Traverse City Record-Eagle

Outdoors

March 18, 2010

DNR says trout fishing picking up

LANSING -- With the ice fishing season essentially over for the year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is encouraging anglers to stay off any remaining ice, especially in the Lower Peninsula.

Now that walleye and pike season on inland waters is closed, boat anglers are starting to fish along the Great Lakes for trout, the DNR said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.

Traverse City: Lake trout have been caught in the West Bay. The launches are open, but the docks may not be in.

Boardman River: Is still producing some steelhead.

Betsie River: Fishing has started to heat up. Those wading are fishing just below the Homestead Dam and catching steelhead on yarn, streamers and flies. Water levels are high all the down to Betsie Lake.

Lake Cadillac: Has black or discolored ice which is unsafe. Shoreline ice is going fast. Anglers are encouraged to stay off the ice.

Manistee River: Steelhead fishing is the main game now. The rivers are high and muddy at the moment, but as they drop and clear fishing will improve. Fresh steelhead are moving in daily. Anglers are catching steelhead and a few brown trout at Tippy Dam and downstream of Bear Creek.

Ludington: Pier anglers are targeting steelhead and brown trout. Boats are heading out and trolling along the shoreline.

Mullett Lake: A few perch were caught in Pigeon Bay, but ice conditions have deteriorated quickly.

Alpena: Has open water and fishing opportunities for steelhead and brown trout.

Thunder Bay River: The launch ramp near the Post Office is open so anglers are steelhead fishing.

Higgins Lake: Anglers need to stay off any remaining ice which is no longer safe. After the strong winds last weekend, ice was blown up into the boat launch on the west side of the lake and damaged some vehicles parked there. There is open water along the shoreline so anglers could try fishing in shallow waters only.

Houghton Lake: The remaining ice is not safe. Anglers are encouraged to stay off the lake. Fishing is pretty much on hold until the ice is gone.

Tawas River: This is one of the few locations where they could get a boat out to open water.

Au Gres: Had no activity to report.

The ice is deteriorating rapidly however it was not possible to get a boat out yet. Those fishing the surf off the Singing Bridge were catching steelhead and brown trout.

Rifle River: Sucker runs are just beginning. NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

UPPER PENINSULA

Lake Gogebic: Fishing has been slow. Anglers have been moving around and drilling a lot of holes, but ice conditions are getting worse every day. Extreme caution needs to be used.

Keweenaw Bay: Ice is now honeycombed and getting worse each day. Steelhead, coho and smelt were caught near the mouth of the Fall's River, but the forecast does not look good for the remaining ice. Anglers are advised to stay off the ice and wait for open water fishing. The ice out from the Whirl-I-Gig, Pequaming, and Old Mission is very dangerous. Do not attempt to go out from these points.

Fall's River: Has open water. Anglers have caught some steelhead.

Marquette: Ice fishing season is over as there is no ice in the upper harbor and the lower harbor has started to open up. Boat, shore and pier anglers are targeting salmon, steelhead and whitefish. Shore anglers can be found near the Carp River and the power plant while fishing for coho, steelhead, whitefish or splake.

Menominee River: Has open water and black ice with water on top near the mouth. There is open water with large ice flow near the Sixth Street Slip, Boom Landing and the Mystery Ship. There is also open water around Stephenson and Boom Island and all the way upstream to the dam where steelhead and brown trout have been caught. Some are fly fishing while others are casting rapalas or drifting yarn and spawn. Boats were launching but the docks were not in.

Green Bay: There is no safe ice in the area. Ice in the bay is honeycombed and cracked and anglers should stay off it.

Little Bay de Noc: Ice conditions are extremely dangerous. From the Escanaba River south is open water or pack ice. Some ice remains in the northern parts but getting on and off has become difficult due to open water along the shoreline and pressure cracks. The remaining ice is thin and deteriorating rapidly. If you must fish, fish in shallow waters only. Anglers are reminded that ice shanties need to be removed from state property within a 24-hour period.

Au Train: Ice conditions were marginal with large sections of floating ice creating dangerous conditions.

Au Train River: Was 80 percent open but water levels were low. Boat access was not possible at Brownstone due to snow in the parking lot and ice in the bay.

Rock River: The access site is open and some steelhead were caught.

Munising: Ice fishing in sheltered areas produced only a few fish.

Munuscong Bay: Those heading west of Dan's Resort were staying close to shore and catching perch.

Cedarville and Hessel: Ice on the eastern end of Hessel Bay is not safe. Those fishing off Little Joe Island caught some nice perch. The west end of Musky Bay is also producing some good perch fishing, but anglers should walk out due to deteriorating ice conditions. Extreme caution needs to be used.

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