April is synonymous with steelhead fishing in Michigan. Some streams and rivers open to fishing on April 1. Others are open year-around, still others open on the last Saturday in April. But April Fool’s Day signals the unofficial start of steelhead season – on those rivers that are open.
April means steelhead fishing at its finest in Michigan Read More »
March is a fickle month for Michigan anglers. Supposedly, it begins with winter-like conditions and ends as a harbinger of spring.
That’s not usually the case. When we have a real Michigan winter like this year, most anglers are still ice fishing in March. Via photoperiodism, fish sense that the days are getting longer, so ice fishing tends to pick up again in March.
March fishing in Michigan can mean great late-ice opportunities Read More »
With most lakes locked up tight this year, anglers can dial in some excellent panfish fishing on southwest Michigan lakes like Gull, Gun, and the Randall Lake chain, according to Michigan DNR fisheries biologist Brian Gunderman.
“The key is always safe ice in this part of the state,” said Gunderman, “but given a typical winter, expect Gull and Gun lakes and the Randall Lake Chain to produce good fishing for various panfish, especially bluegills.”
Michigan’s midwinter angling is made for panfish through the ice Read More »
Two of Michigan’s most popular destinations for winter lake trout are Crystal Lake and Higgins Lake.
Both are substantial, deep lakes that have ideal lake trout habitat, but both require sustained cold temperatures to freeze solidly to allow safe ice angling. That hasn’t happened in recent winters. But there are other smaller lakes that, given even a semblance of winter, can provide ice anglers a lake trout fix.
I’m not sure if I ever fished open water for walleyes in January. I know I fished in Lake Erie several times in late December. I fished the Saginaw River in December but don’t remember fishing Michigan’s Saginaw Bay in January. There’s a first time for everything, I guess.
Ice or no ice, Michigan’s Saginaw Bay boasts good winter fishing Read More »
In the winter of 2023-2024, I didn’t go ice fishing once. I might have been able to sneak out once or twice if it’d been a huge priority, but I didn’t.
Given the poor ice conditions in Michigan, it didn’t seem like it was even worth the effort and trouble of getting the shanty and auger out of storage. These days, if I go ice fishing, it’s usually at one of Mark Martin’s Vacation Ice Fishing Schools. Due to unsafe ice last year, all of Martin’s schools were canceled.
January fishing in Michigan means mixed ice opportunities on Mullett, Burt, and Black Read More »
First ice typically provides some of the most consistent ice fishing of the year.
You can count on the fish being shallow, relating to weeds, or chasing baitfish. The only variable is ice thickness.
“Safety first,” says veteran ice angler and ice fishing spokesman Brian “Bro” Brosdahl. “The critical thing to remember is first ice is generally clear and strong, but inconsistent. For that reason, you need to be careful.”
Stealth and caution are important on first ice; here’s what you’ll need for success Read More »
December is the exact opposite of March; it comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion. Or does it?
If the current weather pattern stays the course, we’ll more likely be fishing from boats in December than getting in some first-ice action. During these days of variable weather, it makes sense to be flexible. Anglers with trailerable boats shouldn’t put them in storage until the dead of winter if they’re smart.
December fishing in Michigan can mean open water and hungry fish Read More »
Most Michigan sportsmen have their minds set on some type of hunting in November, whether it’s bowhunting, waterfowling, or upland hunting. November is an excellent time for all three. Throw in all fishing possibilities, and you’ve complicated the choices even further.
You don’t have to go far to find great fishing. If you live in places like Muskegon, you don’t have to go anywhere. There are plenty of opportunities right at your back door.
Michigan’s November fishing features a smorgasbord in Muskegon Read More »
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