WEEKLY MICHIGAN FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 22, 2024

With last week’s sustained cold temperatures, many Michigan Inland lakes grew up to 6 inches of ice or more! We’ll look at reports from these inland lakes as well as some big water reports. This week be sure to be careful after the mid-week warm up. Here’s the latest from this week’s fishing report:

LAKE ST. CLAIR

SPILLWAY: Spotty soft ice in between safe areas. Use caution.

HIDEAWAY HARBOR: Muddy water, safe ice around the shore.

SOUTH L’ANSE CRUISE BAY: Open water can be seen a few hundred yards from shore. This might be spotty as the week goes on.

METRO BEACH: Guys are fishing out in front of Metro Beach, Use caution the further out you go.

HARLEY ENSIGN: Open water at the end of the Clinton River Channel.

FAIR HAVEN: Lots of guys out on the water, many catching Perch.

As the week progresses and Michigan gets the warmer weather and rain, many of these areas could become unsafe. Please exercise caution!

PERCH: Anglers on St. Clair are fishing for Perch in shallow water on small beaded spoons and jigs with small emerald shiners. Many anglers will have both options rigged and fishing at the same time. Many anglers say dropping the spoon on the bottom repeatedly to stir up the bottom can attract nearby Perch.

SAGINAW RIVER

WALLEYE: Anglers are on ice in front of the Zilwalkee catching limits of Walleye between the 15-18 inch range. Anglers report a fast current but stable ice. As the week progresses and rain with warm weather is possible fishing on the river is not advisable. Please be safe and check ice conditions.

OAKLAND COUNTY INLAND LAKES

Many smaller inland lakes, such as Big Lake, Pontiac Lake, White Lake, and Crescent Lake have a solid 5-7 inches or more as of Monday. Larger Lakes such as Maceday, Cass, and Orchard have 5-7 inches around the edges but in the middle could be a little dicey. Use caution when heading to the middle of these larger lakes.

MACEDAY: Anglers are catching Lake Trout and Splake by spending a lot of time on the water and fishing a minnow on a “Dead-Stick” rod along side jigging a spoon. Out in front of the Boat launch is a popular place to fish but anglers are also fishing other shallow flats as well.

CASS: Anglers are catching Bluegills and Crappies in Gerundegut Bay, while anglers are still making their way to main lake points and coves to fish for Walleye.

PONTIAC: Anglers are having success fishing for Crappie and Bluegill in Canals and tend to fish for Pike and Crappie on main lake points and basins.

OTHER INLAND LAKES: Many anglers fish canals for Crappies and Bluegills, Main lake points for Walleye and Pike, Shallow bays with weeds for Bluegill and Pike. Be sure to bounce around and try new areas. Expect more reports next week.

WEATHER FOR THIS WEEK: Please exercise caution fishing in the following days during the warm up and the rain. Many anglers do not expect the ice in most smaller lakes to be completely gone due to the warm up, and many don’t think it will impact the ice much at all, but be sure to spud and be very vigilant through the coming days until temperatures drop back down to freezing over the weekend.

Thanks to the Bait Shop in Waterford Michigan for help with the report! Be sure to stop in and stock up for this ice fishing season!