Saginaw Bay Area Shore ice was forming last week on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay, but warm weather and rain were in the forecast, so anglers are waiting for better conditions. A few walleyes have been caught in the Saginaw River. Late-season deer hunting has been slow. Franks Great Outdoors, (989) 697-5341. Newaygo Area There was up to 4 inches of…
Allegheny River (McKean County) — Walleyes and a few muskies were reported in recent weeks. Foster Joseph Sayers Lake (Centre County) — Water was about 5 feet below summer pool, putting it almost at winter pool, as of Dec. 3 and anglers were catching yellow perch near Lower Greens access and off the fishing pier at the summer/winter launch. Minnows…
LAKE MILLE LACS East – Check with resorts for ice conditions as some are pulling houses and others will be by this weekend – overall ice conditions are in good shape. Walleye reports have improved now that anglers are traveling further out with consistent reports coming from 20 to 27 feet with a variety of walleye sizes in the mix during…
Lake Michigan: The northern harbors were seeing a decline in the amount of fish caught, but there are still browns and steelhead being caught. Spawn sacks under a float are working well as well as the standard tinsel or white tube jig tipped with wax worms. The steelhead bite is starting to increase in the downtown harbors with spawn being…
ASHLAND AREA It’s been cold and snowy, with about 16 inches of snow on the ground in some places. The and archery deer-hunting season continues throughout the area. Wardens and rangers have noticed less hunting activity this year, possibly due to snowy conditions, a smaller deer herd, and buck-only restrictions across the northern tier of counties. Ice conditions are improving…
LAKE MILLE LACS East – Walleye reports have been limited, but look to the outer edges of the reefs during the day in 16 to 20 feet and in shallower during low-light periods. Perch continue to be caught in the bays over 10 to 15 feet. Some sorting is required, but nice fish are being found. Northern pike are easy to…
Traverse City Area There was about 10 inches of snow on the ground last week in Grand Traverse County. The rivers were running high and muddy, but steelhead fishing should be good when the water clears. There are good numbers of fish in the Manistee, Betsie, and Boardman rivers. Try bugs like wigglers and wax worms. Ice anglers are waiting…
Hills Creek (Tioga County) — Bass, chain pickerel and crappies were reported on live minnows, while perch and bluegills were biting crawlers and waxworms. Cowanesque Lake (Tioga County) — Bass continued to hit live shiners, as well as crankbaits, spinnerbaits and drop-shot minnow patterns in recent weeks. A few muskies were reported on large baitfish and spinners on the east…
LAKE MILLE LACS East – Ice conditions continue to improve with more than 10 inches reported in the bays. Cove, Isle, and Wahkon bays remain hot for pike in 6 to 10 feet and a few more walleyes are being caught outside the bays on mid-depth structure. Look for more parts of the main lake to be accessible soon. Johnson’s Portside…
Fox Chain O’ Lakes: Ice had arrived earlier than normal. The channels have been producing good catches of panfish on small tungsten jigs tipped single spikes. There are few reports on walleyes and bass as the launches are all freezing over and the bigger water was not safe. Pistakee Bay has been producing good catches of white bass in the…
ASHLAND AREA Anglers are fishing on smaller lakes. They also were fishing at Second Landing on Nov. 18. There was only 2 inches of ice then, but they were fishing. The bay had been frozen from Anglers All to the lighthouse for two days as of Nov. 19, so people will be out on that soon. On inland lakes, guys…
LAKE MILLE LACS East – You’ll find 7 to 9 inches of ice in the bays or just beyond them, with less ice on the main lake. Angling and spearing for northern pike has been productive in less than 10 feet in Isle, Cove, and Wahkon bays. Walleye reports have been light, but there have been several good perch reports just…
East Jordan Area Archery deer season slowed a little near the end but bucks are on the move and the firearms season should be good. There was about 4 inches of snow heading into opening weekend. Waterfowl hunting has been good and flight ducks are moving through. Steelhead fishing has been good on the Bear and Elk rivers and a…
Cowanesque Reservoir (Tioga County) — Bass were biting through Nov. 9 on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs amid light fishing pressure. Kettle Creek (Potter County) — Brown trout and a few wild brook trout were biting in recent weeks, with egg patterns and small nymphs productive for fly-anglers. Small minnows and spinners also were working well. Loyalsock Creek (Lycoming County) —…
LAKE MILLE LACS Anglers were walking out with portable shelters in Wahkon Bay last weekend and most bays should be favorable for foot, or possibly ATV travel by this weekend. The main lake remained open earlier this week. Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811 Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430 LAKE OF THE WOODS With consistent temperatures in the single digits most bays, the…
Chain: Bluegills good around weed areas on small ice jigs tipped with waxies or spikes. Muskies are consistent on bucktails or jerkbaits around main lake points. Crappies are good in channel areas on small jigs tipped with small fatheads or spikes. Walleyes are good in current areas such as bottlenecks of the bridges, most being caught on fatheads or nightcrawlers….
ASHLAND AREA Trout and salmon fishing is hit and miss due to weather conditions. Anglers are flat-lining shad-style crankbaits, trolling from Bono Creek, along the Washburn shoreline out to the Sioux and Onion rivers, and over to Long Island. Smallmouths are active on the rock pile, in back of the breakwall, on the tip of Long Island, and west of…
LAKE MILLE LACS Fishing pressure has almost been non-existent and with some snow now on the ground, it’s pretty much over until ice forms. Deer hunting success has varied based on anecdotal reports, but hunter success has been less than last year. Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811 Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430 LAKE OF THE WOODS Some small bays and inlets are…
Traverse City Area Steelhead fishing has been fair on local rivers including the Big Manistee, Boardman, Platte, and Betsie rivers. Perch fishing has been good in East Grand Traverse Bay in 35 to 70 feet of water. Wigglers and minnows are producing good results. Grouse hunting has been good and the leaves are down. Bowhunting has been slow and deer…
Spring Creek (Centre County) — As of Oct. 21, conditions were excellent, as water was in the 60s and had some color, reported TCO Fly Shop. Cahills and caddis were providing dry-fly action in the afternoons and evenings, but nymphing was generally the better bet. Ants and beetles were still productive top-water patterns, despite the cooler temperatures. Hatches included tan…
LAKE MILLE LACS Water temperatures are approaching 42 degrees so tullibees should start moving onto the reefs. That’s where the majority of muskies and walleyes will be caught at this point. Look for walleyes in 12 to 20 feet of water during the day and shallower during the evening hours. A minnow and jig will produce perch in the bays over…
Chain: The walleye action is hot with the cooler weather. Reports show good catches in the river channels and mouths of the creeks throughout the day. Live bait is proving to be best. The bass bite is slowing down. Live bait rigged on the breaks is producing some bites. Wooden boat docks are holding fish during the day as they…
LAKE MILLE LACS East – Look for perch and pike in the bays to hit minnows in less than 12 feet. Trolling crankbaits during the evening has produced a few walleyes on the shallow rocks. Muskie anglers should look to the reefs as the water cools and tullibees start to move onto them. Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811 West – Rainbow minnows…
East Jordan Area Fishing has been slow and fishing pressure light on Lake Charlevoix. Perch are starting to show up on Lake Michigan, but the fish are on the move. The archery season is off to a good start with several nice bucks being shot. Grouse hunting and woodcock hunting also have been good, and woodcock flights have started. Waterfowl…
Kettle Creek (Potter County) — Conditions varied in recent weeks. Trout were hitting ant patterns. Lyman Run Lake (Potter County) — Trout were hitting live minnows, with early morning and late evening the more productive times to fish. Pine Creek (Lycoming County) — Brown and rainbow trout up to 20 inches were reported in the upper reaches in recent weeks,…
LAKE MILLE LACS East – Walleyes are being caught during the day with live bait on the 16- to 20-foot rocks and in the early evening hours with crankbaits on the reefs in 6 to 8 feet. Perch reports have been better with fish being found in the bays in 12 to 18 feet or on the reefs in 8…
