LANSING — Michigan's annual "Winter Free Fishing Weekend" will be held this Saturday and Sunday. No fishing license is required, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says all regulations still apply.
Novice anglers are encouraged to take someone new out and introduce them to the sport of ice fishing, the DNR said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report. Ice conditions will be variable and generally not safe throughout central and southern Michigan, so those looking to introduce someone to ice fishing may want to travel north to where ice conditions are better.
Those who find ice in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula should fish in shallow waters only for safety reasons. Fish can be caught in 2 to 3 feet of water this time of year.
Torch Lake: Has open water fishing only.
Traverse City: Has open water on both the East Bay and the West Bay.
Lake Cadillac: Ice is holding up well and the bitter cold from last weekend helped with the freezing process. Catch rates were decent for panfish including bluegill, perch, rock bass, and pumpkinseed. Pike were caught on tip-ups.
Lake Mitchell: Has ice and is producing bluegill and crappie. Try minnows, wax worms or spikes. For pike, its tip-ups with large minnows such as sucker minnows.
Lake Missaukee: Has ice and is usually a good spot for bluegills, pumpkinseed, black crappie, rock bass and even a few perch.
Manistee River: Continues to produce good steelhead fishing below Tippy Dam. Those drift fishing are casting flies or yarn.
Hamlin Lake: Those heading out to Indian Pete's Bayou off Barnhart Road near to use extreme caution. There is a large pressure crack about 150 yards out which is nearly two feet wide and a few people have fell through the ice. There was a plank crossing the crack however blowing snow covered it up so it was not visible. The Big Sable River runs through the area so ice thickness is not consistent.
Pere Marquette River: Water levels were up a bit however anglers are still catching some nice steelhead when fly fishing.
Archive: Thursday
Free fishing weekend approaches
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Edwards trial: Not guilty, mistrial
Former presidential candidate John Edwards was found not guilty on one of six campaign fraud charges Thursday, and the jury could not reach a verdict on the other counts, leading the judge to declare a mistrial on them.
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EPA creates Great Lakes board
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is creating a board to advise federal agencies carrying out two wide-ranging programs to protect the Great Lakes, EPA chief Lisa Jackson said Thursday.
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Appeals Court rules against marriage act
A federal appeals court Thursday declared that the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to married gay couples, a groundbreaking ruling all but certain to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Cooler temps help firefighters in U.P.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says cooler temperatures have allowed crews to “make significant progress” in their battle against a wildfire that has consumed 21,450 acres in the Upper Peninsula.
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Lidstrom retires after 20 seasons as a Red Wing
Veteran Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom has retired.
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High schools waive sports age limit
High schools in Michigan have voted to allow a waiver of the maximum age for students to participate in interscholastic athletics.
Continued ... - Another View: State's school system is being dismantled
- Death Notices: 05/31/2012
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Possible millage for TC schools
Traverse City Area Public Schools could ask voters this fall for millions to upgrade several aging schools and facilities.
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Foodie With Family: Pack and go
My guys have discovered a new passion; fishing. Oh, have they ever discovered it.
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Crude oil keeps getting cheaper
The price of oil is headed for its biggest monthly decline since December 2008.
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Benzie Sheriff candidate reprimanded at work
A candidate for Benzie County sheriff received multiple reprimands for inappropriate behavior at his high school job, but contends he’s still the best man for the law enforcement post.
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Candidates make case for election in forum
In her first joint appearance with two Republican election rivals, Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow on Wednesday lamented partisan gridlock and said she had worked with members of both parties to reduce federal spending on agriculture programs.
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Bums lose to Rascals
Offense was the name of the game on Wednesday.
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Roundup: Buckley sweeps Lake City
Kayla Traylor pitched two strong games on Tuesday at Buckley earned a 4-3, 8-4 non-conference sweep of Lake City (plus more softball and baseball).
Continued ... - Neil Roy Perry
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Letters to the Editor: 05/31/2012
Bullying is serious
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Students pay for bank deals
As many as 900 colleges are pushing students into using payment cards that carry hefty costs, sometimes even to get to their financial aid money, according to a report released Wednesday by a public interest group.
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Preschooling necessary, say state leaders
Inadequate preschooling is causing Michigan students to fall behind early, making it harder to develop the talented workforce needed for the state to be competitive, business leaders said Wednesday.
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TC Toffee goes for classic buttery taste — with a twist
Toffee with a twist. That’s what Stephanie Crick, owner of Traverse City Toffee Co., calls the delectable treats she sells at a dozen retail locations throughout northern Michigan.
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Spelling bee competitor goes out with a bang
Jack Pasche misspelled “idiosyncratically,” but he certainly knew how to act it out.
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Police arrest two in separate assaults
The Traverse City Police Department responded Sunday to a reported assault at a home on Leeward Court. A 38-year-old man told officers that his girlfriend, 39, punched him in the eye. He suffered a facial fracture requiring additional treatment.
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New Stuff: Faygo Candy Apple flavor
Detroit-based Faygo is reintroducing its Candy Apple flavor.
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Gwizdz: Big walleye scarce on Houghton Lake
It didn’t take long before I had a bite and reeled in a walleye. It was too small to keep, slightly longer than 14 inches, but it set a trend. Over the next hour we caught five more walleyes and only the sixth exceeded the 15-inch mark.
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Op-Ed: Put special interests on the bench
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