help with fishing goals this year

[tommy_mo]

Hello- I was wondering it someone here would be kind enough to help me out with some hard water goals this year. Goal #1 is to land an eelpout through the ice. I've never caught one let alone seen one. I really just need a body of water that gives a novice a fighting chance to catch one. #2 Catch a whitefish through the ice. Pretty much the same story as the pout. I know there are some very large well know lakes to catch them. Is anyone willing to help with that? PM me if you are feeling generous. I live in GR and am willing to travel a few hours to get to the fish. Cheers. -Tom

[B&D]

For White fish I would say Higgens lake would be a good choice, I've never fished it for them but I know there are a good population in there, plus a good shot for a lake trout while you're at it.

[Skeeter]

Saginaw Bay is also a good spot to try for ice fish during the winter. Best to get out to at least 15 ft off Linwood to get them. Skeeter

[aslongasitpullsback]

Little Bay de Noc for the eelpout [a.k.a. Burbot] Afreind of mine goes there all the time too fish for Walleye [evening fishing]. An catches them all the time while fishing for the Walleye and Perch..... Little Travers Bay in Harbor Bay is another place for both the eelpout and white fish. If theres ice too fish. Pretty much all the natural northern lakes you can catch both. [Tourch,Elk,Mulet,Burt,Higgins ect...] Deep clear lakes...

Good luck
Rob

[y2ba]

tommy..when u do catch that eel-pout...before u decide hes too ugly to eat and throw him back down the hole...think of me:lol: i caught quite a few last yr in minnesota and threw alot of them back because they are pretty ugly. the guide then told me they are quite tasty:corkysm55:corkysm55:corkysm55 and he was right. they have some of the firmest white meat i have seen on a fish.

[sea nympho]

You must have read in-fish ice guide;) ! Ugly or not, burbot are VERY tasty, be sure to save a couple for the table. Looking at past years Master Angler reels, your best bet looks like traverse bays/bays de noc. Crystal & torch lakes are on there, too. I've heard of them coming out of the deepest parts of Muskegon lake through the ice, but can't confirm. Good luck

[krt]

I saw a guy fishing at Tawas after dark a couple of years ago. He was on the east side of the big pier & had one (burbot) on the ice.
I too have heard Higgins has whitefish. Seems that spawn works well in 100 ft. or more of water.

[tommy_mo]

Thanks for the tips. Now we need some ice!!!:rant: -Tom

[Cpt.Chaos]

I've caught whitefish and lake trout on dead smelt in 125 fow on Higgins Lk. before. As for burbot, the only place that I've ever caught them was Lake of The Woods, MN.

[JEKDUCK14]

Both, Burbot and whitefish can be caught in the eastern UP, No ice but seen many burbot caught in Monoscong bay, and whitefish can be caught in anybay on Lake superior.

[Crooked Dave]

While talking with JJMac and Dave at Young's Bait Shop in Alanson this fall, I mentioned how I had never caught a burbot myself, but was eager to hook into one. Sure a heck, at 2:30 that afternoon, JJMac netted my first burbot, a 23" that was pulled from Burt Lake. They sure are one ugly fish...but very tasty. From what I am told, Burt has a fair population of these, but I think for the mixed bag your looking for, I would recommend Little Bay De Noc. Whiteys / Burbot an Walleye all in the same day. Tight Lines

[JJ Mac]

Dave has it right, probably the best bet to have a good shot at both species in one weekend trip would be LBDN. February being perhaps the best time, when the ice runs south of Gladstone.

Other opportuninties that would be closer would include Torch Lake in Antrim county (if it gets ice, look for late season) Lake Charlevoix off of Hemingway point, or Grand Traverse/Little Traverse bays.

[tbone5587]

We target both whitefish and burbot, (eelpout) on Crystal Lake in Benzie County. We'll usually start out by catching some fresh smelt, then using a dead one on the end of a tip up, and continue fishing for either smelt or whitefish. We run on average about 1-2 burbot an hour that way, all the while catching all the smelt we can eat.