DNR Report
March 4, 2010
The ice on inland lakes around the state is holding however anglers are reminded to still use caution. Stay away from areas that are known to have a current or run-off from melting snow. Shoreline ice will deteriorate quickly with temperatures up near 40 degrees. Lakes with snow cover may present travel problems due to slush.
Keweenaw Bay - Lake trout fishing was good when jigging in 130 to 270 feet of water off Whirl-I-Gig Road and Old Mission. Ice conditions vary so use caution. Some reported the ice moving up and down while fishing. Warm weather this week will weaken the ice even more. At night, smelt were caught between Baraga and Bucks Marina in 30 to 60 feet of water.
Menominee River - Menekaunee had slow fishing. Those with cameras can see the bluegills and perch, but catch rates were slow. Sixth Street had bad ice with open water so those using the access site need to use extreme caution. Boom Landing and the Mystery Ship sites were busy with tip-ups rigged for pike and walleye. Some nice pike were caught but not many walleye were seen. Those wading and casting near Boom Island had hopes of landing brown trout and steelhead, but none were reported. More are fishing off the Cat Walk but catch rates were slow. Those targeting walleye through the ice on the Wisconsin side near the Hattie Street Dam seem to catch more fish during the evening hours.
Green Bay - Anglers around the bay and inside the walls of the marina are targeting panfish while jigging minnows or wax worms. Perch were caught however the fish were small.
Little Bay De Noc - Ice conditions remain tricky to navigate with pressure cracks presenting most of the problems. Anglers have consistently had problems when trying to cross in the Kipling and Gladstone areas. Please use caution and "look before you leap" especially with a vehicle. The ice is thicker in the north end of the bay and less in the southern sections. With warmer weather in the forecast, many have started to remove their ice shanties. The better walleye fishing was in the head of the bay when using tip-ups with large minnows in 6 to 20 feet of water. Most caught large fish with many in the 10 pound range. Reports for the rest of the bay were spotty when jigging or using tip-ups in 15 to 30 feet of water. Although there are anglers fishing in the southern waters, ice in that area is dangerous and should be avoided. Catch rates were down but did increase for those fishing in 28 to 33 feet of water around the Center Reef. Try jigging minnows. Fair to good whitefish action off Sand Point in Escanaba however the area is dangerous so foot traffic only.
Munising - A fair number of splake along with a few whitefish have been caught in 50 to 60 feet of water. Some reported coho in Trout Bay which is off Grand Island however the ice was said to be unpredictable.
Munuscong Bay - Walleye were caught in deep water near the channel. Try 25 to 35 feet. Anglers are reminded to use extreme caution near the channels.
Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers are catching small perch in 6 to 8 feet of water at the east end of Hessel Bay. Musky Bay is about the same. Big perch were spotted but they would not bite. Catch rates were just fair in Cedarville Bay and the Moscoe Channel.
Brevoort Lake - Is producing some walleye.