WEEKLY MICHIGAN FISHING REPORT FOR DECEMBER 4TH 2023

December is here and so is the winter fishing. This time of year can be tough. The water temperature plunges to below 45 degrees, skim ice can make casting hard, weed beds die, and guides on rods freeze up. For those crazy enough to fish during this time of year, this report is for you! (There are rumors of anglers getting out on sketchy ice north of Houghton Lake!)

LAKE ERIE

WALLEYE: Anglers are catching walleye trolling planer spreads with hard baits over hard structure and reefs. Some anglers opt for faster troll speeds with Bandits to cover water, whereas others opt for slower troll speeds with Smithwicks. Colors depend on water clarity but tend to include Perch patterns or Chromes.

PERCH: Anglers are catching Perch on Perch Rigs (Spreader Rigs) or Perch Pounders tipped with Emerald Shiners. Anglers tend to fish between 16-25 feet of water. Successful Perch anglers are mobile and bounce around until they find the size of fish they are looking for.

Water temperature is right around 40.

DETROIT RIVER

WALLEYE: Anglers are still catching Walleye jigging 1 oz. jigs with a minnow style plastic, tipped with an Emerald Shiner and a stinger hook. The bite seems to have slowed down at the Detroit River. Anglers are having to grind to get bites. Successful Walleye Jiggers will target high percentage areas such as depth changes, current speed changes, structure changes, mud lines, and main river island points. Don’t be afraid to make a drift a couple times with different colors before moving spots.

LAKE HURON PIERS

BURBOT: Anglers are catching Burbot on Perch rigs (Spreader Rigs) tipped with Emerald Shiners or Shad. Anglers are concentrating their efforts on piers in the Saginaw Bay side of the thumb. Anglers also note that when schools of Shad are swimming around the piers, the fishing is better. Anglers tend to favor night fishing.

LAKE TROUT: Anglers are catching Lake Trout on several piers along the thumb and along the main Lake Huron. Spoons, Spinners, and Grand Haven rigs with Emerald Shiners or Shad tend to be most effective.

WHITEFISH: Anglers are catching Whitefish along the main lake piers on tungsten ice jigs tipped with Waxworms. Anglers tend to say, “The rougher the conditions the better.” Anglers tend to fish on cloudy, rainy or snowy, and windy days. Sometimes night fishing can be effective as well.

Water temperature is in the low 40’s.

INLAND LAKES

BASS: Anglers insane enough to fish for Inland lake bass this time of year have minimal success, however they tend to stay mobile and fish slow moving baits on deeper structures, remaining living weedbeds, and laydowns and docks on sunny shorelines. Slow Jerkbaits, Bladebaits, slow flatsided crankbaits, slowrolled swimbaits, and ned rigs are most effective.

CRAPPIE: Anglers are catching Crappie on Shallow sunny shoreline structure, suspended over deep water, or in remaining living weedbeds. Anglers fish slip bobber rigs with lead jigs and minnows.

Water Temperature is in the upper 30’s.

Stop at THE BAIT SHOP for great deals and everything you need for December fishing!

Good luck fishing! Be Safe!