Ann Arbor

[bucknduck]

Looking for a lake or 2 around the Ann Arbor area where I can spend a few extra hours a week getting out on the hard ice after perch and/or crappie? I work in Ann Arbor and with winter arriving , I will not be able to always drive home after work especially when old man winter decides to make what would normally be a 2-2 1/2 hour drive home a 4+ hour drive. I would greatly appreciate it if someone can PM me or post a lake or two where I can get out after a fish or two . No GPS coords please, just a lake and general area is all I'm looking for.

[RichP]

Buck -- get on the DNR site and get maps of the Pinckney and Waterloo Rec areas and you'll see a ton of inland lakes in the surrounding areas. Most hold crappies, all hold gills.

Independence Lake (just north of ann arbor) is frozen. A little over an inch yesterday. Should be good by the weekend. Big crappies there, but most people seem only to be successful at night for them. And of course the powers that be close the gates to the park at dusk. :rant:

[bucknduck]

I noticed the sign for Indepence Lake this morning in fact on my way into work and thought about taking a drive there to check it out. Too bad they close the gates at dusk.

[nosleeptillbrooklyn]

you might want to try four mile lake. Its between dexter and chelsea. perch, gills, crappie, and pike. you have to walk a little way to get to deeper water. You can also try Barton pond. its part of the huron river, so wait untill ice is thicker. lots of access off of Huron river drive just west of m-14.

[RichP]

you might want to try four mile lake. Its between dexter and chelsea.

:yeahthat:

Yes, everyone says there are some big gills in that lake. Huge rockbass as well, not that many people usually target rock bass but still... Here's the thing with 4mile though -- the parking area is more than a bit secluded (only thing missing is the banjo player from Deliverance), and last I remembered there's no lighting. A buddy of mine had his vehicle broken into last season while out fishing. I haven't been there since.

Anyhow, it's one of the lakes in the Waterloo Rec area:

http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/waterloo_map.pdf

And here's the Pinckney map previously referenced:

http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/pinckney_map.pdf

[bucknduck]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I took a drive out to 4 mile and its iced over. With all this snow we got last night, thats going to put some unwanted extra weight on what ice we do have.
Thanks again for all the input and those maps are goig to be extremely helpful. I took some time yesterday downloading maps from the dnr sight and doing some paper scouting.
Have either of you fished Whitmore Lake? Looks like a nice size lake that would hold a descent number of fish? This lake would be ideal when I drive down in the morning, I could stop there on my way into work for a couple of hours?

Rich

[ReddHead]

Don't forget to try Crooked Lake in Waterloo. Easy to find and big gills and redears.

[RichP]

I have not had great success as of yet on Whitmore Lake. Caught a number of gills, but on the small side. Right out from the launch. Despite the fact it's just down the road from me, I haven't really put in the time to try to figure it out. I've only icefished the lake maybe a half dozen times. I hear there are eyes in there, would love to find them. But I tend to get lazy and fall back on other lakes that have proven successful for me in the past.

You might want to PM Connor4501. Although he says he hasn't fished it in quite a while, he does have many years experience with that lake.

[BOEDY]

you will like crooked lake, lots of gills but you have to move around quite a bit to find the big ones. try a tip up on the drops. it drops pretty fast right from shore in most spots.there are some slob crappie to be caught right at and after dark,helps to have a vex. most times they will hang.

[FishinJoe]

4 mile has done me pretty well on the gills. I am there a few times a week in the winter and have never heard of anyone getting anything broken into, I sure hope this was just a isolated istance.

Joe

[SleePac]

Rumor has it....Pickerel Lake gives up some sweet crappies at night. I'm dying to try it! Anyone has ice thickness reports for the lakes in Waterloo or Pinckney Rec Areas?

-Andy

[walleyechaser]

Pinckney Rec Area ice report and Livingston County.
Almost all lakes are ice covered but with the heavy snow, conditions are very risky at best.
Wait until next weekend before trying as long as night temps stay cold.
I'll post on this again on Thursday when I have time to do a little driving.

[JDHUNTER0404]

I live on portage lake in Pinckney and will be checking the ice daily. I wouldn't risk it now but if it stays this cold the weekend will be good:) 2 to 3 inches in the canals.

[bucknduck]

Well, my Jan-April schedule and looks like my fishing will begin after 7pm during the week. Any lakes listed here better than others for late evening-night fishing?
What about fishing at Wamplers Lake at night and going out from Jerrys?

[Raf]

i hate to keep people from fishing at four mile i do all the time, but that was not an isolated incident. just make sure you lock all your doors. my truck got broken into before and so did my buddys. i also talked one other person who got things stolen out of his vehicle. man would i like to catch these guys.

[FishinJoe]

Never heard anything about that but thanks for the heads us. If I can ever get out there I will be sure to keep things locked up.

Joe

[jstfish48162]

north lake is another good crappie lake. it is off of north territorial road/hankerd road. i have fished it quite a few times and have never been skunked. small parking lot, but with your schedule, you shouldn't have a problem.

[bucknduck]

thanks for the info about 4 mile. I have hunted rabbits out there and never had any problems, usually quite a few people out there ice fishing during the day.

[Gillgitter]

north lake is another good crappie lake.


There are no fish in North Lake:whistle: ;)

[shametamer]

gee Doug:confused: i thought you told me you limited out every trip last year at north? i know you only went 50 or 60 times not as often as most years....:16suspect

[jstfish48162]

if that is true, shametamer, maybe he is telling the truth. i'll have to check it out in the spring and do a population survey.:D

[pdkpotocki]

used to fish north lake all the time when i was younger i alwasy did pretty good. used to get some nice gills out of there

[bucknduck]

I drove out North lk last night and nice lake, the ice looked a little soft though. Hope these warm temps don't ruin what little ice we do have around the area.

[Gillgitter]

gee Doug:confused: i thought you told me you limited out every trip last year at north? i know you only went 50 or 60 times not as often as most years....:16suspect


50 or 60 times??? I wish ole buddy:lol:
It figures tho............ off work most of the winter and no ice. Might hafta head up to Fletcher next weekend.

[shametamer]

hey from what i read on this site and others.the panfishing thru the ice at fletchers has been pretty good this year!............off work/no ice? geez must be a murphys law that covers that!..never fear, soon summer will be here you'll be pulling 7 doubles a week on the job..and the fish will be jumping in the boat!:yikes:

[bucknduck]

A coworker has a cottage at Fletchers and is heading up there to fish this weekend. Probably make my way there Sunday. My wife just called and knew that I would be late getting home tonight and wanted a grocery list of what bait i needed from Franks. Gotta love a woman like that.:D
She was probably thinking what did she get herself into when I started rambling off mousies, wax worms, maggots, shiners etc...