Fishing Report

Boat and shore anglers are still catching steelhead. Fish the deeper holes with wobble glows or spawn under a bobber. Look for walleye when fishing off the bridges.

Steelhead fishing remains good with the better catches coming between I-94 and Berrien Springs when using spawn or Hot-n-Tots. Boat anglers are launching at Shamrock Park or the Benton Township Park near I-94. Walleye fishing has also been good. Try jigging spoons or minnows in the deeper holes.

Anglers are catching lots of sub-legal walleye and a few perch.

Some walleyes are being taken off Jerry's Marina in 15 to 20 feet of water, primarily in the early morning and evening. A few pike have been speared in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch fishing has been slow throughout the Bay. A few perch and brown trout have been caught inside the breakwall at the state dock. Those with cameras reported seeing perch but they are not biting.

And the Thumb area got 8 to 9 inches of lake effect snow which has made travel difficult and dampened angler enthusiasm.

Is currently not fishable because of the ice which is thick enough to prevent launching a boat, but it is still too thin to walk on.

Ice conditions have improved, but anglers need to use extreme caution as there are still thin spots especially around the bridges and pilings. BE CAREFUL! Lots of sub-legal walleye have been caught from Saginaw all the way down to the mouth. Perch have been caught at Essexville, near the mouth and in the marina basins.

Ice conditions have improved around the Bay but anglers are cautioned that local ice conditions can still vary tremendously. Be careful, especially if you are riding snowmobiles or 4-wheelers, as ice in some areas may support walking anglers but not machines! A lot of people are fishing near the mouth of the Pine River and Palmer Road, but they are only catching small perch. From White's Beach south to the Bay City State Park, angling pressure was variable and success was slow at all locations. Be careful of ice thickness from Linwood south to the mouth of the Saginaw River due to reports of machines going through the ice. Those wading the mouth of the Hot Ponds have caught walleye but success depends on the weather. Near Quanicassee, walleye were caught in 6 feet of water and a couple pike were speared off Vanderbilt Park. A few walleye were taken in 15 feet of water off Thomas Road.

Cedarville Bay and Little Joe Island are providing fair catches of perch on wigglers and wax worms. Musky Bay, however, is producing the best results in the area with anglers taking perch throughout the Bay. Pike and walleye have also been caught, but some are running small.

Some big perch have been caught in the lower river when fishing the cut and canals, as well as the marina near Gibraltar. Some are fishing by boat and some are ice fishing. Try perch rigs with shiner minnows.

Has ice and lots of fishing activity in and around Fairhaven, Selfridge and Metro Beach. Ice thickness is variable, so anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution when venturing out. Lots of perch being caught but the fish are running small. Try jigs with minnows, wax worms, spikes or wigglers.

Anglers are catching steelhead in the deep holes between Flat Rock and Rockwood. Hair jigs with wax worms worked best.

Finally has ice, but caution should still be used. Those fishing off the Metro Park are catching bluegills and perch. Some are also starting to fish out near the Banana Dike.

The entire lake now has shelf ice and about 3 inches of snow cover so anglers will have to wait a little longer for safe ice. Those looking for rainbow and brown trout are getting a few hits in shallow waters 1 to 4 feet deep when using minnows or wigglers.

Has ice, but extreme caution needs to be used. Anglers should limit their travel to foot traffic only, no motorized vehicles. It is important to avoid the area near the pressure cracks as well as the open water near the middle of the lake. Anglers are urged to fish in shallow waters only, due to unsafe ice conditions.

Anglers are fishing, but the ice is still very questionable in most spots. Panfish reports are not great, with only a few crappie taken near the school. Some nice northern pike have been taken on tip-ups.

Ice fishing is on, but extreme caution needs to be used as the ice is questionable in many spots. Northern pike fishing has been good. A monster pike coming in at 46 inches and 23 pounds was recently caught.

Small ice flows are coming down the river but it is still fishable. Steelhead are still hitting on jigs with minnows and small choker bags. Pink and white have been hot colors. Those fishing off the bridges are catching walleye on minnows and stick baits. Shore anglers are also doing well when casting about 4 feet off shore.

Good numbers of steelhead can be found in the river. Try floating spawn, wax worms or wigglers under a bobber.

Though water levels are still a bit high, anglers are catching fish downstream from Berrien Springs. Steelhead are hitting on spawn. Boat anglers are catching more than shore anglers.

Ice shanties are starting to pop up in Tawas Bay, but most of them are still pretty close to shore. Anglers are urged to use extreme caution as ice thickness is still minimal at this point. Perch fishing has been slow.

The boat launches are now frozen up. Walleye anglers reported slow fishing.

Walleye fishing is pretty much at a standstill. Ice is starting to form along the shoreline, but there is plenty of open water so conditions are not safe for ice fishing.

Ice fishing is just getting started, and anglers are cautioned to BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! The Coast Guard had to rescue three people from an ice flow off the mouth of the Pine River last Saturday. Ice thickness is still minimal with a lot of thin spots. Perch fishing has been generally slow at all locations. Fishing activity has been limited to inside marina basins and very close to shore. Those wading at the mouth of the Hot Ponds are catching walleye, white bass and some large northern pike when casting jigs and body baits.

Has open water fishing for perch. Try jigs or teardrops with small minnows or wax worms. Walleye can still be found in the lower Trenton Channel.