Detroit River – A few walleye were caught in the lower Trenton Channel. Anglers were jigging a large minnow near the hot water discharge off Gibraltar. For perch, no big numbers were caught but some nice fish were taken around Rat Island.

Lake St. Clair – Ice is starting to form in the canals however there is no safe ice.

St. Clair River – Has good musky fishing especially in the North Channel. Most anglers are jigging but a few were using sucker minnows if you can find them.

Saginaw Bay – Ice is just starting to form however no safe ice has been reported. Anglers might want to try fishing the shallow cuts and canals or off the docks in the marinas for perch. Boat anglers heading out to Spoils Island were catching walleye and perch but open water fishing may not last much longer.

Kawkawlin River – Last weekend, anglers were open water fishing for perch but the river has just frozen over.

Quanicassee River – Is also starting to freeze.

Dec. 6, 2010

Conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment are seeking information about two bucks that were illegally killed in the Portage area between Thanksgiving and Nov. 28.

Officers believe that the deer were shot from a car using a handgun or .30-30 rifle, and are particularly interested in talking to anyone who may have noticed a suspicious or slow-driving vehicle with two or more people in the vehicle in the vicinity of Romence Road on Thanksgiving Day or near the intersection of Garden Lane and Lovers Lane on Nov. 28.

An 11-point buck was shot at 2:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day on Romence Road, and a 12-point buck was shot around 7:30 a.m. near Garden Lane and Lovers Lane on Nov. 28. Both animals were quickly discovered in the woods by conservation officers and police who responded to calls about shots being fired. Officers believe whoever shot the deer were going to return to cut off the antlers, but were likely scared off by law enforcement officers who responded quickly to the scene.

The deer were collected by conservation officers and taken to nearby meat processors. The venison from the deer was donated to a local food bank, and the antlers were kept as evidence in the case.

Anyone with information about the persons who may have illegally shot the two deer can contact the DNRE’s Report All Poaching 24-hour hotline at 800-292-7800. Information may be left confidentially. Monetary rewards are sometimes distributed for information that leads to an arrest. People with information can also call the DNRE Plainwell Operations Service Center at 269-685-6851, the Kalamazoo County Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or the Portage Police Department at 269-329-4567.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.

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Detroit River - Conditions have changed so few were out except for a couple anglers targeting bluegill and perch. Cold weather is producing some skim ice, but no safe ice to report.

Lake St. Clair - Some perch were caught near St. Clair Shores.

St. Clair River - Some nice steelhead and a few small walleye have been caught off the wall at Port Huron. Try minnows and spoons.

Lexington - Windy conditions shut fishing right down especially along the near-shore waters.

Port Sanilac - No pier report this week as fishing here also shut down as a result of strong winds.

UPPER PENINSULA

Keweenaw Bay - The coho, herring and perch bite were a bit slow but the smelt action was good between Baraga and Bucks Marina. As for lake trout, the bite was good one day and absent the next. Those able to catch them did so out from Pequaming and out on Newton’s, Farmer’s and the Big Reef in waters 90 to 315 feet deep. Old Mission and the Whirl-I-Gig were also producing a few fish.

Stanley Lake - Has seen a fair number of anglers targeting walleye.

Menominee - The ice was holding. Perch anglers are jigging in 50 feet of water.

Menominee River - Walleye have been caught at first light and also in the evening with the average fish in the 20 inch range. Fish the Wisconsin side near the Hattie Street Dam with a variety of colored jigs in all sizes. Walleye and a few whitefish were caught from the Sixth Street slip. Trout anglers are casting rapalas, yarn or spawn on the Michigan side where there is open water near Hattie Street. A couple brown trout and steelhead were also caught. Anglers are reminded that the possession limit for walleye is (1) fish from March 2nd through May 1st, 2009.

Little Bay De Noc - Still has ice however travel has been limited due to drifting snow. Anglers marked good numbers of fish but catch rates were a little slow. The better walleye action was near the mouth of the Escanaba River and the Center Reef. At Kipling, anglers were using tip-ups with sucker minnows in 30 to 40 feet of water while the river anglers were jigging rapalas and minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water. Lot’s of sub-legal walleye and some jumbo perch between the Narrows and the First Reef. Perch anglers reported the most consistency in 14 to 17 feet of water when jigging minnows and wigglers. Most of the jumbo perch were out deeper in 30 to 40 feet of water. Buckeye Cove still has some good pike spearing in 30 feet of water. The whitefish action slowed a bit but some fish were taken off Sand Point when jigging minnows and spawn in 80 feet of water.

Munising - Trout Bay and Munising Bay have good ice with a couple feet of snow on top. Travel conditions are difficult. Conditions can change rapidly outside the bay so extreme caution needs to be used. For Trout Bay, some limits of coho were caught when using cut bait however catch rates were not consistent. Those heading out north of Grand Island for lake trout need to use extreme caution. In Murray’s Bay, anglers are catching a few smaller whitefish. Fishing was slow off the river and the City Dock. The lucky ones took home a few coho, whitefish, splake and herring. Off Sand Point, anglers are catching a few whitefish, splake and burbot. Coho are just starting to hit off Sand Point.

Cedarville and Hessel - Fishing has been very slow in part due to frigid temperatures. Perch fishing has slowed in Cedarville, Hessel and Musky Bay. Anglers were using mostly wigglers in 12 to 14 feet of water and not having much success. A few small pike were seen. Fishing was slow in the Moscoe Channel.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Elk Lake - Few anglers have been out except for those targeting lake trout and whitefish. For lake trout, fish near Kewadin, Elk Rapids and the Whitewater Park while jigging Swedish Pimples with spawn or minnows in 80 to 140 feet of water. Fish up to 24 inches have been caught. For whitefish, try off Kewadin and Ringler Road in 30 to 50 feet of water. Herring were caught near Kewadin and Spencer Bay in 20 to 50 feet of water when using spawn or wax worms.

Skegemog Lake - Fishing pressure is still high for all species. Pike are hitting on minnows in 12 to 15 feet of water off the Baggs Road access site. Muskie spearing is still taking place but no fish were recorded. Anglers are fishing for perch off the Baggs Road access as well as in the northwest portion of the lake by the narrows. Try 10 to 15 feet of water with minnows, wax worms, wigglers or mousies and be ready to sort out the small ones.

Traverse City - As of this report, both bays had ice. Anglers were fishing Bowers Harbor for perch and whitefish.

Cedar Lake - In Traverse City had good smelt fishing.

Glen Lake - In Leelanau County still had ice with a few slush spots. The perch seem to be moving into the shallows to feed. Anglers did well near Burdickville and on Little Glen. Minnows just off the bottom did the trick.

Crystal Lake - The ice was holding and the smelt fishing was good.

Green Lake - Is still producing some smelt.

Betsie River - Steelhead are hitting on spawn or wax worms.

Lake Cadillac - Is treating anglers to panfish and pike.

Lake Mitchell - Is good spot for panfish and pike.

Manistee Lake - Ice anglers are catching some nice crappie off the East Lake Village Park. The ice is holding but caution needs to be used.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing was decent right after the recent thaw, and should get successively better in the next month as new fish move in each time we see warmer temperatures and higher water levels.

Hamlin Lake - Anglers are taking a mixed bag of panfish between the Wilson Hill Park and the Boy Scout Camp in 12 feet of water. Tear drops with wax worms just off the bottom worked best and bright colors stand out in the murky water. Try jigging with short strokes to entice the fish. Crappie are still hitting off Lincoln Road on the right day when using minnows hooked in the back just off the bottom in 30 feet of water. The pike have started to move into the shallows. Try the dense weeds in 5 to 10 feet of water off Layman’s or Sterns Landing.