GLF
01-26-2006, 08:50 PM
Ice conditions have remained the same. There is still open water off Saunders Point and ships have been coming in and out in the Escanaba area. The ice here is considered "Extremely Dangerous". About twenty ice shanties were lost last week so use caution and DO NOT set up shop next to open water! Walleye numbers are down but the fish are running very big this year. Most have been caught in 25 to 40 feet of water just off the east bank from Center Reef south to Hunters Point, while jigging suckers or Rapalas. In Gladstone, anglers reported good numbers of whitefish starting to bite in 30 to 45 feet of water. In these same waters several nice walleye were caught while jigging about 6 feet off the bottom. Perch fishing slowed some but several nice catches have been reported. Most anglers have been catching them in the Butler Island area. Some deep water anglers did good jigging minnows in 23 to 28 feet of water. The best action was in water 10 to 12 feet deep while jigging minnows and wigglers. Anglers spearing northern pike have reported increased activity this year in the Butler Island area. Some have reported seeing up to 3 at once, and most that have been taken are over 30 inches in length.