Higgins Report

[skeets]

Talk to a guy who was up there yesterday (Thursday) and did pretty well on perch. I am heading up tomorrow and am wondering if there are any other reports.

[mkroulik]

Any news on Smelt would be appreciated also. I've never fished em through the ice, and I think I am going to head up this weekend. How far is the walk out to Smeltville?

Mike

[Mitch]

The walk to smeltville is not very far at all, just off the launch.

Mitch

[wild bill]

lets just hope theres still good ice come next saturday when we have our smelt trip planned.:)

[gomer]

just got back from higgins. thursday afternoon fished perch for a couple hours and prolly got 70 or more between 3 guys but only a dozen er so over 7 inches. Set up in smeltville at about 6 or 630 and fished till 10. got 40-50 smelt between 3 people. Overall the fishing was pretty slow, but it is always a good time up there.

[Backlash]

I'll be headed up on Sat. the 28th to try my luck on the perch and smelt. Have no fish finder so will be going at it blind. Wish me luck, prolly be the last time for ice fishin for me.:(

[garyrodbender]

Backlash,good luck to you. For the smelt, just grab an open hole in amongst the crowd,shoulndt need an auger for smeltville.Start at the bottom and work your way up as it gets later.They like the light too.We caught a couple lakers out past the 2nd break on wednsday.We were bouncing lead/minnow-parts. Havent seen you since houghton gills.Again good luck.

[Marq]

We will also be there tomarrow. Time ? Will be fishing some of the day and most of the night. Wakie is on ch. 7. Marq (a.k.a.flatrock) son David (a.k.a otter). We used glow in the dark tear drops. Keep them charged at night the smelt seem too like that. 5 on a line a foot apart on a loop. Makes it easer for them to grab the bait. Good luck everyone. M.

[Stormrider]

I fished higgins for smelt three days this week fish until midnight each night and I am going tonight. I have only caught 81 smelt in 18 hours of fishing. It has got to get better. Last year I would average 300 to 500 a night. It has got to get better I am marking alot but they seem to shut down quickly.:(

[salmonslammer]

Hey marq......ya Mullet:D Are you going up next weekend to higgens??? going to have an outing next weekend up there. Check the outings forum..


Off to fairhaven to chase the perch today..and probably get the first sunburn of the year. YEAH!!!


Buddy of mine uses like a #18 fresh water shrimp fly and says that he kills the smelt on them...We'll see next weekend. Anyone else use flys for smelt. I have a sabuki rig that I am going to try next weekend.

[Stormrider]

I have talked to quite a few people out on the lake maybe we have run into each other. Here's my smelt buggy
:p
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/538/5098Higgins_480_pix.jpg

[Marq]

Hay slammer yea good possablity on next weekend. Its supose too get cold by then with snow possable. Good luck on those perch.We are leaving at 230.Will post how we did tomarrow after I wake up. Later Marq.

[Can't Touch This]

It was hot for us one night. A shanty with 2 laterns is a must by what i seen. Because, it seems we were the only ones getting into em good, but, the people near us were getting into them pretty good. We got 120 one night between 2 people in about 3 hours, all on halis. We had 2 laterns going from sundown on, i think that really got them active, no underwater light, as long as you have a shanty to keep the light in, so, it goes down your hole, you don't need one. I think another thing is too many people are thinking the only spot is off the west boat launch, when, the WHOLE dropoff around the entire lake(or at least the north part) is as good as the west boat launch. We were about 2 miles north and east of it, right off the north shore, in 45 fow, it seems once you got past 45ft, the numbers dropoff, or, they aren't active the deeper you went, you should set up from 35-45 fow. I think another must is a hali jig, i love it caught it has a small hook, but it's a big jig, that will get you down quick. Use a VERy lite pole, they actually bite pretty hard, but, that is when they hit it, then back up, then they hit it again, and suck it in, always wait after that initial hit, until they suck it in to set the hook.

[Stormrider]

Went to Higgins and fish in 25' one of my favorite smelt spots and caught 112 smelt tonight from 7:00 till 11:00. Something bad must have happened there were quite a few rescue vehicles at the west launch. Someone said that a person had been hit by a truck or a quad. All I know their was a lot of people out on the ice with there cars and trucks. I think if I go back it will be through the week.

[Stormrider]

Here is a couple of pictures I took will I was setup in smelt Ville on Higgins.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/5098Image016-med.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/538/5098Image015-med.jpg :cool: