WEEKLY MICHIGAN FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 29TH 2024

As we enter February, the longevity of our ice fishing season looks grim. Temperatures are projected to hover above freezing for the length of the forecast. Temperatures given on these forecasts are changing every day, but tend to show warmer temperatures. Fortunately, the deep freeze of a few weeks ago still lingers, allowing anglers to go out even with warmer day time temperatures. Here’s the latest fishing report:

LAKE HURON PIERS

SALMON/STEELHEAD: Anglers are catching Salmon and Steelhead off Lake Huron piers, taking advantage of little ice. Anglers are fishing jigs with a clump of waxworms off a bobber, spawn bags off a bobber, shrimp or shad off of the bottom, and spinners, spoons, and jerkbaits. Anglers report early morning hours and rainy weather days.

STEELHEAD RIVERS

STEELHEAD: Due to snow runoff and rain, rivers across the state are high and turbid. Conditions from river to river change on a daily basis, but experienced Steelheaders say that all the runoff and rain will probably trigger an heavy early run.

In high, turbid, fast, cold water conditions, Steelhead will stick close to cover and stay out of the fast current. Find “Frog water” which is slow, swirling water where fish can comfortably sit.

Anglers are fishing jigs tipped with waxworms, beads, spawn bags, marabou jigs, or flies off a bobber, and spinners, spoons, or jerkbaits. In turbid water situations, brighter colors, glow and UV patterns, and scented lures work better. Experienced Steelheaders will change presentations, depths, and colors often, as well as thoroughly fish areas with multiple casts to the same hole or piece of cover. Expect the bite to get better as the weeks progress.

LAKE ST. CLAIR

Over weeks past, anglers have complained about dirty water and lackluster fishing, but lately the water has been clearing and the Perch bite has picked up. Many anglers are getting good numbers of keeper Perch in a variety of locations. As with any water body, please monitor ice conditions before and during your fishing expedition.

PERCH: Anglers are catching perch with small beaded spoons and jigs tipped with small Emerald Shiners or Emerald Shiner heads. Due to ice conditions, most anglers fish an average of about 5-8 feet. Metro Beach and Anchor Bay tend to see more angler pressure, with anglers getting consistent keeper Perch.

Some anglers report a more productive bite in the low light hours, but the bite turns off when the Sun comes out.

As of Friday the 28^th, anglers report 7 inches out from Fairhaven.

As of today, the ice is very sketchy if fishable at all, fishing on ice at lake St. Clair is not recommended.

INLAND LAKES NORTH OF SAGINAW RIVER

North of the Saginaw River, anglers were getting out over the weekend on sketchy ice, some reports say that there’s ice near grayling and other up-north areas but due to warm temperatures those reports are probably dated. Please exercise extreme caution.

OAKLAND COUNTY INLAND LAKES

On Friday the 26^th, ice reports showed ice on local Oakland county lakes varied between 4 and 8 inches of thickness and people were shuffling out. As of now, not many anglers are testing their luck on the thickness. Hopefully another freeze will lock them up, but until then they will be unfishable.

Thank you to the Bait Shop for help with the report! Be sure to stop in and stock up on live bait and other essentials!