CRYSTAL LAKE _ BEULAH

[Joe in T.C.]

Went by Crystal Lake today. Sunday 1/20/2019
Hurdmans bay was frozen, but the whole North end of the lake was open water in the middle of the lake.

Checked the ice at the public access by the Crystal Lake Marina. walked out and had about 2" of ice.
Worked my way out about 40' offshore and that drop to about a 1" of ice.

With the cold weather, it should be ready soon.
People who don't mind fishing skinny ice will probably be out there early this week, but I don't recommend it.


Hurdmans Bay _ Sunday 1-20-2019


Public Access by the Crystal Lake Marina

Good Luck All 

[ftwwalleye]

Nice report. Gonna be up that way 28th to fish and staying in a hotel bu the lake. Was thinking about checking it out for a bit. Another 8 cold days should help

[jdgambler]

thanks joe. I just ran out of trout in the freezer!

[netminder34]

I am sure they will be fishing off the Beulah Beach by the weekend.  Hopefully the wind stays fairly calm and the rest of the lake can get locked up.  Looked at some pics yesterday from last year and we put 4 Lakers on 4-6 inches of ice off north shore on the 20th so we are a little behind, and I am itching to go, but only on good ice.

[jdgambler]

I'm going to be up there wed. afternoon.

[dfishman]

I am sure they will be fishing off the Beulah Beach by the weekend.  Hopefully the wind stays fairly calm and the rest of the lake can get locked up.  Looked at some pics yesterday from last year and we put 4 Lakers on 4-6 inches of ice off north shore on the 20th so we are a little behind, and I am itching to go, but only on good ice.

Where do you access on the north side?  I always park off lobb road and fish the south side of crystal. 

[Joe in T.C.]

Where do you access on the north side?  I always park off Lobb road and fish the south side of Crystal.

They have multiple public accesses around the lake:

On the Northwest is Esplanade Ct. and Marquette Ct.
On the Northeast is Nichols Rd. and Alden St.
On the west side is the boat launch off Mollineaux rd. and Bellows Park
Of course on the south end is the public beach.

These are just a few of public access available.
Most of them are posted with a "Public Access" sign, a few are not.
They are not listed on maps, they can be difficult to find, and are easy to drive by

Take a ride around the entire lake if you get the time.
It's a nice drive and you will be surprised at all the access points available to the public.

Good Luck all 
 
 

[icefishingmississippi]

I'm going off lobb rd 2 weeks

[dfishman]

They have multiple public accesses around the lake:

On the Northwest is Esplanade Ct. and Marquette Ct.
On the Northeast is Nichols Rd. and Alden St.
On the west side is the boat launch off Mollineaux rd. and Bellows Park
Of course on the south end is the public beach.

These are just a few of public access available.
Most of them are posted with a "Public Access" sign, a few are not.
They are not listed on maps, they can be difficult to find, and are easy to drive by

Take a ride around the entire lake if you get the time.
It's a nice drive and you will be surprised at all the access points available to the public.

Good Luck all 

Joe, I have driven around the lake many times and have been fishing benzie county for over 15 years.  Your directions are a bit confusing.the public beach in beulah is at the far east end of the lake. The boat launch that I think you are talking about is on the eastern half of the south side of the lake.  I'm not trying to pick a fight, just trying to help people who might not know the area.  I haven't been able to find a decent place to park on the north side of crystal.

[netminder34]

It can get a little confusing and not just on Crystal but there are a few public access points around the lake and I know it is not always right but I do know a few people access across private property since there are multiple summer cabins that get closed up for the winter.  I use public access points or spots where I have permission to cross.  So most of these were mentioned:  Oh and I forgot to mention I got a report this morning she locked up completely yesterday on the west end.

On the south shore:
Lobb Rd very popular access point with limited parking.
The new DNR launch.
Bellows (7th st Park)
The Boathouse
Crystal Ave

On the east shore
Beulah Beach

North Shore
Crystal Lake Marina
Nichols
Aldean
Heardsman Bay (North Shore/M-22 Split)

West shore
Marquette and Esplanade as TC Joe mentioned I think have access points but I have not used them.

[Joe in T.C.]

Joe, I have driven around the lake many times and have been fishing benzie county for over 15 years.  Your directions are a bit confusing.the public beach in beulah is at the far east end of the lake. The boat launch that I think you are talking about is on the eastern half of the south side of the lake.  I'm not trying to pick a fight, just trying to help people who might not know the area.  I haven't been able to find a decent place to park on the north side of crystal.

Yep, won't be the first or last time I've been wrong.
I have been fishing Crystal lake since I was a little kid, so about 40 years now, and that's probably part of the problem.
I familiar with the area and know exactly where I'm going to fish, but don't always communicate directions to others as well as I would like.


Here are the farthest points.


Maybe I should have said Esplanade Ct. and Marquette Ct. are in the West corner of the lake.


The beach I think I could have correctly said is next to the South corner of the lake or on the Southeast side.
of course, the Market calls themselves East Shore Market, not The Southeast Shore Market

The boat launch off Mollineaux rd. and Bellows Park on the west side was off too, it would be the Southwest side at best.


Nichols Rd. and Alden St. off the Northeast side, well I kinda want to stay with that.

If lakes were square and not irregularly shaped and ran North to South instead of tilting off at an angle it would be easier.

It certainly can get confusing, but this post will clear that right up.

Honestly, I recommend everyone not familiar with the area to use a map since interpretations of what are sides, ends, shores and corners of a lake may vary from time to time.

Good Luck All 

[pyro261]

Any updates on the ice conditions out there?

[netminder34]

I don't have much info but know someone that was over 130 fow off the south shore around Lobb and were on 4" Saturday.  It is getting hammered with snow today and wind today, hopefully the wind keeps the snow blown off.

[jdgambler]

i'm going threw crystal lake withdrawls.

[netminder34]

I had put a half dozen Lakers on the ice by this time last year.  At least the ice should hold up to the snow and wind this week.  We will see what happens after next weekend and then I will be planning a day or two up to fish.

[ftwwalleye]

Brutal winds kept us off crystal yesterday with cold temps too. Didn't see many out there braving the winds when we drove by

[DaveSS1]

I don't have much info but know someone that was over 130 fow off the south shore around Lobb and were on 4" Saturday.  It is getting hammered with snow today and wind today, hopefully the wind keeps the snow blown off.

Not sure we are talking about the same guy.  But someone posted walking out to the deep grounds and ice was 4" in spots down to 1".  This video was posted 1/27/19.  He showed a video of his spud going through in one hit.  Be careful.  Ill be up there soon enough. 

[netminder34]

Probably not the same guys they didn't mention finding 1" and were not over what most would call the deep grounds.  Calling for some warm temps at the end of the weekend and beginning next week, hopefully it doesn't last long.

[jdgambler]

looking at past pictures to ease my withdrawls. lol

[jdgambler]

Has anyone did well in the bay on east end right out in front of beaulah ? 20-30 FOW?

[dfishman]

Has anyone did well in the bay on east end right out in front of beaulah ? 20-30 FOW?

Perch and rainbows.

[dfishman]

Anyone getting any smelt yet?

[netminder34]

Lots of People, nothing good to report on smelt.  A few Burbot, a couple of trout, and dink perch were iced over the weekend from the reports I received.  I was thinking about heading out next weekend for my first trip but I might wait another week.

[dfishman]

Thanks.  A buddy of mine was out yesterday and was after perch in 35 feet off lobb.  Nothing but little ones.  He left before the smelt bite usually starts.  I am headed up friday.

[jdgambler]

I'm going up to my place on the 16th-23 hoping to get some burbot and perch i'll post my pictures.

[jdgambler]

how much ice B T W?

[dfishman]

I didn't ask.  He is more cautious than most and he would have mentioned if he was fishing on anything less than 6 inches. 

[netminder34]

10" in 60fow off Lobb and Boathouse was the report I got.  Heard there were a few quads out over deeper water over the weekend but my sources didn't venture out that far on foot.

[dfishman]

Sounds good.  I will be there Friday

[jdgambler]

I can't wait. not lobb rd for me. have not had incredible luck there. Do you all ever try 18-20 FOW straight out from cold creek?