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Author Topic: traverse bay  (Read 6624 times)

Offline jdgambler

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traverse bay
« on: Jan 27, 2018, 11:27 AM »
Any ice starting to form on the bays?
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline Caverla2

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #1 on: Jan 27, 2018, 12:06 PM »
Negative, not looking too good for ice this year on the bays. Had skim ice a few weeks ago but that's it.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #2 on: Jan 27, 2018, 01:49 PM »
the 2 week forecast looks pretty good.
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline Caverla2

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #3 on: Jan 27, 2018, 07:11 PM »
Did just notice that, it just takes so much for those things to ice over. I'd love to get out there this year and catch some monster perch!

Offline icebuckboy

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #4 on: Jan 27, 2018, 07:57 PM »
my brother-in-law is from Traverse City and says the rarely every freeze. must be the wind?

Offline Doeslayer

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #5 on: Jan 27, 2018, 08:30 PM »
The extreme depth makes it difficult for the water to remain cold enough.... East and West bays have over 400' depths...need extreme cold for lengthy periods to get em frozen...
Catch and release, into the grease!
"gotta be somebody needs some killin" ~ Major Payne

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #6 on: Jan 27, 2018, 09:05 PM »
keep your fingers crossed
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline Joe in T.C.

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #7 on: Jan 27, 2018, 09:52 PM »
Hopefully with the cold snap it could happen. Both bays stopped steaming several weeks ago and we were getting shore ice and skim ice at night until we got the warm weather.

If it can grab hold it will make ice fast.

To be "officially"  frozen West Bay has to freeze about six miles out just past Power Island. Of course we fish the years when the ice only makes it out a mile or two although it is not "officially" frozen.

1997 to 2002 the bays did not "officially" freeze. Other than that there has never been a stretch of more than 3 years with out an official freeze dating back to 1853.

2014 and 2015 were both great years.

Now I got myself reminiscing, here are a few pictures:


M-22 boat launch just south of Lee Point 2014


In front of Power Island on 18" of crystal clear ice  2014


East bay with over a foot of clear ice  2015


East Bay Laker  2015


Grand Traverse Resort and Casino from East Bay  2015

I will keep an eye on them and let you know if they go.

Good Luck All  :tipup:




Offline Doeslayer

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #8 on: Jan 27, 2018, 10:15 PM »
I got my vex charged my auger gassed up and my shanty ready to go.....all I need is the green light
Catch and release, into the grease!
"gotta be somebody needs some killin" ~ Major Payne

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #9 on: Jan 28, 2018, 07:30 AM »
thanks joe now I'm really ready
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline DaveSS1

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #10 on: Jan 28, 2018, 02:33 PM »
Hope you are all right.  Now that I have family back up there it would be nice to get out.  Last time I was out there was in 2004 and I remember fishing well into April.  It seamed like it was the winter that wouldn't quit.  Guys fished up and down both bays.

Offline Joe in T.C.

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #11 on: Feb 07, 2018, 09:48 AM »
Checked East Bay this morning   :clap: :thumbsup: :clap: :thumbsup:

Walked out about a hundred yards or so, had about 3" of ice maybe a bit more. would not be surprised if someone starts fishing it today.
Personally I like a little more ice, especially on the larger bodies of water.

At 600' its deeper than West Bay, its also narrower and usually freezes first.

West bay still has areas of open water. But if the wind stays down and the cold temps hang, things look promising


East Bay - Lawrence Gilroy roadside Park - 02-07-2018


East Bay - Lawrence Gilroy roadside Park - 02-07-2018


East Bay - Lawrence Gilroy roadside Park - 02-07-2018


West Bay - Open Space Park - 02-07-2018

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #12 on: Feb 07, 2018, 09:52 AM »
wow that's great!!
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #13 on: Feb 07, 2018, 11:16 AM »
Thanks for the update Joe.

Offline Doeslayer

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #14 on: Feb 07, 2018, 04:43 PM »
I might come Saturday if that's the case!
Catch and release, into the grease!
"gotta be somebody needs some killin" ~ Major Payne

Offline pyro261

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #15 on: Feb 07, 2018, 11:40 PM »
How far north does the ice on the bay extend?

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #16 on: Feb 08, 2018, 09:46 AM »
Ya thanks Joe. let us know when you see folks out there.
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline pyro261

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #17 on: Feb 08, 2018, 12:57 PM »
Does anyone know about Little Traverse Bay? Satellite images show that has had ice for at least a week or more. An mlive article had an image saying 6-12" of ice there

Offline icefishman

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #18 on: Feb 08, 2018, 01:41 PM »
I was in Petoskey on Jan 31st and it was open water. Not sure if I’d trust a 6-12 report
Catching Any?

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #19 on: Feb 09, 2018, 08:22 AM »
find a bait shop in the area and give them a shout
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline ThreeDogsDown

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #20 on: Feb 09, 2018, 07:22 PM »
FOUND ON LONG LAKE:   Jig box, well organized.   Found it pretty much around the center on the lake.  PM me and describe it.  I shall return it. 

Offline Doeslayer

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #21 on: Feb 10, 2018, 08:55 AM »
Anyone fishing it yet
Catch and release, into the grease!
"gotta be somebody needs some killin" ~ Major Payne

Offline pyro261

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #22 on: Feb 12, 2018, 07:02 AM »
Anybody check it out this weekend? Bit of a warm up coming, could be over before it even started lol

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #23 on: Feb 12, 2018, 08:11 AM »
I just called a couple places in the area and nobody I spoke with seems to have any info. although I think the lady I spoke with don't really know much.I'll try somewhere else .
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline Joe in T.C.

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #24 on: Feb 12, 2018, 01:23 PM »
A couple guys were fishing West Bay today  Monday 2-12-18

Didn't have time to check East Bay

You never know with the bays, depends on the weather now.
Some years we get a couple of days, some years we get several weeks.


West Bay 2-12-18 The  ice is out past Power Island


West Bay 2-12-18 Fishing in front of Boardman river

Offline jdgambler

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #25 on: Feb 13, 2018, 08:35 AM »
what do you like to fish for on the bays Joe? I've not ever made it out.
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #26 on: Feb 13, 2018, 11:51 AM »
The times I have been out on the Bays we have targeted trout, whitefish, and cisco.

Offline Joe in T.C.

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #27 on: Feb 13, 2018, 01:27 PM »
My primary target is Lake Trout.

Whitefish and Cisco are also a good choice.

The perch are really nice when you can find them.

Of course Burbot are always welcome, but I don't specifically target them.

Something I want to try is spawn bags on Tip-Ups in semi-shallow water for Steelhead and Browns.


Offline netminder34

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Re: traverse bay
« Reply #28 on: Feb 13, 2018, 09:37 PM »
Hey Joe, I haven't fished steelhead on traverse through the ice but have on Betsie.  We used spawn and Wiggler's but not on tip ups.  We used 6ft rods with a strike indicator and rod propped up on the ice, might be a good place to try one of those auto fishing rigs.

Offline Oscoda Ice

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"Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers."    -Herbert Hoover

 



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