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Gone fishin’

Upper Peninsula

– Munising: The bay froze over however the following areas had partial open water or were not safe: Powell Point, Grand Island and access off M-28 near Christmas. The city docks had the most activity with 15 shanties and the ice was better than the Anna River though a few anglers were still out near the Sunset Motel. Catch rates were slow with only a few undersize splake and very few whitefish. Anglers need to pay close attention to the winds which could break up the ice. Anglers and the general public are cautioned that the ice is not safe to access the ice caves on Grand Island.

– Grand Marais: The harbor does not have any ice at this time. A few locals fishing the area inland lakes were taking some pike.

– Lake Gogebic: Was producing a good number of walleye and perch along the north end of the lake. Many of the walleye were 15 inches or more. Perch were hitting just south of Porcupine Point. Ice conditions can vary greatly with slush and bad ice in some locations.

– Gogebic County: Bluegills are being caught on the small lakes. Crappie and perch were taken on Crooked Lake. Several pike have been caught with tip-ups on Lake Lac Vieux Desert.

– Lake Antoine: Was producing a few walleye and some perch.

– Menominee River: Was producing a nice mix of fish from the 6th Street Slip on the Wisconsin side. Perch, crappie, walleye and a few whitefish were caught by those jigging minnows and wax worms.

– Little Bay De Noc: Cold temperatures improved the ice conditions mostly in the northern Bay. The Escanaba River area and south still remains dangerous although iced over. Shipping activity has opened areas in these waters and should be avoided. The northern Bay has ice but warm weather this week could cause problems so anglers need to use caution especially around Saunders Point, the pressure cracks and near the mouth of the rivers. Fishing in general has been very slow. The best walleye catches have come between the Second and the Third Reefs with jigging rapalas or tip-ups and minnows in 25 to 35 feet and straight out from the Day’s River in 20 to 30 feet. Perch anglers had little to show but a few fish were taken on minnows near Kipling in 17 to 25 feet and in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor in eight to 10 feet. Pike have been active throughout and those targeting whitefish had fair catches near Gladstone when using minnows or spawn in 30 to 40 feet.

Indian Lake: Anglers were taking a few walleye.

Tahquamenon River: Rising water levels were making it very difficult to fish.

Munuscong Bay: Walleye and perch fishing were slow. Travel was slow due to slush.

Cedarville and Hessel: Perch fishing remains good in Hessel Bay. Wilderness Bay is the place to go for splake. Muskie Bay is still on the slow side for perch but was good for pike. Government Bay has produced some perch. Be extremely careful especially with the warmer temperatures.

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