Fishing Report

Has open water from the dam at Berrien Springs down to the Sportsmen Club. Shore ice will prevent shore fishing; however the boat anglers are doing well for steelhead and walleye.

Walleye fishing has been good in the evening when jigging blue shiners, rapalas or small spoons. Pike are hitting on tip-ups with golden shiners in 7 to 9 feet of water. Panfish action has been slow.

Smelt were taken off the access site on the west side of the lake. Fish are hitting all day and all night, but they tend to turn off for a while then turn right back on. Perch minnows, wax worms and spikes have caught fish. Whitefish were taken in about 100 feet of water, but warm temperatures will push the smelt in shallow so try 20 to 60 feet of water. Lake trout have been caught on tip-ups in 100 to 120 feet of water. Use smelt for bait and fish just off the bottom. Anglers are reminded that a Motor Vehicle Permit is required in the State Parks.

Walleye fishing is concentrated in about 30 feet of water. The popular fishing holes have been off the hotel, just south of Point Lookout, and straight out from the mouth of the Au Gres River. Perch fishing has been slow off Palmer Road and Pine River Road with only a few fish taken in 2 to 5 feet of water.

Has fair walleye and perch fishing in 20 to 25 feet of water. Perch anglers are getting a lot of little ones and pike spearing did slow.

Lots of fishing activity all the way from Bay City to Saginaw. They are starting to get some legal size walleye off Wickes Park, which is between M-46 and the Tittabawassee River. Anglers are catching fish all along the river, but many are sub-legal. Keepers are running 15 to 18 inches or larger. Most are jigging rapalas with minnows. Lots of fishing activity was reported just downstream from the Independence Bridge in Bay City, off Essexville, and near the mouth of the river.

On the west side, walleye action seems concentrated in 23 to 25 feet of water just north of the Black Hole. Most are using the end of Erickson Road and Coggins Road for access, but it is still a good 3 to 5 mile run to get out to the fishing grounds. Anglers need to pay close attention and watch for a section of open water located about 2 miles off Erickson Road. The section of open water is about 30 feet wide and half a mile long. Walleye were taken in 17 feet of water off the Pinconning Bar. A few nice perch were taken out by Spoils Island. Walleye and pike have been caught near the Hot Ponds. On the east side, those going out about 5 miles or so off Thomas Road have caught walleye in 14 to 23 feet of water. At Sebewaing, a few pike were speared in the marina. At Mud Creek, perch success has been spotty. Most anglers were getting 6 to 8 perch per trip, but a few guys took limits. Just keep moving until you find an active school of fish, and try to stay away from the crowd. Perch action has been slow in the harbor at Caseville.

Fair to good perch fishing continues off Metro Beach and Brandenburg Park. Those fishing Anchor Bay and off Fair Haven reported spotty action. Move around until you find fish and try to stay away from the crowds. Good perch fishing was reported in the Canadian waters of Mitchell's Bay. The better fishing seems to be in the late afternoon when using jigs with spikes or minnows.

Still has good pike action at the southern end of Grosse Ile. Most fish have been speared in Gibraltar Bay. A few perch have also been caught.

Anglers heading out might want to think about wearing creepers for easier travel across the ice. Walleye have been caught in Brest Bay, with the better fishing after dark. There are a couple ice breaks about 2 miles out, so anglers need to use extreme caution. Good perch fishing was reported on the north end of the Banana Dike. A few pike and walleye were caught. Perch fishing was slow off Lake Erie Metropark.

Smelt have been taken on small hooks with wax worms or spikes on both the north and west sides of the lake. Anglers are catching lake trout when fishing minnows near the bottom in 80 to 110 feet of water. Whitefish are hitting on Swedish Pimples and slip rigs tipped with wax worms or wigglers. For rainbow trout, try wigglers in shallow water near the Conference Center. Perch can be found on the north, west and south ends of the lake.

Walleye fishing has been fair. Pike have been taken on tip-ups with sucker minnows. Some crappies were caught along the north shore. Bluegill action should pick back up with warmer temperatures.

Good fishing continues off M-115 with lots of perch taken in 6 to 12 feet of water. Minnows seem to be working best but wax worms and wigglers have also caught fish. Those fishing further out have caught some large crappie but it may be necessary to keep moving around to locate schools of fish. Fishing is still good along the east side of the lake. Look for structure in about 18 feet of water.

Fishing continues to improve. Anglers are catching a lot of pike on the west side of the lake near the Boy Scout Camp and in the small cove on the north end of the lake. Some are jigging chrome Swedish Pimples with a minnow while others are using tip-ups with golden shiners or sucker minnows. Fish have been caught in 3 to 8 feet of water just off the weed beds. Crappies have also been caught in the same area.

Steelhead fishing is likely decent below Tippy Dam.

Is reporting 5 to 8 inches of ice, but anglers are warned to stay away from the channel leading to Lake Michigan, as the ice is not safe. Perch have been caught south of the channel near the Sand Docks, but sorting will be necessary as many of the fish are running small. Try minnows, wigglers and spikes for bait. Pike fishing has been good during the day while the walleye are hitting in the early morning or evening. Fish the east side of the lake near Heritage Landing.

Look for steelhead in the deep holes up near the Sixth Street Dam. Walleye have been caught all along the river.

Most of the river is iced up. The only open water available is right at the dam in Berrien Springs and downstream about half a mile. Boat anglers are catching steelhead when back trolling with Hot-n-Tots or using spawn. Shore anglers are also catching steelhead. Walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows.

Walleye anglers are finally getting out to where the fish are and some big fish have been taken in 30 feet of water off the hotel.

Walleye have been caught in waters up to 25 feet deep and the northern pike spearing has started to pick up. Early morning and late evening were best for both species. Perch fishing has also picked up a bit, with anglers marking and catching fish in 15 to 25 feet of water. Those fishing inside the State Docks have caught menominee and brown trout.

Those fishing the mouth of the river have caught some whitefish and a few trout.

Has seen lots of angler activity as people now have access to walleye fishing with just a short walk. A good number of sub-legal fish are being caught right along with some nice large ones. The better spots have been near the Zilwaukee Bridge, the beanery at Carrolton, the train bridge down by the Liberty Bridge in Bay City, Smith Park, the Cement Plant at Essexville, the Coast Guard Station, and down near the mouth of the river. Jigging rapalas in blue & silver or fire tiger, jigs or jigging spoons tipped with minnows are taking fish.

Perch fishing has been slow off Palmer Road and Pine River Road, but several nice pike were speared or taken on tip-ups. Not much going on at Linwood or Pinconning. The best walleye action seems to be concentrated north of the Black Hole in 17 to 20 feet of water. Many are using the end of Erickson Road for access. Decent numbers of perch are being taken near the range light at the mouth of the Saginaw River and near Spoils Island using perch rigs and minnows. On the east side, those fishing off Thomas Road and the Tietz Drain have caught walleye. Some are fishing in 11 to 15 feet of water while others are going out up to 8 miles and fishing in waters up to 23 feet deep. Pike spearing at Sebewaing remains good, though perch fishing is slow. Many are concentrated just south of Sand Point near Mud Creek. Success has been spotty with some getting their limits, but most are only taking a few fish. Try staying away from the crowd, and remember to move often to locate an active school of fish.

Yellow perch fishing has been good. Areas to fish have been Metro Beach, Brandenburg Park, the public access site at Fairhaven, and the access site near Selfridge. Most of the fish are in the 7 to 9 inch range, but a few bigger ones show up occasionally. The better fishing has been in the early morning or late afternoon when using jigs with spikes or wigglers.

Most of the river is not fishable due to ice jams. The only action has been at the southern end of Grosse Ile where northern pike spearing has been good in Gibraltar Bay, which is also known as Airport Bay. Some 40 inch fish were taken.