Holland area ice

[buckslayer]

Any info on Holland area ice fishing my sons ice hockey team is in a tournament there next weekend and 3 of the fathers are hard ice guys. Our first game on Sat. is not till 2:40 p.m. so we have some time to burn (beats sitting around hotel). If ice does'nt work they are talking about chasing rabbits. Anybody know of good state land or private in that area. Thanks Buckslayer

[bigsid]

buckslayer,
About the only thing in the Holland area itself that I can think of is Lake Macatawa. I think safe ice may be a stretch even by next weekend. but it's a thought. Here's a link to American Tackle Outfitters. www.americantackle.com They're usually pretty up to date on things.

Good luck...Sid

[buckslayer]

Thanks Bigsid, anyone else ???

[karg10]

I could help you out with some hunting areas if you decide to do that. Send me a PM if interested. I would think the ice on Lake Macatawa should be great by this weekend though.

[hoyt03]

All the local lakes here around Holland should be good to go by Sat (1-22).
Lake Mac is a very close to Holland with lots of bluegills up towards the east end (near Collins Park).
Also, Hutchins will be good for bluegills & pike on tipups..This lake is south of Holland 20 minutes or so (Fennville).
Goshorn Lake can be good for gill's on the west end by the boat ramp right at first light & just before dark. This lake is sw of Holland 10 minutes or so.
They are all on your area map...mostly gill's with a spec now and then... ;)

[ybone]

i'd have to agree with hoyt. i've got good ice by me, south of holland 10 miles. not sure about the call to American Tackle outfitters though, i called there 2 weeks ago and they said they're closed until spring. go figure.


pm me if you need any direction help, to lake mac or Hutchins.

[buckslayer]

Thanks for all the info guys. We have hockey practice on Thursday nite and I will talk to the fathers who are intrested but I am leaning toward ice fishing since we have not had much on this side of the state so far. On lake Mac any lure or bait or color (tear drops, spikes, mousees,) that works better, how about depths of water to fish. Any local bait shops open near lake?

[hoyt03]

American Tackle is on the north side of Lake Mac. They should be open
on Sat. unless something has changed as stated by Ybone..They will
have the bait for you, I usually stick with mousees & waxworms.
Bring along small #(14) glow in-the-dark tear drops (moon glitter).

I use these all the time and do very well compared to the folks using the
larger teardrops without glitter or glow to them.

[buckslayer]

Anything new to report on Lake Mac. We have 4 guys (fathers) from team going out on Sat. a.m.

[hoyt03]

As of 1-20, Lake Mac was unsafe according to the locals, I haven't been out there. The other local inland lakes are fine, I checked them out last night and they were being fished.