Hodenple Dam

[blgoose44]

Does anyone ice fish here? I have fished it (very carefully) from a boat before. Always enjoy the lake, but with the current, I didn't know if it got safe ice. Thought I saw it mentioned in a previous post, but my search did not provide much. Thanks.

Hodenpyl.

[MSUICEMAN]

yes, it does get safe ice during a normal cold winter (when was the last one of those, i don't know). i have only fished it a couple times, but its an interesting place to fish, thats for sure.

[wally-eye]

Been fishing it a couple of times a year for "over 55 years or so. It is usually the last water to freeze in the area and is usually 2 to 3 weeks later to freeze than other surrounding bodies of water. CAUTION is the word of the day on that body of water........can be 6 inches in one spot than 100 yards away 3 inches and then 100 yards a different direction will be 12 inches......this is all due to the moving water.

It has a fair to moderate population of walleyes.....sometimes easy to catch although tough to find anything over 20 inches even though there are some pigs in there. Pike can be absolutely huge in there "IF" you can find them. Reports every year of 15 pounders taken are common. Lots of perch although mostly on the small size. Specs, "when" you can find them are usually on the larger size, I think my best there is 15 1/2 inches. There is also a fair to good population of catfish in there, seen them caught but I never have tried for them..............

That pretty much sums it up. When using the pond the best way to enter is to go thru the Sunrise Campground on the west side of the pond.........they have parking and usually don't charge in the winter........

Hodenpyle Dam Pond is a good one day then bad the next but a real fun body of water to fish.............lots and lots of structure. You literally can fish 28 fow and then just move 50 feet and be in 4 fow.........lots and lots and lots of submerged trees on both sides and they DO eat your baits at times.

Another tip if its early ice and you see someone come by on a snowmachine or ATV grab your life preserver.....because thats crazy as most years its the end of January for safe ATV travel.

Good luck............

Dan

[blgoose44]

I kind of had the feeling it might be a little dangerous to ice fish, but I enjoy the area. Last time I was there caught a fewmall walleye, but a lot of good size smallmouth. Thanks for the advice, to be safe I will probably look elsewhere. Been thinking about trying Ellis lake in that area.

[wally-eye]

I kind of had the feeling it might be a little dangerous to ice fish, but I enjoy the area. Last time I was there caught a fewmall walleye, but a lot of good size smallmouth. Thanks for the advice, to be safe I will probably look elsewhere. Been thinking about trying Ellis lake in that area.



Don't let my post scare you from fishing it. As most years by the 1st of January there is safe walkable ice. Yes I forgot to mention the bass, lots of smallies in the little pond past the narrows towards the dam.........

[blgoose44]

I'll tell you its probably safer for me from a shanty, than a boat. I am always waiting for one of those trees to get my hull, or lower unit. But no, you didn't scare me off on it, the lake just doesn't seem to be my wisest choice, I will probably have family with me.

[wally-eye]

I'll tell you its probably safer for me from a shanty, than a boat. I am always waiting for one of those trees to get my hull, or lower unit. But no, you didn't scare me off on it, the lake just doesn't seem to be my wisest choice, I will probably have family with me.


Ya BUT if you find the RIGHT tree in about 26 or so of water you can find specs half way down and eyes at the bottom.

If you go and like specs the BEST place to find them is out of the campground parking boat launch and out about 150 feet and then about 100 feet south. Theres literally a submerged orchard under water that they didn't cut when they flooded the pond after the dam was built. Tough fishing in the trees like that but some monster specs can be found if you find the RIGHT tree.......

Good luck..


Dan

[blgoose44]

That's good info, thanks for sharing. I would probably have blown right past there thinking that was too easy, so close to the launch. Thanks again.

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

The majority of the body of water isnt going to be fishable until january, but the 2 main spots we fish every winter we were on 8 inches of ice dec 9th last year, and will probably be fishing it in a week maybe 2 weeks at the most. as Dan said there are a lot of trees out there, but the only thing i will correct him on is that there isnt really an orchard out there. the spot he is speaking of it a group of stumps, and where there have been about 50 xmas trees dropped down. dont get me wrong, its still a great spot to catch, and if you have electronics, search around that area a little more and there are 3 other spots identicle to this close by.

Ive grown up on this body of water, my grandpa ran the dam for about 40 years, and I scuba dive out there every weekend during the summer everywhere from the dam all the way up past the campground and some spots up to m-115. the Specs get hot about 3 days per winter, and then they scatter out. there is another spot we pulled a lot of eyes over 20" out of last year, but it takes some moving around to do.
best advice for safe ice is check for yourself or people who have been out there. dont go off of bait shop reports because of how much the ice changes out there. I used to run the campground on the west side, and I lived down there and remember watching smowmobiles go across in the morning and see the ice open up to open water between them and shore by afternoon. . BUT these are people who dont care. once the ice gets good, if you dont venture too far away and just watch the ice, you should be fine. if you are walking out instead of taking a quad or snowmobile, you shouldnt have to worry about it because most people dont venture that far on foot to have to worry about it. If you decide to go fish there let me know. I have a map that I can email you and point out some spots that you can go and what places are generally unsafe areas so you wont have to worry about it.

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

oh another note too, a couple years ago xmas day I stopped down there to try to buy some minnows off of someone because shops were closed, and there was only one person there who had never fished there before and had caught a 42" pike about 10 feet away from shore on a tip up fishing over top of the boat launch slab.

[Silent River]

hey outdoor m i k e do you think you could also send me that map? I live on 115 between cadillac and mesick but I have never been ice fishing on it. My dad doesnt think its safe to go ice fishing there because of the moving water. But, if I had a map i would know where to go that would be great. And thank you for all your info you gave us about the lake.

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

give me your email address and I can show you the areas to avoid. Now remember though, just because im showing you on a map the areas that are the least safe doesnt mean everywhere else will be safe. there is still moving water everywhere out there so on a warm day that warm water will move down and could eat up ice on the whole pond. ive seen it happen. If your not familiar with it or have never ice fished it before make sure to take a buddy or 2 and throw a spool of rope in with you just incase. I use this when i fish anywhere for the first time, but especially here.

[Silent River]

hey i sent a pm to you