Hamilton Reef
02-15-2007, 04:20 PM
Walleye action continues to be strong on area lakes
http://www.mlive.com/sports/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1171554397246550.xml&coll=8
02/15/07 By Bob Kingsley CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Area ice-fishing action continues to be good this week as both Muskegon Lake and White Lake have produced walleyes in excess of the 11-pound mark, perch from the west end of Muskegon Lake and pike.
Earlier this week, Dale Witham weighed in an 11.23-pound walleye taken from the 30-foot depths of Muskegon Lake. Witham's Master Angler fish (29.25 inches long) was taken on a jgging Rapala-minnow combo while fishing the north side of the lake off Second Street.
White Lake has also produced a few "wall-hanger" walleyes like the 12-pound, 3-ounce trophy catch taken by Bryan Grover earlier this week. Grover was using a No. 5 jigging Rapala in 26 feet of water. In addition to the larger walleyes, a significant number of sub-legal fish in the 10-13 inch class have been caught and released.
Silver Lake has been very good for walleyes in the 15-20 inch class. Try using a jigging spoon or jigging Rapala sweetened with a half minnow in 13-18 feet of water. The half hour just before and after sundown has been productive.
Other walleye waters worth trying include Hardy Pond, Mona Lake and the gravel pits off from the lower Grand River.
Although you'll have to do some a lot of sorting, white belly perch (10-12 fish in the 8-12 inch class have been typical) are being taken from the sand dock area at the west end of Muskegon Lake. Try using a double hook setup baited with minnows during the morning hours. But the smaller (3-4 inch) perch continue to comprise most of the perch being caught.
Some large yellow perch are being taken from the 9-12 foot depths of Muskegon Lake. Try using a 3-4 inch pike minnow on either a "dead-rod" or with a tip-up. The east end of the lake has been productive and some big (although not numerous) perch are also being taken off Second St. The perch fishing hasn't been good on White Lake (most are running 3-4 inches) and the same holds true for Spring Lake and Mona Lake.
The pike fishing has been very good on White Lake (narrows) as numerous fish in the 24-29 inch class are being taken on tip-ups with golden shiners and jigging lures. The 25-30 foot depths of Second Street on Muskegon Lake have also produced many 25-28 inch pike this week.
The bluegills have been plentiful on both Muskegon Lake and White Lake, but you'll have to do some sorting in order to get enough hand-size fish for a dinner. Hamlin Lake has been unusually slow this year, but if you check out some of the smaller waters in the greater Twin Lake area, around Hesperia and in Newaygo County (Fremont area) you might discover some of those slab-side gills. Two keys to taking the larger fish are to get away from the crowds and to fish with ultra-light tackle.
The steelhead fishing on White Lake and Pentwater Lake has been generally slow this winter. An occasional fish is being taken on spawn with a Slammer tip-up, but the better action has yet to begin.
http://www.mlive.com/sports/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1171554397246550.xml&coll=8
02/15/07 By Bob Kingsley CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Area ice-fishing action continues to be good this week as both Muskegon Lake and White Lake have produced walleyes in excess of the 11-pound mark, perch from the west end of Muskegon Lake and pike.
Earlier this week, Dale Witham weighed in an 11.23-pound walleye taken from the 30-foot depths of Muskegon Lake. Witham's Master Angler fish (29.25 inches long) was taken on a jgging Rapala-minnow combo while fishing the north side of the lake off Second Street.
White Lake has also produced a few "wall-hanger" walleyes like the 12-pound, 3-ounce trophy catch taken by Bryan Grover earlier this week. Grover was using a No. 5 jigging Rapala in 26 feet of water. In addition to the larger walleyes, a significant number of sub-legal fish in the 10-13 inch class have been caught and released.
Silver Lake has been very good for walleyes in the 15-20 inch class. Try using a jigging spoon or jigging Rapala sweetened with a half minnow in 13-18 feet of water. The half hour just before and after sundown has been productive.
Other walleye waters worth trying include Hardy Pond, Mona Lake and the gravel pits off from the lower Grand River.
Although you'll have to do some a lot of sorting, white belly perch (10-12 fish in the 8-12 inch class have been typical) are being taken from the sand dock area at the west end of Muskegon Lake. Try using a double hook setup baited with minnows during the morning hours. But the smaller (3-4 inch) perch continue to comprise most of the perch being caught.
Some large yellow perch are being taken from the 9-12 foot depths of Muskegon Lake. Try using a 3-4 inch pike minnow on either a "dead-rod" or with a tip-up. The east end of the lake has been productive and some big (although not numerous) perch are also being taken off Second St. The perch fishing hasn't been good on White Lake (most are running 3-4 inches) and the same holds true for Spring Lake and Mona Lake.
The pike fishing has been very good on White Lake (narrows) as numerous fish in the 24-29 inch class are being taken on tip-ups with golden shiners and jigging lures. The 25-30 foot depths of Second Street on Muskegon Lake have also produced many 25-28 inch pike this week.
The bluegills have been plentiful on both Muskegon Lake and White Lake, but you'll have to do some sorting in order to get enough hand-size fish for a dinner. Hamlin Lake has been unusually slow this year, but if you check out some of the smaller waters in the greater Twin Lake area, around Hesperia and in Newaygo County (Fremont area) you might discover some of those slab-side gills. Two keys to taking the larger fish are to get away from the crowds and to fish with ultra-light tackle.
The steelhead fishing on White Lake and Pentwater Lake has been generally slow this winter. An occasional fish is being taken on spawn with a Slammer tip-up, but the better action has yet to begin.