GLF

A fair number of boaters can be seen near the Upper Harbor. They have caught a few coho along with an occasional brown trout or splake. A few shore anglers were fishing in the Lower Harbor where the fishing has been slow with only a couple coho and whitefish were taken.

Warmer temperatures along with rain in the forecast will surely take a toll on ice conditions. Fishing has been on the slow side, with anglers only taking a few coho, whitefish, splake, steelhead and smelt.

Any remaining ice around the Bay area is getting worse, and it would be better to stay off it, especially with the warm temperatures this week. Smelt were taken when jigging at the head of the Bay. These same anglers have also caught a limited number of herring. A few coho were taken off Sand Point by those using Little Cleo’s in blue/silver and orange/brass combinations. Swedish Pimples in white/orange or brass/orange have also caught fish.

Fair to good steelhead fishing was reported up near Rockford. Try floating spawn or flies over the deeper holes.

Steelhead fishing continues up near the Allegan Dam. Rain by the weekend should push more fish into the river system. Suckers are hitting on worms or crawlers.

Good steelhead fishing was reported, but the boat anglers still seem to be doing a little better than those wading. Flies and spawn are working best. As of this report, the river is in very good shape. Water levels are fishable and the clarity is good. These conditions will not doubt change with rain in the forecast.

The ice on the north end near Kewadin is not solid enough to support angling activity. Much of the ice is now honeycombed and should be considered unsafe.

Few anglers have been out this past week. The ice around the shoreline is getting soft and deteriorating. Those areas of the lake near the mouth of the rivers now have open water.

The ice was still holding by the middle of the week, but with rain in the forecast by the weekend, this could be the last ice of the season. Smelt were taken in 15 feet of water off the West Launch and the North State Park. Some nice yellow perch were taken in 12 to 15 feet of water. Those fishing near the Conference Center have caught rainbow trout in open waters near the mouth of the creek.

This is no doubt, last ice. Shoreline ice is breaking up, and anglers will have to wade through open water in some spots before they reach the ice. A few panfish such as bluegills and sunfish have been caught off the South Shore and out from Houghton Lake Heights.

Boat anglers trolling in the Bay have been catching brown trout and walleye on Rapalas in 5 to 15 feet of water. Pier fishing was slow. Shore anglers and those surfcasting near the Singing Bridge have caught steelhead and brown trout when floating spawn sacks.

High water levels moved some steelhead into the river. Anglers are fishing the deep holes along most of the river with spawn, wigglers, and wax worms. Many are still waiting for the spring run to get underway.

Boat anglers are trolling and taking very good catches of walleye. Good yellow perch fishing was reported off Pine River Road and Palmer Road. Anglers are taking 8 to 10 inch perch in waters 3 to 5 feet deep. Fair perch fishing was reported off Linwood and Hoyle’s Marina.

Yellow perch have been caught up in the north end of the lake in Anchor Bay. Most boats are fishing perch minnows just off Selfridge.

Boat anglers reported good walleye fishing not only in the Trenton Channel, but also between the Detroit Edison Stacks and Gibraltar when jigging minnows. Those seeking yellow perch are now fishing in Canadian waters. A SPECIAL NOTE TO ANGLERS: Scientists from the USGS will be conducting fish spawning studies on natural and artificial reefs near Belle Isle beginning in April. Sampling gear for this project will be left in the river from April through May and will be marked with buoys and floats. Boat anglers are urged to use caution and watch for these markers when fishing between the island and the main channel.

Good numbers of steelhead can be found in the river between the Flat Rock Dam and Rockwood. Most are hitting on small jigs with wax worms or flies. Anglers are reminded that walleye season is closed, and any walleye caught while steelhead fishing must be released immediately.

Effective April 1, 2006, walleye fishing will again be open all year in Michigan waters. Yellow perch fishing was a bit slow.

I have added a new section to the forums. This is a "Manufacturer's tech reports" section. You must be a registered member and logged in to view this section. In this section you will be able to download manufacturer's tech reports. Some of these reports are in pdf format and you will need adobe to view them. I must have permission from the company before the report is posted. If you have a report you would like to see added to this section, contact me with the contact information and I will contact the company.

Things have changed once again for me. I will not be able to fish, but I may be at weigh in for a very short time. So...if you are wanting the book, look me up at weigh in.

I will not be able to make this event or make it to the weigh in. If anyone wants a book, let me know and we will see what we can come up with to avoid shipping costs.

Adjusted3 took 2Paws and myself out of St. Joseph today. After all of the reports I had been seeing for the last few days, I was figuring they would be jumping in the boat and we we be back to the dock by 8am. The wind was blowing out of the South/South East at 10-20knots. The lake was almost flat. We fished to around 11am with 2Paws and went 2 for 4. Adjusted(Mark) and I dropped 2Paws(Mark) off and headed back out. Mark and I tried something different when we headed back out. What was a slow day turned out to be an alright finish. Only problem was, we could not get hooked up with the fish. I believe we ended up 4 for 8/9 and for the the day and ended up 6 for 12/13. All of the fish were coho. What worked and didn't work for us. We started off at the pump house and trolled past the junk cars to the new houses. During this troll I think we went 1 for 2. That fish came on a jointed orange Rapala. We pulled lines and ran back to the pump house and headed towards the piers. While setting lines we banged one on a stick bait. Not sure of the bait or the color. We did a circle around and missed one more. Then we dropped 2Paws off. 2Paws dropped off and it was Mark and I. We set lines at the end of the piers and worked North. It was not far off the piers and we had missed 2 fish already. One was on a spoon on a rigger and the other was on a clown colored Rapala. We pulled 3 other fish on riggers and managed 1 more on the clown colored Rapala. We missed fish on a few of the baits as well. Most of our fish came North of the piers. The water was warmer North due to the South wind.

Nice job Terry. Looks like you had fresh fish for dinner. I have tomorrow off and I am heading down to St. Joseph with Adjusted3

I found this information Here. SECTION VI - PROPOSED CHANGES Periodically, the Coast Guard evaluates its system of aids to navigation to determine whether the conditions for which the aids to navigation were established have changed. When changes occur, the feasibility of improving, relocating, replacing, or discontinuing aids are considered. This section contains notice(s) of non-approved, proposed projects open for comment. SPECIAL NOTE: Mariners are requested to respond in writing to the District office unless otherwise noted (see banner page for address). PROPOSED WATERWAY PROJECTS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Proposed Project(s) Closing Docket No. Ref. LNM GREAT LAKE - Recommended Changes to Decommissioning and Commissioning dates. The Coast Guard is proposing to change the decommissioning and/or commissioning dates for the following aids: (10575) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 2 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10590) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 3 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10595) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 4 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10600) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 5 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10605) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 6 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10610) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 7 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10615) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 8 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10620) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 9 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (10625) - Saginaw Bay Channel Lighted Buoy 10 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (15680) - Superior Harbor Basin Lighted Buoy 4 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (15705) - Superior Front Channel Lighted Buoy 2 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (15770) - Superior Front Channel Lighted Buoy 6 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (15790) - Superior Front Channel Lighted Buoy 10 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (15805) - Superior Front Channel Lighted Buoy 14 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (15820) - Superior Front Channel Lighted Buoy 18 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (19625) - Indiana Shoal Lighted Gong Buoy 2 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (19790) - Chicago Lake Front NE Shoal Lighted Buoy 2 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (15825) - Superior Front Channel Lighted Buoy 19 - Change Decommissioning to 7 December (19795) - Calumet East Shoal Lighted Buoy 4 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (19810) - Calumet Harbor Lighted Buoy 1 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (19825) - Calumet Harbor Lighted Buoy 7 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (19910) - Clemson Shoal Lighted Bell Buoy 4 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20250) - Wilmette Wreck Lighted Bell Buoy WR 2 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20255) - Grossepoint Outer Lighted Bell Buoy 4 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20330) - Waukegan Shoals Lighted Buoy 3 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20485) - Racine Reef West End Lighted Buoy 1 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20600) - Wind Point South Shoal Buoy 16 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20610) - Wind Point North Shoal Lighted Buoy 14 - Change Commissioning to 1 April (20630) - Milwaukee South Point Lighted Bell Buoy 1 - Change Commissioning to 1 April For Further information regarding these aids please contact ENS Justin M. Erdman District 9 (dpw) (216)902-6072 LAKE ERIE - Cleveland Harbor - Huron Harbor - Sandusky Harbor - Decommissioning Dates Change - Charts 14839, 14843, 14845 Change the decommissioning dates for the following Aids to Navigation to 1 December. Cleveland Harbor East Basin Channel LB 1 (LLNR 4065) East Basin Channel LB 5 (LLNR 4085) East Basin Channel LB 6 (LLNR 4090) East Basin Channel LB 8 (LLNR 4120) East Basin Channel LB 11 (LLNR 4135) East Basin Channel LB 12 (LLNR 4140) East Basin Channel LB 14 (LLNR 4155) Huron Harbor Entrance LB 1 (LLNR 4485) Sandusky Harbor Moseley Channel LBB 1 (LLNR 4580) Moseley Channel LB 2 (LLNR 4585) Moseley Channel LB 4 (LLNR 4595) Moseley Channel LB 6 (LLNR 4605) LAKE HURON - Alpena - Chart 14864 Alpena Light (LLNR 11370) Change the light characteristic from Fl R 5s to Fl R 6s. Reduce the nominal range from 14 to 12 miles. LAKE HURON - Lafarge Corporation Channel - Chart 14864 Lafarge Corporation Channel Jct LB "TB" (LLNR 11420) Change to year round unlighted aid. LAKE MICHIGAN - Ludington - chart 14937 Ludington North Breakwater Light (LLNR 18530) change the light from white to green. The flashing characteristic will remain Iso 6s. LAKE MICHIGAN - Sheboygan - Chart 14922 Sheyboygan North Pierhead Light (LLNR 20835) change the light characteristic from F R to Fl ISO 6s. LAKE MICHIGAN - St. Joseph - Chart 14930 St. Joseph North Pier Inner Light (LLNR 19520) discontinue light. LAKE MICHIGAN - Manistee - Chart 14938 Manistee North Pierhead Light (LLNR 18450) reduce the nominal range of the light from 15 to 12 miles. Energize the fog signal by keying VHF radio 5 times on channel 79. ST MARYS RIVER - West Neebish Channel (Downbound) - Chart 14883 West Neebish Channel Light "30" (LLNR 13605) Reduce the nominal range from 5 to 3 miles. ST MARYS RIVER - West Neebish Channel (Downbound) - Chart 14883 West Neebish Channel Light "32" (LLNR 13595) Reduce the nominal range from 4 to 3 miles. LAKE SUPERIOR - Grand Marais - Chart 14967 Grand Marais Harbor of Refuge Outer Light (LLNR 14550) reduce the range of the light from 13 to 12 miles. LAKE SUPERIOR - Keweenaw Waterway - Chart 14972 Lower Entrance Light (LLNR 14765) reduce nominal range of light from 15 to 13 statute miles. LAKE SUPERIOR - Duluth - Superior - St. Louis Bay - Chart 14975 Change the nominal range for the following aids from 4 miles to 3 miles: Superior Front CH LB 6 (LLNR 15770) Superior Front CH LB 10 (LLNR 15790) Duluth Harbor Basin LB 3 (LLNR 15880) Rices Pt. LB 9 (LLNR 15940) St. Louis Bay Jct LB (LLNR 16055) Minnesota CH (E Sec) LB 6 (LLNR 16205) Minnesota CH (E Sec) LB 10 (LLNR 16225) LAKE SUPERIOR - Allouez Bay - Duluth Harbor - Chart 14975 Change the decommissioning dates for the following buoys to 14 December: (LLNR 15640) Allouez Bay LB 3 (LLNR 15870) Duluth Harbor Basin Traffic Buoy (LLNR 15875) Duluth Harbor Basin LB 2 (LLNR 15880) Duluth Harbor Basin LB 3 (LLNR 15905) Duluth Harbor Basin LB 5 (LLNR 15925) Duluth Harbor Basin LB 7 (LLNR 15940) Rice's Point LB 9

Who knows how the DNR goes about picking the colors of the licenses? This years color looks lavendar to me

I believe this is channel 79, and I think it is this year they will be doing this. I have spoken with Great Lakes CG and he is a member of the Coast Guard. I asked him if would would field coast guard related questions on the site. I am not sure if he will or not. It would be a GREAT addition to the site. I did dig further into the origal post. The info came from a June 97 archive on another site. Based on your reply from the Coast Guard, it appears there is still discussion going on about it. With all of the cut backs our military is having, it would not surprise me if the light houses was passed to someone else to foot the bill. Thanks for digging in to this for us Rich! Its members like you that make this a GREAT SITE!