Higgins Smelt Report

[miker37]

Fished off the west launch last night, 1-25-08, form 7:30 till 1 A.M. 50 ft of water, 4 guys. Only caught 7 smelt all night. Guess you could say the bite was slow. Marked lots of fish all through the column but the little buggers just weren't hungry i guess. 6 inches of good black ice when ya get out there a little less closer to shore. It will only get better.

[stillfish]

I know everyone is in a big yank to get smelt, but you do better end of feb out in front of big creek. Right now they are staging just like salmon and in spring run up big creek to spawn. We have lots of time to fish for them il start in feb and march thats when we do good. good luck alll....

[beer and nuts]

Two words--FULL MOON!!

[swampbuck]

you might try moving around to other parts of the lake I would also suggest a little shallower I fish 20 fow

[Fishslayer5789]

Yeah, I suppose shallower water must be pretty good towards ice out. I generally fish between 55 and 70 ft of water and I do very well. I've never tried Higgins but plan to this winter. I fish Green Lake in 55 ft of water and Crystal Lake in 65 ft of water. On Cedar Lake in Leelanau County, I only get between 30-40 per night and those are actually in only about 35 feet of water because the lake doesn't get much deeper than that.

[swampbuck]

I set my perm. shanty in 20-25 fow for the season and catch smelt from the time I put it out until I bring it in. numbers run about the same as smelt town on average. I enjoy sight fishing.

[paul1976]

full moon or barametric pressure, somthing but they just wernt bitting. fished friday night saturday night 4 smelt.

[ih772]

I fished until 7:30 - 10:30 Saturday night and caught 3. I marked a few but most had lockjaw. I was in 45 FOW. Ice is 6" and clear off the west boat launch.