ICE CONDITIONS--NLP Lakes (Lansing and north)

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Report your conditions here.

[redneckman]

Lake Mitchell and Cadillac have froze over but not enough to fish on. I would stay off them for awhile.

Redneckman

[Black Lake]

On Black Lake (cheboygan). This is the second hand info I received from a good source who lives on the lake, the North end of Black lake has a good head start on the South end which is beginning to ice over. It won't be long until the sleds and shanties start doting the lake, lets hope for cold weather!

[fishin'magician']

I just made a disapointing check of hamlin lake ice. I would advise only my ex's boyfriend to venture out on the ugly skim at wilson hill:lol: :lol: :lol:

[andy capp]

I just read there is 4 inches on fletchers.

[fishcrazy]

I hope you are right about that. If thats true it seems to have a head start on the other lakes from what I am reading. But that being said that is a shallow lake having probably max depth around 12 feet or so and that just in the old river channel. Soooo I would think that it could have a head start on the others. Makes perfect sense to me.

[Bucktail Butch]

I just made a disapointing check of hamlin lake ice. I would advise only my ex's boyfriend to venture out on the ugly skim at wilson hill:lol: :lol: :lol:


Would it be alright if a couple of my exwives tag along?

[grtlakes]

:fish2: Found 2 1/2 inches of ice today about 10 guys out there got my limit in 3 hours not the monsters but eaters. The narrows of narrow lake.:yikes:

[42vj42]

Any updates in the area on ice conditions?

[redneckman]

Won't be fishing around the Cadillac/Lake city for awhile still. Last I knew there was open water on the lakes. I will post again when we start making some ice.

Redneckman

[fishcrazy]

Is there any ice? I suspect that it isnt good since no reports of ice fishing being posted. Any info would be appreciated.

[slim Jim]

Went upto to Rose city yesterday to do some fishing. Most lakes where skimmed over, or had thin ice on shore. Just need some cold weather and won't be long after and be able to ice fish. As far as the fishing it stunked.

[redneckman]

From M-115 Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell look completely skimed over. Could not see any open water. It is most likely not even an 1inch thick and with the warmer temps for tomorrow it might open up some. No ice fishing for awhile still. Stay off the ice.

Redneckman

[Crooked Dave]

Here a photo taken this morning from the launch at Maple Bay.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/Maple_Bay_1-11-06.jpg
Today's temps are around 40 degrees, and looking forward, seasonal temps will be setting in as of late Friday. Could we finally be getting closer??? Tight Lines.

[JJ Mac]

Many of the lakes in the north are skimming over. I went to Gaylord yesterday and Otsego Lake was pretty well locked in. I spoke with a gentleman from Houghton Lake who said it was pretty well locked in as well with a few open spots. Thumb Lake is locked in on the little side, with some anglers venturing out by shore. I went to Susan Lake in Charlevoix this morning and saw one guy out fishing. I spudded my way out towards him, but made a 180 pretty quick as there was only about 2 inches. Walloon lake on the west side is locked in as well with just a thin layer. Looks like even cooler temps over the next 60 hours. There is the good potential to get some limited ice fishing in by next weekend. Stay posted and be safe.

[redneckman]

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are froze completely over but I do not know the thickness yet. Possible heavy snow for tomorrow. It might slow down the freezing process. At the earliest maybe next weekend, if the heavy snow doesnt come in. I would stay off the ice for now.

Redneckman

[red lund]

Went to several lakes in Kalkaska, Antrim, and Otsego counties on 1-14-07. Most lakes had 2 to 2.5 inches of ice. We fished a few, and managed some tiny perch, but we really did not venture far out given the constant cracking and popping of the ice. One very small lake had 4 inches of ice. Otsego was the largest we fished, which had 2 inches.

In a couple of days it will be sound, and definitely safe by next weekend.

[Crooked Dave]

I wasn't the first guy to get to the launches today (Maple Bay and Mundt Rd.), but no one made it out very far.....maybe 10 yds. from shore. There might be an inch of ice, but now all the ice is covered with 3 to 4" of fluffy snow, and it's still coming down. One or two whacks with the spud is all it took. Temps favor making ice, but the insulation factor of this snow sure isn't helping things. I'll try again Thursday. Tight lines....to those that can.

[unclecbass]

Stay off fife lake, little bird told me that a guy and his dog went for a swim yesterday and had to be rescued.

[fishonjr]

Hey All,

After venturing out onto over a half a dozen lakes in the area in the last two days, I found various depths of ice. Most of the shallower (<50') are supporting anywhere from 1.5"-4". Some of the deep water trout lakes that I checked yesterday were about 2-2.5". Being by myself and not seeing any other footracks, I didn't fish for trout!

[WalleyeSlayer]

Went out on snug harbor today...there was about 1 inch of solid ice but spider webbed every step...should be fishable by the weekend. Conservation club was about two inches of white ice..caught a few dinky perch and sunfish

[WalleyeSlayer]

any ice reports for cadillac or mitchell for this weekend?

[mikey]

Anyone know if Higgins is starting to make ice yet? I have a trip coming up in a couple of weeks....might fish elsewhere if there's not enough ice there.

[redneckman]

Report from pilgrims village about Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell.
Ice thickness is very uneven.
http://www.pilgrimvillagefishing.com/pilgrimvillagefishing/fishingreport.html

Redneckman

[Crooked Dave]

Again, went over to Maple Bay. Wind is blowing some of the snow off of the ice, but ice is still pretty marginal. I walked out about 30 ft. from shore and popped a hole with my spud, found maybe 2" at best. As I walked, I could see that the ice was flexing as all the other experimental hole that had been popped perculated with water. Had someone been joining with me, I would have ventured out further. Dressed in work cloths and having no intention of fishing til tomorrow, I opted for shore.

I did see some foot traffic (footprints in the snow) on Crooked, (The Gulch and at the Public Access US 131 N.) but I personally did not check ice. Tomorrow, I will be fishing the afternoon/evening bite, (Burt / Crooked / Pickeral - the one with the safest ice) but also wearing my PFD / carring my hand spikes / and pulling my inner-tube sled that floats (so I am told, but don't want any personal experiences with). Be very careful and error on the safe side. Tight Lines.

[DaveW731]

According to Lyman's web page, there is "4 - 5 inches of hard ice". Can anyone else verify that?
Thanks,
Dave

[steely171]

I had today off and set out to check a few lakes.Most had 2 to 2.5 a couple more cold day's and I will feel safe to take my son out.

[HOangler]

Checked two lakes yesterday. Fife had foot and sled prints at the 2 access sites I drove by, but no anglers on the ice that I could see @ 1640hrs. About 30 minutes later, Missawkee had anglers in all the popular spots. Looked as if... Well, you can imagine with all the waiting for hard water.

[muddman55]

got on lake ovid yesterday 2-8pm fished from boat launch to the island. ice was 3.5- 5 inches in most spots, we didnt check the north end of the lake as it makes ice slower. no open water, black ice with just enough snow to move around on easy. we had a GREAT time walkin' on water but with the high pressure system only caught 2 small gills. we will be fishing the north end by wed. WOOOOHOOOO don

[barnacle bill]

went for a ride at 12:00 pm to the north state park to check on the ice and saw higgins finally froze over last nite, drove to the west launch and same condition iced over. the north basin is ice covered but we just got 3" of snow on top for the ice so it's going to be be another week maybe, just don't know how well the ice will keep on freezing.forcast for more cold and flurries for next week won't be long now. bill

[DaveW731]

Was on Lake Lansing yesterday, south of the south park. Ice was OK (3"+), fishing was slow. There were about 12 tipups that I could see, only saw 5 flags in 5 hours (fortunately, 4 of them were mine:) ). I STRONGLY advise staying off the north end of the lake for another week; spud broke through on the first wack.
Anyway, GREAT to be out!

[garyrodbender]

Theres between 4-5 inches on manistee lake in kalkaska co, also crawford has 3-5, and my boss who lives near skegomog,said 3 inches of black ice.But not more than 100 yards off shore.Have had single digit temps the last 3 nights.Travel light and USE YOUR SPUD OFTEN !!! People going through,fife and intermediate have had there share of rescues already.PS just got a call from a pal whos on otsego as I type , says 5-6 inches and snowmobiles & quads...Use your head please.gOING To TC tomorrow, will check skegomog lk and big twin.We just ate our last bag of fish [salmon] tonight...need to catch some more.:fish:

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

fished all 3 of these lakes last sunday and went off green road on missauke and were 500 yards out, 5 inches of solid ice, mitchell out of cad west had 5 inches of good ice, yet towards big cove, anywhere from 2-4 inches in a lot of spots, some of it weak too. cadillac decent 4-5 inches of ice in cad west and near high school 4-5 inches of good ice, headin to mitchell and cadillac this weekend, should be plenty of good ice to take the quad. only live 20 mins away, and excited, if it werent for the whole having a job/making a living thing i would be there right now and no one would hear from me until spring!!:lol:

[mjmmusser]

Talked to a buddy today. He figured 3 inches would be enough to get out on. Well he got out with his dad and started to drill a hole, as soon as he broke through water started gushing on top of the ice. The ice ended up bowing where he was standing and he was knee deep before he knew it. His dad slipped and fell and went up to his shoulders. They got out of there safe. They had to go back to the house to get a rod long enough to hook a rope to their buckets and auger so they could pull them out.
All I gotta say is be safe out there. Go light and test the waters before you bring the gear, and bring a buddy but leave some space between you.

--Mike

[AutoModGod]

Anyone know the ice conditions for Emerson Lake near Branch, MI?

I'm giving some thought be heading up to a friend's cottage on the lake this weekend.

Thanks in advance ....

[mifisher]

Outdoor mike....anybody catching any fish up there?

[HeavyF150]

I heard from a reliable source this afternoon (1/25) that Higgins Lake froze completely across last night. The temp up there this afternoon was only 6 degrees. Won't be long now.

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

i personally havent been out since sunday, on account of that thing called a dirty j.o.b. unfortunantly, but have talked to a few people who have been. a couple people have been doing decent on perch and gills and a few specs here and there on mitchell. some decent panfish being caught on cadillac near the high school. not too much going on for pike on mitchell. missauke ice is getting better, more and more people heading out. fishing somewhat slow, few pike on the smaller side being caught. and hodenpyl backwaters apparently has some ice. still open water in some spots, and those of you who have or may not have fished it. watch out if you get balls enough to go out there. i grew up on that backwaters and there is no time of any hard winter that place is fully safe with all the flowing water current going through there. the couple relatives i talked to that have been out there the last couple days headed out and spudded along the way and ended up finding at most 3 inches of ice. they are crazy liek me and fished and did alright on walleye, but they were also not more then 100 yards from open water. if you are fimiliar with the campground/boat launch on the backwaters, i ran that for 5 years and lived on the water, so i have seen it go from 10+ inches of ice to open water in less than 8 hrs!! BE SAFE. . ANYWHERE YOU GO!! i will definantly have more reports probably sunday some time as i will be headin out startin tomorrow morning and will be on hard water in several spots including but not limited to cadillac, mitchell, missauke, hodenpyl(possibly) and a few other small boyous(sp?) along the manistee river. hopefully i will have some pics to post also! see ya out there!! oh and if you are lookin for me i will most likely be the dumbass with the quad and 2 person frabill clam shanty, probably will be a few of us sat on mitchell over near big cove! good luck

[slim Jim]

Like to know if any lakes in the area are safe for foot traffic?

Thanks,
Jim

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

also i forgot until i was looking at pilgrims village bait shop website that my cousin bob caught a 46 inch 23.8 lb pike sunday afternoon on mitchell on a tip up. theres a pic on pilgrims villages website if ya wanan check it out.

[muddman55]

got out last night with a bud had 6+ inches over most we did find 4-5 in the traditional areas that freeze slower. partner has bad knees and cant get around like he used to so he took his quad...8x10 trailer....kitchen sink..
got on at the launch and drove to the far north end consistant ice cover the length. managed 30+ gills and perch 3-6in. didn,t keep any great day on the ice with a good friend thats what its all about

[HOangler]

Like to know if any lakes in the area are safe for foot traffic?

Thanks,
Jim

Got to be.

[slim Jim]

There should be plenty enough ice on the lakes now; by West branch, I'll have to find time to go fishing. Just not sure about the deeper lakes.

[jlcrss]

got out last night with a bud had 6+ inches over most we did find 4-5 in the traditional areas that freeze slower. partner has bad knees and cant get around like he used to so he took his quad...8x10 trailer....kitchen sink..
got on at the launch and drove to the far north end consistant ice cover the length. managed 30+ gills and perch 3-6in. didn,t keep any great day on the ice with a good friend thats what its all about

So you were north of the island? How deep of water were ya?

[muddman55]

we fished 16ft to 6ft up and down the weed bed east of the dam overflow stopped on the way in and fished 10 /12 between the islands caught most of our fish there. went out sat night by the islands same area same story, no keepers. i dont keep gills under 7in. so someone less picky might be satisfied with whats there 4-6in. gills and perch. it will pick up soon i hope good luck

[COCKROACH69]

a few friends & i are going up to lake messauke(sp?) & bud lake area the weekend of feb. 16th-18th...
last year we came back with no fish think the cold weather kept us from moving around much on the ice any information on missauke & bud or any other lakes in that area we should try please help me i would like to catch some fish up north this year
thanks dan

[redneckman]

Fished Lake Missuakee today for 2 hrs. 7inches of ice with about 2-3inches of snow on top. We only had 2 flags and missed them both. Could not jig up any gills, perch, crappie, or walleye. Few others out didnt ask how they were doing.

Redneckman

[JJ Mac]

Just 24 hours before the big chill coming up, that should finally...finally help with some ice development, mother nature dumps 5 inches on us overnight. For those of us up here in the NW snowbelt, we're pretty much screwed. :rant:

Time to join a friggin' bowling league I guess.

[COCKROACH69]

i guess now....... we are thinking about going up to fish the glen lakes. is the ice good on the glens yet? & is it a good place to ice fish i don't know anything about the glen lakes so HELP!!! please
if we can find a place to rent on the lake we might do that if you guys say the fishing is good

[redneckman]

Lake Missaukee has 8-10inches of ice when we went out today. Only cuaght 1 3" perch. Saw a lot of tiny perch and gills and could not find anything decent sized. Not many people out today.

Redneckman

[HOangler]

Would like to know the ice conditions on either one of these lakes. Anyone runnin around there on atv's? Or is it the slush plague?

[HOangler]

Checked ice there tonight. Had nice solid 9" in one spot. Not too far from there in the slush, there was barely 3". Water gushed up almost another 3" when my spud punched through. I thought "boy, there's going to be a lot of water on top of the ice by the time that stops gushing." Might be 3 shanties on the lake, but did see tracks from a quad.

[MGV]

Need a report on Hamlin Lake Upper and Lower. Need ice conditions. Heading there from Grand Rapids on Saturday. Would like a heads up if need to change plans. PM me if need be.

[Crooked Dave]

Fished both today. Burt had 2" of solid blue ice and then about 3" of the white slush ice. Plenty for foot travel, but I here a few quads went in again over the weekend. Crooked was 3" solid, 3" slush ice, with some areas of that just being slush. Windy as heck, and blowing some of the snowcover off, but I think we are pretty much foot traffic / snowmobile traffic only. Tight Lines

[tibs36]

how are they doing at ovid, taking our fish and wildlife club out saturday and would like people to catch a least one each. If not doing so hot where is a good place around east lansing to produce or at least catch some small ones. Most of these people have never fished or ice fished in their life, want them to have a good time

[Jari22]

I'll hopefully be going up next week... I know anything can happen between now and then, but any word on how the ice has been? Thanks...

[redneckman]

If you plan on heading to the Cadillac area to fish expect around 14inches of sticky heavy snow.

Redneckman

[shanny28757]

Any reports for houghton/higgens lake, maybe even lakes cadillac or mitchell? Looking for a lake to fish in the houghton lake area this weekend. If not on the hard water (or at least semi hard) maybe i'll dust off the fly rod and go for some steelhead.

[redneckman]

Up in the cadillac area there is a lot of slush. There is about a foot of snow/slush you have to walk through. I'm young and I couldn't pull a shanty but only a few hundred yards.

Redneckman

[fishwiz]

Any update on these lakes?? Looking at heading in that direction soon.
Ice conditions?? Can you even get a 4 wheeler to work on top of
the snow/ice/water crust??
Thank you in advance for any info...

[Treetop]

The south end of East Grand Traverse bay has been locked up for almost 3 weeks now. See a quad and a snowmobile going out there today off Bunkerhill Rd.