Struggled on Houghton Lake

[Snoman2005]

I drove up from Clevand yesterday to fish the East Bay of Houghton Lake.  I went 2 for 5 on tipups.  Got a 25" pike home and threw back a Lg mouth.  Tried dead, salted smelt with no action.  All flags on shiners about 2 - 4' off botyom.  No hookups while jigging, but fishfinder showed fish checking it out.  We were in 10' - 13' fow.

First time fishing in East Bay.  What was I doing wrong?

[3300]

you know what they say about a bad day of fishing?

i have been reading that the bite is bad any where there is ice. must be the mid winter slump. makes you want to send the drones down.

[tazdevil300]

Lot of water to cover out there and find the fish.The more you fish it the better but for me I'm not taking time as lots of smaller bodies are just as good.

[Snoman2005]

I am having a group of guys up there in 2 weeks so was trying to scout the area. 

[DBGetch]

I fished near gladwin all weekend. Word on the ice was they were killin it before the thaw last week. Since then, it's been quite slow... Our fish count was further confirmation of that (secord lake, wixom lake)

[tazdevil300]

If your going for pike and walleyes I would go there but panfish lots bettter waters to fish

[ih772]

I drove up from Clevand yesterday to fish the East Bay of Houghton Lake.  I went 2 for 5 on tipups.  Got a 25" pike home and threw back a Lg mouth.  Tried dead, salted smelt with no action.  All flags on shiners about 2 - 4' off botyom.  No hookups while jigging, but fishfinder showed fish checking it out.  We were in 10' - 13' fow.

First time fishing in East Bay.  What was I doing wrong?

Yo didn't do anything wrong. Houghton Lake has been slow for me all winter. When it's windy like it was yesterday, the fish shut off. They'll come in and look at what you have to offer but they won't bite.

[Snoman2005]

Thanks IH772!  Good to know.

[RiverRanger]

you know what they say about a bad day of fishing?

i have been reading that the bite is bad any where there is ice. must be the mid winter slump. makes you want to send the drones down.

i went through the same thing on Saturday, and with i have been hearing lately we are not alone.

[SKIFFLAKEJIMMY]

you know what they say about a bad day of fishing?

i have been reading that the bite is bad any where there is ice. must be the mid winter slump. makes you want to send the drones down.

Yes Sir. There really isn't a bad day fishing.

[DickTate]

If you have a group of guys coming up there, you may all want to split up, until someone finds the fish or hire a local as a guide if there are any?

[bobkane23]

Headed up this weekend with a group of friends, will report our results...we plan to target pike and walleye

[Ice Scratcher]

Headed up this weekend with a group of friends, will report our results...we plan to target pike and walleye

Good luck, I almost was going to be there..

<°)))>{

[bobkane23]

Fished all day NE of the south boat launch about 3/4 of a mile out in 8-12fow.  Jigged about every lure you could think of and caught a few decent perch and a few pike.  We had about 30 flags the whole day and landed about half, all pike.  We never moved but I was fine with just catching pike all day.    Had a couple friends out in other spots of the lake but they didn't have much success.  One was in lymans shantys and caught 1 pike all day and another guy was out by middle grounds and only caught a couple pike.