Higgins Lake

[HoytRLWinstonGuy]

Does anyboby know what the ice conditions are on Higgins?:fish:

[bluekim7]

I would imagine it would have to be safe after this weekend with the temps we are supposed to be getting.

[swampbuck]

its good to go, 4-6 inches. theres a few shantys out

[live2fishdjs]

FWIW-It is my understanding that you should be able to walk anywhere at this point. I have a buddy that lives up there and we chatted about it this AM.

[Dave200516]

Where's some good spots to fish this lake. I have some property on the south side near the south state park. I have only fished this lake twice, as a kid, in the summer with no luck. I want to go after perch and some of the "monster" pike that are supposedly in the lake.
Any info would be appreiciated.

[mikey]

FWIW-It is my understanding that you should be able to walk anywhere at this point. I have a buddy that lives up there and we chatted about it this AM.
I don't want to sound redundant, but do you mean anywhere like the dropoffs at the north state park???

[mjmmusser]

I know that the west side boat launch had 3-4 inches last Thursday. I would imagine that their is close to 5-7 inches there now. When Higgins freezes, it puts ice on FAST.
Will be there Friday night to check it out again. This time I'll bring my rods.

[CHUCK n BUCK]

I imagine the smelt grounds are pretty good by now? Anyone been trying for them? I'm thinking about heading up Friday night, maybe before these serious cold temps get here Sun, Mon., Tuesday.

What we need is to be able to drive quads out to the laker grounds. I'm thinking that may be possible after this coming weekend!!

This bitter artic air that are about to get may slow the fishing down to nothing but before or after the fish may bite a little better, who knows.

[Can't Touch This]

I always wondered how people caught trout there in winter(or in summer for that matter) have tried several times with no luck. In winter, we tried tip ups about 30-50 feet down in 40-80 fow with grey minnows with no luck, also tried some jigging. In summer we tried tolling(without riggers since we don't have any) and jigging with no luck. I have fished it many times(family cabin on lake), and get I can get into some very good perchin, occasional good sized smallies and pike and rock bass like insanity by the drop offs. Obviously, the Higgins lake smelt fishing in the winter is phenominal, we just just off our beach in about 40 fow.

Can anyone shed some light on how to tap into the supposed great Higgins lake trout fishery???

[JJ Mac]

Can anyone shed some light on how to tap into the supposed great Higgins lake trout fishery???

You might consider entering the upcoming tournament and finding out whatever you can.

[Cpt.Chaos]

I always wondered how people caught trout there in winter.Can anyone shed some light on how to tap into the supposed great Higgins lake trout fishery???

I think I may be of some help herre. First, catch a bunch of those delicious smelt. Then head out to the deep water, 100'+, send your now dead smelt all the way to the bottom on one line, and a live one on the other. Sit, wait, and kick back for a spell. I have had better success with just leaving a dead smelt a 1' off of the bottom. You have to use an egg sinker with a stop, so when the laker grabs the smelt, the sinker falls to the bottom and it feels no resistance(or minimal resistance). Do not be afraid to go to the deepest water you can find either. Also, every once in a while, crank on of your rods,----you will notice I said rods, way easier to use for lakers deep than a tip up---raise your bait 10' or so, sometimes this will trigger a strike. I have seen people pull their lines and get hit and catch lakers within 5' of the surface. I have also seen lakers on my vex, and then looking down the hole at them, follow my baits from the bottom. Hope this helps, good luck.

[HeavyF150]

Sounds like we might have a mini M-S group outing on Higgins this weekend. I'm headed up to my place on Thursday night, and hope to be fishing Friday evening for smelt. Never done it before, but am looking forward to it. I hear they can go a little bigger in size in that lake, how does one clean a larger smelt......the same way you do a little one????????

[swampbuck]

dave200516- your close to the right spot. the best pike area is around the edge of the sunken island in that part of the lake. decent pearch there also. you may want to consider spearing. I heard from the bait shop that someone brought in 5 with the biggest 48"-20+ pounds last weekend. And yes there are huge pike there, about 20 years ago I saw one that was speared that went 38 pounds

cant touch this- capt.chaos has some good advice, the only thing we do different is that we use tip-ups with 6lb test, just enough shot to get it down,and #12 or #14 trebles set up with a stinger. USE SMELT!

I plan on putting my shanty out this weekend, I have heard reports of pearch, whitefish, pike and rainbows so far, but I havnt heard of any smelt,it may be a little early. I havnt talked to any of the laker guys recently but they usually do pretty good at first ice. I will be going out to do some scouting in the next couple days. I will get back with what I see/hear.

[live2fishdjs]

I don't want to sound redundant, but do you mean anywhere like the dropoffs at the north state park???


Don't go running out and jumping up and down, but yes...use common sense and drill a couple holes/check with spud, but it should be fine to walk-out to that dropoff.

[Duck-Hunter]

I always wondered how people caught trout there in winter(or in summer for that matter) have tried several times with no luck. In winter, we tried tip ups about 30-50 feet down in 40-80 fow with grey minnows with no luck, also tried some jigging. In summer we tried tolling(without riggers since we don't have any) and jigging with no luck. I have fished it many times(family cabin on lake), and get I can get into some very good perchin, occasional good sized smallies and pike and rock bass like insanity by the drop offs. Obviously, the Higgins lake smelt fishing in the winter is phenominal, we just just off our beach in about 40 fow.

Can anyone shed some light on how to tap into the supposed great Higgins lake trout fishery???

My first time up there i caught 7 lakers and my buddy caught i think 8 or something. just fish the bottom in about 100'. We would have kept catchin them but the smelt were right under the ice and the lakers were small so we went back to catchin smelt

We are planing a trip up there within the next couple weekends.

[beer and nuts]

Easy does it....there might be ice out there but just 4 days ago, there was some open water toward the outer middle. Yup 5 inches give or take to the dropoffs BUT nothing is guaranteed. This weekend is your worst bet if you believe the weatherman--5-10 degree highs for Sat/Sun, I said HIGHS so the morning will be a tad colder, big artic blast coming in is what they said.

I heard of smelt being caught too and some perch as well, and I heard of a 27 inch brown. Laker fishing was tough last year as well so who knows what this year brings.

My advice unless your desperate to fish,wait a weekend and let it create some more ice...

[CHUCK n BUCK]

I am desperate to go fishing, I can't wait no longer:rant: !!!

Higgins Lake smelt is the best fish i've ever ate!!
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/medium/8617smelt_in_bucket.jpg

[barnacle bill]

some of you might want to rethink your plans as the ice on higgins is not as thick as one might think with all the cold weather. north end to just south of big creek up to 3.5" to 15' of water. west side boat launch has shelf ice 5" in 50' of water. 90 ' of water at boat launch 3" ice. snow cover is keeping the lake from freezing over real well. ok to go smelt fishing at the west launch , but don't go farther than other portables in the area. went out at 5:00pm and will be out smelting tomorrow nite. hope this helps. bill

[beer and nuts]

New news: heard there was approx. 2 inches of ice about 3/4 of a mile out past the west end launch, he actaully caught a couple lakers too, long walk. Perch report: Friend caught 150-200 perch yesterday at the drop off somewhere on the north end, only problem....he kept only 30 some fish with about half dozen around 9.5, all the rest to small. Ice was 3 to 5 inches he said.

[Scout 2]

Yes and there is some very thin ice out there in spots. I talked to some guys coming from out there yesterday. If you go use a spud and by all means use your head.

[beer and nuts]

Well, I've always used a spud just do to the fact my head tends to be too dull and frankly my wife says I'm not to "sharp". So by all means use your head but sometimes that ice on Higgins is quite hard!

[HeavyF150]

Well I'll be out there Friday afternoon/evening trying for those smelt. I'll bring a radio with me in case anyone else is out. Normal channel 7-0. Look for an all blue square portable somewhere on the north end.

Barnacle Bill, I'll be stopping to see you for a license for the wife, bait, and maybe a report sometime Friday morning. Gotta hit the SP office first for a new 07' sticker, I'm not donating the cost of a ticket to the general fund.......
Alan

[ice bandit]

were do you guy's park at to get out on to the ice?

[mjmmusser]

I'll be there. 3 shanties total. One silver portable, one blue trrap, and one small shappell. Channel 7 on the handheld it is. I'll be at the west side launch for smelties.

[#1Shot]

Does anybody think the fishing will be good this weekend on Higgins? Its going to be so Flippin cold! I hope the fish dont turn off, or it will be me out there in my shanty with Jim and Jack!! TGIF

[beer and nuts]

Jim and Jack do not mind the cold what so ever, matter of fact they tend to be better on ice!

Just went by the west end landing, three perm. shanties and a couple guys/snowmobiles standing at the landing. One perm out front of Phoenix party store area and I could see nothing else from the road end I looked out from.

Cold snaps usually turn off fishing but the problem I see this weekend is the wind, if its even close to any wind, it will be brutal out there with wind chill!

[SwingShift]

We fished the north shore for smelt Tuesday and caught lots but the ice was not good.(only about 2 inches). We fished east shore wednsday for
lakers and caught 2 and the ice was great out to the drop and 3 to 4 solid inches at 80 foot. Just dont get over confident out there, that water under that ice aint there for swimming this time of year. Good luck.:fish:

SwingShift

[pike man]

Took a ride up to the west side boat launch this afternoon. There were about a dozen shanties 50-60 yards out a couple of portables 200-300 yards out between the boat launch and Big Creek. I didn't fish, I was looking over the situation. There are snowmobiles running on the lake between shore and the dropoff. With the cold weather we are getting things should firm up. It got up to 2 degrees today. If you go out on Higgins be careful be very careful.

pike man:fish:

[ReddHead]

I'm heading up to smelt camp on Friday, February 9th and 10th. I'll be staying at The Great Escape. Can anyone tell me what the ice is doing up there? I'm hoping to take the quad to make getting on the ice easier. Any reports from this past weekend would be greatly appreciated.
Reddhead

[Duck-Hunter]

we are going to be there this weekend.

[davep215]

Fished out of the West end DNR launch Friday night, 4 inches of clear, good ice. A couple of guys even had sleds out there. Smelt bite was a little slow, but got enough for a meal. I have to believe its added some ice since Friday....

[CHUCK n BUCK]

Thanks for the report Dave!!

I've been putting off going up there do to the extreme cold temps but not sure I can take it anymore. Were thinking about tomorrow or Wed. night going up, but i'm still uncertain about bringing the quad.

[ReddHead]

Last year around the middle of March I was told by a source not to bring the quad to Higgins because there was only a few inches of ice and in bad shape. When we got there the ice was 10" thick and making it fast. I therefore take all of my equipment and will make the determination when I see it for myself. Hauling a ton of stuff on the ice isn't so fun. But on the same token I will always play it safe rather than sorry. I would imagine that with the cold and wind moving snow off the ice it should be pretty thick. I would like to hear if anyone fished it yesterday, Sunday, and know what the ice was running.

[grtlakes]

Will be up there Thursday morning, staying 4 days will have a radio on channel 7.