Higgins lake smelt

[Swampfoot]

Has anyone been on Higgins lake,or heard anything about the smelt fishing there over the last few days?Getting ready to head up there in a few hours,and want to know if the trip is going to be worth it.Any info will be greatly appreciated.Also need to know about the parking situation....heard the dnr is writing tickets,any truth to that?

[gomer]

Smelt fishing was slow for most people this weekend, although I heard of a few people doing decent away from the crowds (although it wasn't even very crowded).

Didn't hear of anyone getting tickets, but we drove out to where we fished (both west and north launches) so we wouldn't have to worry about it and also it was too dang cold to drag stuff out/in. I wouldn't recommend getting adventurous driving around in a truck out there yet though, the ice was 12-14inches where we fished.

[mbrooks]

They were biting well last week. Didn't get out over the weekend.

[Ferris_StateHunter]

hit or miss this time of year. they are easy to find, just finicky on the bite.

later in the year always produces better... If planning a once a season trip, I would hold off till later

[Doughboy]

FSHunter said it all. They are definitly there but not always ready to bite. A week ago at night they were top to bottom and feeding. Then Friday they bit early morning til noon then shut down and stayed close to bottom and lite biters at night. Last night again no early bites til 5:30 and then they covered the whole water column. Hope you get'em

[Wishin' I'm Fishin']

As a first timer to higgins for smelt we did really well thanks to the the members who gave some helpful hints. We were out saturday and started in 60 fow and not a fish, so I grabbed the vex and drilled holes until I found the sunken island in 20 fow. This was about 10 in the morning and the smelt started coming in, in waves. You would see them coming in from the shallows on the camera and you would catch a bunch until the big Laker cruised by. We caught them all day in waves and then just before dark they came in solid and lit up the vexilar like a Christmas tree. They hit great on Halis tipped with wax worms. Just a suggestion if your coming from elsewhere bring waxies with you, $2.90 for a 30 count is rediculous! Hope this helps, can't wait to go back, they are scrumptious!

[DocHoliday]

Hey Wishin Im Fishin
which sunken island were you on the one in the North basin or the South basin?

[Wishin' I'm Fishin']

Not real sure, being a first timer on Higgins didnt really know where I was at I was following a lake map. I can tell you I was probably 4-500 yards from what looked like a public launch with alot of shantys and vehicles. Sorry I hope that helps.

[Wishin' I'm Fishin']

Another thing I found odd is that alot of the smelt would hit the Hali jig and not the waxie. Also when we had the Aqua-vu in the water it seemed the smelt were spooked by the camera. We had tip-ups out with greys on them, not a fish. Do the Lakers not like Greys?

[LungBuster 21]

Another thing I found odd is that alot of the smelt would hit the Hali jig and not the waxie. Also when we had the Aqua-vu in the water it seemed the smelt were spooked by the camera. We had tip-ups out with greys on them, not a fish. Do the Lakers not like Greys?

They will take greys but much better to stick a lively smelt on about a #14 trouble hook

[walleye]

Another thing I found odd is that alot of the smelt would hit the Hali jig and not the waxie. Also when we had the Aqua-vu in the water it seemed the smelt were spooked by the camera. We had tip-ups out with greys on them, not a fish. Do the Lakers not like Greys?My camera seems to spook them too.

[DocHoliday]

Another thing I found odd is that alot of the smelt would hit the Hali jig and not the waxie. Also when we had the Aqua-vu in the water it seemed the smelt were spooked by the camera. We had tip-ups out with greys on them, not a fish. Do the Lakers not like Greys?

I usually use smelt for bait when fishing lakers if you don't have smelt grays are the next best thing. But we are in the midwinter slow period right now. Lakers will pick up, some of the locals are still getting them maybe you weren't in the right spot at the time. You have to be mobile if they aren't here you have to be willing to go elsewhere. And I don't blame the smelt for spooking at the sight of a camera that looks light a fish that is 10 times it's size. They are on the low end of the food chain even the perch will chase them.

[josheupmi]

The lakers love them live smelt.

[Mitch]

We had a hot smelt bite going this past Saturday morning for an hour before daylight, north basin, well away from anyone else...

After daylight pike and laker action was non-existant... Our only fish on a tip-up all day was a supersized perch that took a smelt.

We saw 3 trucks out on the ice... We were only sitting on 10 inches, not near enough for me to comfortably drive my vehicle on the ice.

Mitch

[Kelly Johnson]

Was out Sat and Sunday just off sunflower dr.

Fished 20-60 fow in increments and while I marked them all day long in waves they were pretty light and finicky on the bite.

Hali with a spike when they did.

Being new to the electronics I thought my machine was busted when we'd be in 50fow and not an open spot on the screen until 38:yikes:. Than they'd move on by and I figured it was the smelt:lol:

[owen selby]

Went out saturday and caught 62 off the west shore 16 inches of ice don't know about parking we parked on the ice 20 feet off shore went out to 65 foot did good considering we were drinking more than fishing herd they were doing better off the creek just north of the launch plenty of ice few trucks were out where we were north shore was about the same

[swampbuck]

started in 60 fow and not a fish, so I grabbed the vex and drilled holes until I found the sunken island in 20 fow. This was about 10 in the morning and the smelt started coming in, in waves. You would see them coming in from the shallows on the camera and you would catch a bunch until the big Laker cruised by.

Shallow water...imagine that!:lol::lol:

[rico1391]

ok, heading down to higgins for a little family trip this weekend. I don't have a vex or anything, any advice on how to get em without electronics?

[Scout 2]

ok, heading down to higgins for a little family trip this weekend. I don't have a vex or anything, any advice on how to get em without electronics?

Look for the crowds and start making holes. Just hope the crowds are not having a weekend beer bash. Or you you could try in an area where someone left all there trash when they left.

[rico1391]

any advice on depth? Oh, and hali jigs look to be the ticket, any specific colors?

[Ticketripper]

I use a white or green moon jig and sight fish them. http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=736&pictureid=4214

[swampbuck]

That reminds me........dont forget there is now a 2 gallon limit on smelt.

[gills]

DNR website info: 2 gallon limit starts April 1, 2009

[swampbuck]

your correct, I thought the 3 line rule was the only one delayed. I hope you guys put the hurt on them this year. They are destroying the perch fishing.

[Sportman1225]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/00211.JPG

A buddy, 12 year old junior fisherman and I went out last night, caught 270 smelt in 5 hours. Lots of action. great fun

[Ticketripper]

Good job. Bet it was a trip to remember. Any reports yet of daytime numbers?