (989) 739-2869.
Upper Peninsula
EASTERN UP
Cedarville Area
Splake are hitting in the Moscoe Channel and in Government Bay. The best action is coming on large minnows fished in 10 to 12 feet of water.
Great Outdoors Sport Shop (906) 484-2011.
CENTRAL UP
Big Bay Area
Ice is in decent shape on Lake Independence, for now. Some anglers are taking good numbers of perch. Steelhead action is starting to heat up.
Big Bay Corner Store (906) 345-5098.
Curtis Area
Ice is holding up well on Big and South Manistique. A few jumbo perch are being caught on Big Manistique. Trout and jack cohos are starting to hit at Grand Marais, and steelies are moving into the Black River.
Marquette Area
At Marquette, fishing remains good for those in small boats when fishing the Upper Harbor. Coho along with an occasional chinook or splake have been caught. Coho and brown trout are hitting off the coal docks in the Lower Harbor.
Gander Mountain (906) 226-8300.
Escanaba Area
Good numbers of whitefish are hitting minnows in 65 to 80 feet of water near the Escanaba Yacht Club on Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc.
Bay View Bait & Tackle (906) 786-1488.
BayShore Resort Bait & Tackle (906) 428-2950.
WESTERN UP
Bergland Area
A few perch are hitting on Lake Gogebic, including an occasional trophy perch.
Maple Ridge Bait & Tackle (906) 575-3545.
Lower Peninsula
SOUTHEASTERN LP
Lake St. Clair
High winds and murky water has put a damper on fishing on Lake St. Clair. A few perch are hitting near the mouth of the Clinton River, but the action has not been red hot. A few salmon are being caught in the St. Clair River, west of Algonac in 65 to 70 feet of water. Walleyes have been caught just east of Decker’s Landing in 65 feet of water.
Lakeside Fishing Shops (586) 777-7003.
Jimmy’s Boat Livery (586) 468-6000.
Irish Hills Area
Ice is gone on area lakes, but few angles are venturing out. Turkey season should be pretty good with the local flock in great shape.
Knutson’s Sporting Goods (800) 292-0857 or (517) 592-2786.
Trenton Area
Walleye anglers are picking up a few fish on the Detroit River. The best action is coming to anglers fishing in the Trenton Channel near the warm-water discharge at the Edison plant. Jigs and minnows have been producing nice catches.
Bottom Line Bait & Tackle (734) 379-9762.
Trenton Lighthouse (734) 675-7080.
Horse Island Tackle (734) 692-9839.
SOUTHWESTERN LP
Coldwater Area
Th ice is gone, and a few anglers are catching crappies and bluegills in the channels on Coldwater, Marble, and Archer lakes. Black ants (ice flies) and spikes are producing good results.
Dancing Bear Trading Post (517) 278-4626.
D’s Bait and Tackle (517) 639-3243.
St. Joseph Area
Steelhead fishing has been pretty good on the St. Joseph River with good action being reported at both Berrien Springs and Niles. Fresh roe and spawn bags have been producing the best results. The spring turkey season should be a good one.
Halls Bait and Tackle (269) 641-2304.
Kalamazoo Area
Warm weather has triggered a decent steelhead run on the Kalamazoo River. Fresh fish are starting to move in. Bluegills and perch are hitting on Gun and Sugarloaf lakes. Winter didn’t take a toll on the local turkey flock.
D & R Sports (269) 372-2277.
CENTRAL LP
Saginaw Bay Area
The ice is gone in southern Saginaw Bay, but was lingering last week around Tawas. Anglers trolling Rapalas are taking fair numbers of fish in 10 to 15 feet of water between Linwood and Saginaw.
Franks Great Outdoors (989) 697-5341.
Hoyles Marina (989) 697-4415.
Baldwin Area
Steelhead fishing has been pretty good on the Pere Marquette River, but recent rain has muddied the water and cooled the action. Spring turkey season should be pretty good as birds made it through the winter in good shape.
Baldwin Bait & Tackle (231) 745-3529.
Holland Area
Steelhead fishing has been pretty good on the Kalamazoo River at Allegan. Anglers fishing with spawn and floating steelhead jigs with wax worms are enjoying good success. Pier fishing on Lake Michigan also has been good with anglers taking steelhead and brown trout.
American Tackle Outfitters (616) 392-6688.
Muskegon Area
Good numbers of fresh steelhead are moving into the Muskegon River, and fishing is improving. Decent success is being reported from anglers fishing near Croton Dam, with the best action coming in the mornings. Anglers fishing off the piers in Lake Michigan are catching steelhead and browns.
Angler Archer (231) 744-5992.
Dawn to Dusk (231) 767-9706.
THE THUMB
Caseville Area
Fishing has been good along Lake Huron at Caseville. Jumbo perch have moved in, and anglers are catching all sizes of yellowbellies in the local canals and streams. Steelhead are hitting Reef Runners and Rapalas off the breakwall in Caseville. Walleyes also are being caught off the wall. Whitefish are hitting minnows and nightcrawlers in the Pigeon River and in Caseville Harbor.
Walsh Gun & Tackle (989) 856-4465.
Port Huron
Anglers are catching good numbers of steelhead in Lake Huron off the sand bar at Lighthouse Beach. A decent number of browns and steelhead are hitting at the mouth of the Black River. Fishing has been slow in the St. Clair River. A few boats are getting out on Lake Huron at Lexington and Port Sanilac.
Anderson’s Pro Bait (810) 984-3232.
NORTHWESTERN LP
Indian River
Steelhead fishing has been good on the Sturgeon and the Pigeon rivers, but the water is running high.
Northland Sports Co. (231) 238-9382.
Kalkaska Area
Ice is holding up on some lakes and deteriorating rapidly on others. Ice anglers are catching decent numbers of brown trout on Bear Lake. The best action is coming on shiners fished near bottom in 50 to 60 feet of water. Crappies are hitting along the weedlines in 10 feet of water on Manistee Lake.
Jack’s Sport Shop (231) 258-8892.
Higgins Lake Area
Ice was deteriorating quickly last week on Higgins Lake, but at that time anglers were still getting out. Smelt were hitting off Big Creek in 14 feet of water. A few rainbows and browns were hitting in the shallows.
Higgins Lake Sport & Tackle (989) 821-9517.
Phoenix Party and Bait Store (989) 821-7220.
NORTHEASTERN LP
Hubbard Lake
The ice is shot on Hubbard Lake, and anglers are strongly advised to stay off the lake. The turkey crop in the area looks to be a strong one.
Side Door Bait & Tackle (989) 736-6418
East Bay Outfitters (989) 727-9916.
Oscoda Area
Steelhead anglers are taking limits off the pier in Lake Huron. Fresh spawn has been producing great results. Good steelhead action is being reported by anglers fishing in the lower stretch of the Au Sable River.
Wellman’s Sport Center (989) 739-2869.
Upper Peninsula
EASTERN UP
Cedarville Area
Splake are hitting in the Moscoe Channel and in Government Bay. The best action is coming on large minnows fished in 10 to 12 feet of water.
Great Outdoors Sport Shop (906) 484-2011.
CENTRAL UP
Big Bay Area
Ice is in decent shape on Lake Independence, for now. Some anglers are taking good numbers of perch. Steelhead action is starting to heat up.
Big Bay Corner Store (906) 345-5098.
Curtis Area
Ice is holding up well on Big and South Manistique. A few jumbo perch are being caught on Big Manistique. Trout and jack cohos are starting to hit at Grand Marais, and steelies are moving into the Black River.
Marquette Area
At Marquette, fishing remains good for those in small boats when fishing the Upper Harbor. Coho along with an occasional chinook or splake have been caught. Coho and brown trout are hitting off the coal docks in the Lower Harbor.
Gander Mountain (906) 226-8300.
Escanaba Area
Good numbers of whitefish are hitting minnows in 65 to 80 feet of water near the Escanaba Yacht Club on Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc.
Bay View Bait & Tackle (906) 786-1488.
BayShore Resort Bait & Tackle (906) 428-2950.
WESTERN UP
Bergland Area
A few perch are hitting on Lake Gogebic, including an occasional trophy perch.
Maple Ridge Bait & Tackle (906) 575-3545.
