Ice fishing continues but caution needs to be used. Anglers are reminded that walleye, northern pike and muskie season in the Upper Peninsula inland and Great Lakes waters as well as the St. Mary’s River is now open until March 15th. The spearing season for northern pike and muskie will also be open until March 15th

UPPER PENINSULA

Eagle Harbor – Has been yielding some nice coho salmon.

Portage Lake – Fishing has been slow but look for the walleye bite to pick up when the weather warms up. Pike action was hit-or-miss but fish were caught when using smelt or suckers 4 to 5 feet off the bottom in waters 16 to 20 feet deep.

Keweenaw Bay – Some coho were caught off Sand Point and out from the Falls River however the bite was slow. Whitefish have been caught in 80 to 110 feet of water south of Baraga. The lake trout bite has been hit-or-miss off the usual locations such as the Whirl-I-Gig, Jentoft’s Dock, Old Mission, Carla’s and the red rocks. Anglers are fishing straight out from the pine tree at Pequaming and off Jurva Road however the ice here has deteriorated some and extreme caution needs to be used. Smelt were caught between Bucks Marina and Baraga between the hours of 8:30 and midnight. Some perch are also being picked in 20 to 60 feet of water off of the Baraga Marina.

Lake Gogebic – Anglers are catching jumbo perch but the walleye are small.

Menominee – The cold windy weather made it difficult for anglers in the bay. Those heading out behind the Americ Inn off US-41 were moving around to find schools of fish. Small perch were caught when jigging minnows or other natural baits. Those heading out a mile or so did manage to catch a few whitefish.

Menominee River – Anglers fishing in the evening on the Wisconsin side at the Hattie Street Dam are catching some walleye. Trout anglers are casting rapalas in different sizes and colors on the Michigan side. A few brown trout have been caught. Those fishing off the 6th Street slip in Marinette reported slow catch rates but those willing to put in the time have caught some small walleye.

Little Bay De Noc – Ice conditions remain good although drifting snow has created some travel problems. The launch at Kipling has been filling up fast. Fair walleye catches throughout the bay however the better reports are coming from Kipling when jigging rapalas and minnows in 24 to 28 feet of water and off Portage Point when fishing 20 to 35 feet down along the break. Good perch fishing out from Brach’s Cabins in 14 to 17 feet of water or in 36 feet of water near Kipling. Fair to good pike spearing out from the Buckeye near Kipling when using live suckers in 8 to 10 feet of water. For whitefish, some limits were taken off Sand Point in Escanaba when jigging minnows or spawn in 80 feet of water.

Munising – Ice conditions for Munising Bay and Trout Bay were holding for ice fishing however conditions here can change rapidly if it warms up or if the winds pick up. Coho action in Trout Bay was hit-or-miss. A few lucky anglers limited out when jigging cut bait. Those heading out past Trout Bay for lake trout have also taken limit catches. Anglers traveling north of Grand Island are reminded to use extreme caution out there. Murray’s Bay was giving up a few whitefish averaging 14 inches. Off Powell’s Point, whitefish and burbot were caught at night and those fishing near the City Dock were taking a few coho, whitefish, splake or herring.

Munuscong Bay – Fishing has picked up with the better catch rates in the evening. Anglers are fishing for walleye in 3 to 6 feet of water when jigging minnows. A limited number of anglers are venturing out to waters 10 to 20 feet deep and taking a fair number of fish. The perch are present however warmer weather will increase their activity and harvest rate.

Cedarville and Hessel – Musky Bay is loaded with perch. Anglers are reminded that the Lake Huron waters of Mackinac and Chippewa Counties and the St. Mary’s River have a minimum size limit of 7 inches for perch. There has been a lot of catch and release action mixed in with the legal perch taken each day. Hessel Bay is currently the place to find the big 12 to 14 inch perch in waters about 15 feet deep. Splake were also present however the season is closed so the fish must be released immediately.