IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Michigan => Ice Fishing Michigan => Topic started by: Joe in T.C. on Jan 24, 2021, 06:49 PM
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Drove by Crystal Lake today
It is going to be a while :(
About a 100' of drift ice, then all open water
(https://i.imgur.com/9i6JcW5l.jpg)
Looking towards Beulah from Crystal Lake Marina
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I doubt it will get good ice unless Feb is real cold.
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that lake will be good fishing this year. with the first ice fishing also the last ice fishing!!!
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Any news on ice condituons ?
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;D :woot: :clap:
(https://i.imgur.com/TaP47evl.jpg)
It's Frozen in front of the marina all the way across
With cold temps on the way we may be fishing it soon
I did not have a spud so I didn't walk out very far.
(https://i.imgur.com/f0LjJU1l.jpg)
Looks like we are not the only ones ready.
(https://i.imgur.com/W3Zofy0l.jpg)
Lots of shell wash up.
Good Luck All :tipup:
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Never fished there, what do they mainly go for? Perch?
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Perch get a lot of the attention, but the Smelt fishing is good too.
For larger fish go for the Lake Trout, Whitefish and Burbot.
Good Luck all :tipup:
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Joe, Thanks for all the reports you give. Even though I dont fish up that way, reading your reports is interesting. I also know that you put a lot of time & effort ,not to mention gas into what you do. Thanks again.
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Joe, Thanks for all the reports you give. Even though I dont fish up that way, reading your reports is interesting. I also know that you put a lot of time & effort ,not to mention gas into what you do. Thanks again.
Thanks smeltbuster,
We have family in Battle Creek and if we ever make it down there in the wintertime I want try Gull Lake for some smelt
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Thanks smeltbuster,
We have family in Battle Creek and if we ever make it down there in the wintertime I want try Gull Lake for some smelt
You have an open invite to fish w/ me ;).
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I fished crystal lake in front of town on thursday. 4-6" of ice .I did not go out more than 600yards. 25' of water.
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Looks like you can see the Air BnB I stayed in this fall in that first picture. I wasn't ever able to get anything going on Crystal. Sure would love to catch a Burbot.
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there is burbot out there. Not big numbers like in grand traverse bays or lake superior. They are hard to find. I get about 1 a year.
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Any ice at all on the west end ???
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This is what I saw off Lobb Road this afternoon Wednesday 02-10-2021
(https://i.imgur.com/IN7Dw08l.jpg)
Somebody got out about 40' and came back.
We may need a couple more cold nights yet, luckily that's what's in the forecast ;D
Good Luck All :tipup:
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This is what I saw off Lobb Road this afternoon Wednesday 02-10-2021
(https://i.imgur.com/IN7Dw08l.jpg)
Somebody got out about 40' and came back.
Appreciated, thank you
We may need a couple more cold nights yet, luckily that's what's in the forecast ;D
Good Luck All :tipup:
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there is also monster northerns in this lake not a lot but they are true hogs. come take some out so the smelt and trout don't all get eaten!!
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Got a report of fishing last weekend off lobb rd and the boathouse. Report wasn't great other than they were fishing. Tied up this weekend but making plans for next week to give it a go for a couple days.
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i'll be on crystal tomorrow and friday and saterday morning. newer Red polaris pulling a blue 2 man flip over
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Is the lake good for sleds already?
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Is the lake good for sleds already?
. I would think in close would likely be better than out deeper for thickness. The temps have been right to make clear thick ice quickly as usually happens when Crystal freezes, one of the reasons it can be so hit or miss year to year. I would be cautious for sure, I will see if I can get any info on ice out deep.
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I’m on crystal
10” Clear ice 20’ deep in front of cold creek
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Thanks for the report JD planning on hitting some deeper water next Thursday chasing trout if I can get out there.
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Any update on ice thickness off Lobb rd. Will be heading up this afternoon to try for smelt. Wondering if a snowmobile can be used?
Thanks
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Yes bring your snowmobile
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Has anyone caught any white fish or burbot yet? I got this hog.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BjP5B4DF/18-CBF7-A3-4-E2-D-4515-82-AE-50-C430-F4972-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjP5B4DF)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xc4ymckY/DC9-B1-EA2-DEBF-4-CBD-B730-C2-E402-B9200-D.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xc4ymckY)
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Nailed this laker at 1 pm
(https://i.postimg.cc/LJrFDc47/D3-E71278-8-DB6-4174-BC90-8-AE029-D6725-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LJrFDc47)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LnQpYqcm/FA97764-C-CE12-4-FED-8-BEC-B1382012-F88-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LnQpYqcm)
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Nice looking fish!
Great job, how big is that pike?
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My guess is the pike is 27.... Looks like a 27 to me... Laker 22?
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Those are nice fish for sure!
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Pike: 35
Laker :25
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Nice fish. How thick is the ice over deep water on the west end of the lake?
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I have not been to the far west end of the lake but I have seen people with quads and snowmobile’s out there with my binoculars
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Nice fish JD, I am headed up Wednesday or Thursday for a couple days. Report I got from the west end is ice is still setting up and is sketchy in several spots. The snow form the past couple days won't help much either. Is it still passable with quads or should I load up the sleds?
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Is there still snow on the ice or has the warm weather cleared it off?
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There was a mix of snow, slush, and water a couple days ago. Still deciding on sleds or quads but have to make the call in the next 2 hrs going to start packing the truck and head up this afternoon. Cold temps last night should have frozen things up so I can see an inch of ice, breaking through to the solid ice underneath. Tough walk, tough on the quad and not really good for the sled, what to do, lol.
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On 7-8" of clear ice. Not much snow and the water that was on top froze last night so it slick to walk around.
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Where are you fishing at? Good luck !
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Fished off lobb for some smelt last night, caught a few perch but no smelt. Searched around and did find some schools of smelt but couldn't even get any blind ones to go.
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full moon coming in . Don't give up !
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It was pretty full bright last night I thought it was going to be better but there is definitely something going on with the smelt in Crystal. Guys I know that are better smelt fisherman than I am are doing the same. But it was good and fun being out there since I hadn't been on Crystal for a couple years.
(https://i.postimg.cc/WF3StmHS/PXL-20210226-005746938-NIGHT.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WF3StmHS)
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Ya big pike and thousands of hog Lakers are eating them!
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There have always been Hog lakers in the lake and the pike population has increased but I am thinking there is something beyond that going on which may be changes to the run, creek habitat, or reduced reproduction issues. It's been 5 or 6 years since I would say the smelt fishing has been decent, and that's not even the good years.
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Lakes w/ Smelt can be strange at times. In 2016 Gull Lake had a huge die off. We did not catch any in 17 or 18. In 2019 & 20 we did well on big smelt. This year there tons of smelt but they are small. We do catch an occasional big one but not many. The lakes go through cycles & things change. Been fishing Gull since the early 80s & never caught small ones. The Laker population is down due to reduced stocking. Tons of sub-legal pike. Stay in touch w/ your local DNR fish guys. They are full of knowledge.
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whats the latest ice report. i wanna try on foot next weekend. Even if I have to stay in town and fish the creek inlet
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I would watch overnight temps all week long. Still 7-8" out in 140fow we walked out this morning since the wife said she wanted to walk and ice was solid last couple days with no slush. It changed around 1 this afternoon with the sun coming out around 11. The wind was blowing hard making it feel colder than the ice was feeling as it started slushing up and melting in the shanty even with no heater going. We had 4 tip ups out and I did not have to clear ice out of the holes all day when resetting them. Saw people all the way to Bellows Ave but the far west end is not safe no one past Bellows. Everything should freeze back up solid Monday but the rest of the week I would suspect ice loss everyday. Headed home tomorrow and will be cleaning the shanty up and then getting the boats and steelhead stuff ready.
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Thanks for the response smelt buster, I have been following the Gull lake posts and your insights on that fishery for a couple years now seeing some decline here for several years. The big difference is there has not been a big kill off like you had at Gull. I hope it is cyclic as this used to be a great smelt fishery just a few years ago and a big draw during the winter months for local businesses. Also considering the ice season on Crystal is so much shorter than it used to be also may be a factor, still guessing.
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just looked at the forecast and temps look good this week for ice to stay. In my opinion.
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It softened the refroze last night 29 deg when I left the house this morning.
(https://i.postimg.cc/njkvqC6P/IMG-20210228-090948-01.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/njkvqC6P)
Fish are still frustrating us but at least I know there are still some smelt in the lake had a small laker spit one up this morning.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BP0VnL27/PXL-20210228-143412103.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BP0VnL27)
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7" of clear ice when we left at noon today but getting a little wet on top
(https://i.postimg.cc/TyMxXmvs/PXL-20210228-154959660.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyMxXmvs)
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out on lobb rd? There is still 10" in 30 FOW in the bay in front of town
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Yes yesterday out from lobb. Saw a couple shanties off bellows yesterday also but heard the farther you went out the thinner it got, I would not expect the west end to last the week. It's already very sketchy and we lost about 1/2-1" between Thursday night and yesterday around the boathouse and Lobb. Not sure if you can see it in the picture but the harness straps I have attached to my shanty extend out to the left and melted into the ice about an inch or so with very little sun out yesterday. If there is any rain this week it could push things back to railroad point or farther east.
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I'm heading out to Crystal for hopfully a last trip on foot. I'll let ya'll know how it is . Temps will be in my favor for the next few days. I'm not planning on fishing any further west than lobb rd or if thats iffy railroad point. If anyone else is going to be in the area PM me.
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It was 15 yesterday morning and 24 this morning so anything that has melted should be firming up overnight. The shore will be a little broke up by the weekend but should still be good off Lobb from what the weather has done. Bestie Bay is completely open again though after this week, steelhead fishing is knocking on the door. Good luck this weekend I am going to explore some new waters after the smelt beat down from last weekend.
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ya i figure for a last resort pier fishing. but it is cold for a few more days now
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Elberta pier was cleared Tuesday but there is still a little ice on the Frankfort pier.
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I’m out in front of Beulah on ten” of ice
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Catch any fishies?
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8” 1.5 miles out from outlet bay. Lakers are acting lazy. Shanty’s at lobb rd. I’m going there soon
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6” of clear ice at lobb rd. 60 FOW . Lots of small perch. 10 shanty’s
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Only lost 2" of ice last week that's pretty good. We lost 4-5" on our pond, the deer are still crossing on it, heard it making noises yesterday so thinking it's time to turn the aerator on and get it opened up fully. Got the boat batteries charging and packing up the shanties for summer storage this week. Start chasing steelies this weekend for me. Its still cold at night but I wouldn't trust Crystal ice as much as I would like to get some smelt in the bucket. I think I will start doing my ice dance in July this year maybe we can get a polar vortex in November/December like we used to.
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I'll be up in Newaygo County this weekend. I'll walk down the road to Pickerel Lake and start shaking. Man, I wasn't ready for this year to end. Time to get the cabin open and the boat ready I guess.
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I am in Newaygo county, temps in the 40's the past 2 mornings and all the snow disappeared yesterday in the front pasture. Had a lot of open water around the north end of the pond and the windmill aerator has opened up a big circle now so it is melting fast up here. 56 deg in Frankfort this morning at 7am can't be good for Crystal either. Definitely time for getting the boats ready and hitting the piers and streams.
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I have 40 acres of my great grandparents farm just west of Hardy Pond. Hoping to get the boat out there this summer.
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I have been up here a couple years now still haven't made it out on the Pond yet. Maybe this year, the wife said no major projects this summer so we have more time to fish and I am not going to argue. We have a ranch about 25min from Davis bridge I think it's called. Have heard there can be some really good fishing at times and can be tough on newcomers learning it.
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I'm about three miles, if that, from Davis Bridge. I've had good luck on gills. The best walleye I saw was on the end of my daughters Barbie rod. About three pounds. Some pike in there too. Crappies and when you find them. Tough place to fish.
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The crappie fishing is what I have been told about and perch at certain times also. Hope to get a chance to try it this year at least once. Hard for me to decide which way to go being about the same distance to the big lake and a couple other inland lakes I have been fishing. Another warm morning here 56 at 5am, turned the aerator on this morning the pond should be fully opened up later this afternoon.