Five Channels or any of the others

[LSSUfishmaster]

Any one ice fish any of the ausable river lakes. Ive fished five channels for pike during the summer and done very well and I hear it only gets better through the ice. Any thing else worth targeting on five channels or any of the other lakes in that system?

[N.E. Outdoorsman]

There are more ponds above the dams just like at 5 channels. The bay below 5 channels is Loon Ship bay. There are Loud, Cooke, and Foot ponds that are near by. They ice in well and hold Pike, Walleye, Perch, Gills, and Crappie. Just make sure you stay clear of the river channels. That is usually open water, but can skim over to become nvitingly dangerous.

[Ausable Junkie]

Cooke, Alcona, and Loud are my favorites.

[Weekender#1]

All of the back bays of the AuSable impoundments are some of the best tip up fishing to be had but on early ice. The earlier in the season, it has been outstanding just packed with pike some small, some wall hangers. But be very careful of the current as skim ice forms only over the channel and you can get wet or worse. Tip up's are the ticket. I have my favorites and you can find your top spots.

[soggybtmboys]

Heading north in a few hours, just got off the phone with Wellmans, getting some reports trickling in here and there. First ice is around, but only at 2 inches or so. Going to scout my lake, 2.5 inches per my neighbor. I think it is gonna be a great weekend if I think it is safe enough to get on!:)

[leesecw]

I agree with the first ice comment. Later on in the year it gets slow. Foote, cooke, Loud and Alcona are also my favorites. There are spots to park along the many bays at the federal campsite areas but I would definetely reccomend four wheel drive for some of them. Loud dam is easily accsessable, so is moonshed bay. The east modern alcona park is plowed out to a certain point. That will be our first stop as we have a friend that has a cabin very close to that.

[outdoor junkie]

I grew up ice fishing Five channel qite a bit. Although all the ponds hold alot of nice pike. Five channel was always my favorite. Used to always fish it with my gramps who live d in Hale on Long Lake. Haven't fished it in five years, but we used to pull at least one 40"er out of there a season it seemed like. And countless plus 35". Good luck just be cautious. Not to mention really good crappie fishing in there.