Action on the ice
DNR weekly fishing report
Lindsey Reynolds (left) of Gladstone and Angie Benson (right) of Baldwin, Wis. share a high-five during an ice fishing excursion on Little Bay de Noc on Saturday that was part of an event held specifically for women anglers. (Courtesy photo)
The weekly fishing report has resumed for ice fishing in select locations. Report information is collected by creel clerks; additional locations will be featured in beginning in March when more creel staff reports are available.
Upper Peninsula
• Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported slow fishing. While some anglers were able to catch a few, most reported little to no success. Some anglers did however report catching trophy-sized walleye. Anglers were jigging snap-style jigs baited with a portion of minnow on a treble hook. Additionally, anglers used set lines baited with live minnows, positioned close to the bottom.
Anglers targeting perch also reported slower fishing, although some reported extremely large perch caught near the “mud flats” and Kipling. Anglers fishing the shallows near Kipling reported an abundant number of yellow perch that were too small to keep. Minnows with jig heads and tungsten jigs tipped with wigglers or wax worms worked well for perch fishing.
• Les Cheneaux Islands: The holiday weekend was an extremely busy fishing period in the Eastern U.P. Anglers were fishing the Hessel area for perch, pike, and splake. Good numbers of perch were caught within Hessel Bay, but the majority were smaller-sized fish. While there were some splake sightings in Wilderness and Hessel Bay, very few were harvested. In Cedarville, there were very few people fishing Musky Bay, Moscow Channel, and Government Bay. Fishing activity in those areas was down compared to previous years. Anglers were mainly using walleye and perch minnows, along with spikes and wax worms.
Fishing tip: Ice fishing
When ice fishing, try drilling multiple holes and stay mobile. Fish often school tightly in winter, and if you’re not marking or catching fish within 10-15 minutes, moving to a new hole can greatly improve your chances. Covering water helps you locate active fish instead of waiting for them to come to you





