Higgins smelt

[SwingShift]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/0011.JPG

Had another great night at Higgins. Yummy!!!!!!!!:corkysm55

[Barothy]

Saturday night, 6:00 - 1:00 AM, 3 guys = 170 smelt.

Not a great night but fun. Steady action tapering off in the early a.m.. Vex was filled all night long.

[kcfishin]

Headed up to Higgins Friday night through Sunday morning. Had a group of six guys. We fished off the North State Park, but to the west of the main group of guys.

Friday night was sort of slow. We only ended up with 70 smelt, while fishing from 10pm to 4am in the rain. Thats the first time I've ever used my Shappell as an umbrella and she performed quite well. My dad has a Clam Fish Trap and the thing leaked like a spaghetti strainer.

Saturday night was a different story. We made it out at about 3pm and cooked lunch on the ice. After a 1/2 hour with no smelt in our old spot from Friday (44 feet of water), we decided to move about 100 feet into 22 feet of water. We drilled our holes, looked down to the bottom, and HOLY CRAP! Look at all those smelt. Probably 100 smelt directly under our shanties. From about 4pm to 11pm we managed just over 411 smelt, then on the way back in, I found one in my pocket, so I guess that makes 412!

After dark, we were catching smelt one after another about 1-3 feet below the ice and occasionally one would come up into the hole. The green light under the water definetely helped bring them up.

I always look forward to our yearly Higgins trip. I think we benefited this year by coming in March instead of February.

The slush was pretty bad, bad enough that we left the Gator on the trailer and walked out.

[bloo_gilz]

I'm coming up friday night.
Are they still coming in strong ??
Also, how much ice is still there?
Appreciate any/all replies...thank you-Mark:fish:

[swampbuck]

lots of ice and perch.

[Flagup]

Fished last night in 24 fow off the north state park plenty of smelt coming in from dark till we left at 11 ,the depth finder was marking fish from top to bottom.The bite was lite and slow for the amount of fish we saw in the hole and around the the light.Plenty of ice (12 inches)not alot of slush about 2 inches in spots, saw quads out there but we choose to walk out most people did.

[bloo_gilz]

Flag up-
Welcome ! & thanks for the post.
How many did you end up with ?

[Flagup]

We only ended up with about 20 my wife and I, she said they were only bitting my line. They were biting very lite.Going to give it a shot tonight Fri .

[Flagup]

We will be off of North state park (west)in a green otter with a snowmobile come buy and say hi.

[SwingShift]

I went to north state park today to check out conditions for tonight and
it looks good. Access is good at the park and the west access but not so good on east bay. The DNR was handing out tickets for people that did not have their state park stickers but not for the launch stickers.They also had officer out on the ice checking the fisherman so keep it legal and have a good time. Hope to see you there tonight. I'll be to the left of the launch in the Frabill trekker with the green glow under the ice with a group. Just look for the fish on the ice.:D
SwingShift

[stinger63]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/0011.JPG

Had another great night at Higgins. Yummy!!!!!!!!:corkysm55
Looks mighty tasty good job.

[SwingShift]

Went to north state park last night and could not make them eat. They were down there by the thousands but just not ready to eat. We only caught about 50 between 6 of us.:( We did have two people stay out longer, so I hope they did better when we left. Oh well, we had a great season none the less and its that time of year to chase the jumbo perch,
so I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for another week of cold temps.
If any of you were in the big group of the west side of the launch, I hope you did better.
SwingShift

[Flagup]

Also went out till about 11 on Fri night,they had other things on there minds than eating.We saw alot in the hole and around the light not many takers though.

[kcud rellik]

Would you be allowed to use a minnow trap through the ice to catch smelt?

[SwingShift]

I know you are not allowed to use smelt nets on Higgins or the connecting
rivers , so I dont believe minnow traps would be legal either. But I'm not
a DNR officer. They might come up with several answers depending on who you talk to. Best bet would be to find out before you try.

SwingShift

[bucketbuster]

fished from 5 to 12am out from the north launch and to the west. the bite was slow and didn't start until after dark. until then only a few small perch. did manage to pick up enough for a couple of dinners. if going please don't forget your creepers, seen 2 or 3 guys really bust thier butts. the ice was i great shape and up to 12 in. thick. seen a group off the west launch but a lot more to the south then i've seen them. wondering if they were fishing perch or if that is where they have been fishing smelt. anyway they were all grouped up but would think you would transportation to get there

[#1Shot]

I was one of those guys fishing in that group, and yes we were fishing smelt. Lets just say I took my brother (whose not a big fisherman) whose 12 years old and myself and in three hours (5pm-8pm) of fishing we caught 100. Nothing fancy, hooks and wax worms, pink spikes, 25 FOW. They just turned on around 6pm with the front that came in, im talking doubles and Triples. Last time i was out it was -20 degrees and i caught 4 smelt, got a ticket....so i was DUE!!

For the record..the ice is MOney but by next weeknd bring out the 2x4's and wadders to get out onto the ice ;)

[SwingShift]

Went to Higgins Monday night and managed to get just over 100 between
2 of us. They were still biting light but with the right gear it can be done.
There is still about a foot of solid ice and a couple inches of crust to keep
you from falling on your butt. We fished out from the North State park in
22 feet of water. We are suppose to get rain and 50 degrees on Wednsday
and Thursday so we will have to see how much damage that does to the
ice. For now I fish day to day and enjoy every trip out on the ice that mother nature offers me. It was 5 degrees this morning and making ice:) .
Here's a pic of my share of the smelt. Not a ton but delicious all the same.

SwingShift

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/0031.jpg

[bucketbuster]

#1 SHOT
thank you for the info. been fishing there 5 to 10 times a year for 5 yrs. and would really like to know more about fishing the lake and the hows and what to use but its 2 hrs. from my house and most of my time is spent on the sag. river or the bay. started out fishing the west side then switched to the north a couple of years ago.

[Kearly Shuffle]

Nice show, guys! I used to fish smelt through the ice in NE Lower, and we had a blast. We found that you obviously don't catch as many as when your dipping, but man....Some of those you catch throught the ice are DANDIES! We caught some 8-9 inchers. Almost need to fillet those bad boys! :D

[Wishn I was fishn]

Please keep me posted on the ice conditions. I'm considering a trip this weekend. Ive got fri thru sunday off and am hoping to get out.

[patcheroo]

Hey Josh, I am planning on going up Sat morning. Maybe I'll see you there..................Patch

[woodie slayer]

i'm going to take a run over tomorrow morning.i got a pole rigged for perch but i'd like to know how to rig for smelt.will post ice conditions friday evening
thanks

[swampbuck]

keep the perch rig and hit 10-15 foot of water. theyre better than smelt anyways

[ImaRedneck]

I met BigNoccursG after work Friday night. The ice is fine,a little slushy by shore but at least 10" on the lake. IMO The daylight hour bite was better than dark. You could see when it was a bite or a swipe. My rig was a glow hali on the bottom and four rat finkees tied about every 10" above it. We were to the left of the launch in the bigger pack. I ended up with 83, most were pretty good size compared to years past. I'll try to post the pic, maybe somebody can add it if it doesn't. Damn this wretched technology!
Redneck

img]http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Smeltville_07_003.jpg[/IMG]

[theeyes]

Here you go ImaRedneck

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Smeltville_07_003.jpg

[mkroulik]

2 uf us fished from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, Friday night, and took home 460 smelt. We caught probably 430 of them from about 8:00 PM on. The action for us was non stop.

Mike

[Wishn I was fishn]

I ended up not making it up. Sounds like I missed out huh? Glad you guys were succesfull. How did you do Patch? I'll see everyone on the open water soon.

[patcheroo]

Went up and got 210 of them :D ...................Patch