Author Topic: Kalamazoo-area Ice (Read 4719 times)

fishinboy · « **on:** Feb 21, 2006, 09:39 AM »

Hey guys,
Anyone been out ice-fishing near the Kalamazoo area since the recent cold-spell that we've had? How's the ice? I was hoping to get out on Friday and do some fishing. Thanks for the info.

WntrMrngWood · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 12:58 PM »

hey ryan,

i haven't been out since the spell either, but i gotta think there's some good ice around. since we have friday off, i'd be interested in heading out too. if you want, we could go check the ice on asylum and a couple others. do you have any plans over the later half of spring break?

Eyecatcher · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 02:50 PM »

Saw two or three guys out on West Lake on Sunday. They weren't out there long as it was pretty windy. I would venture a guess that most lakes are OK. Gun Lake is reported to have 4-7" of ice depending on where you go. Where ever you guys go be safe. As a workin stiff with kids I prolly won't get out until the weekend so post a report if you guys go.

Kziceman · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 02:52 PM »

Hey Jason and Ryan...

There is real good ice on Gull and Gun Lakes. Have not been impressed with the fishing though. Smelt are gone from the bay of Gull Lake. I will check Asylum tomorrow. There were guys on Little Sugarloaf this afternoon. I checked Big Sugarload at the launch...there is about 2 inches of ice. (3 wackes with the spud) Should be able to get on this weekend.

John

fishinboy · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 05:00 PM »

hey jason,
I was hoping to get out on sugarloaf on friday, if the ice is good. Is asylum lake good for ice-fishing? I've never been there before. I will probably be working a little next week, but thats about it.

Kziceman · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 06:53 PM »

Ryan,

You can catch nice gills at the East end of the Lake in the cove which is about 8 ft deep. There are also monster pike there.

fishinboy · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 21, 2006, 08:53 PM »

Thanks for the info, John. I'll definitely have to check out Asylum sometime.

Reel Wet Ride · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 22, 2006, 12:20 PM »

Asylum wasn't bad when Trav and I fished it. Probably would have each caught a limit had I had a vex. We fished the south shore (maybe a 200 yd walk back through the woods). Caught lots of bigger gills in 15-18fow. Had tip-ups out the last time we were there, no runs.

If you go, becareful getting on the lake, last time I was there I got dirty. LOL

Kziceman · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 22, 2006, 02:46 PM »

Checked out Asylum this afternoon. About 4 inches of ice...lots of guys fishing. Word is that they bite early am and then again late afternoon until dark. I went in from Winchell Ave...not Drake Rd. Don't know about the fishing at the other end. No one down there.

Reel Wet Ride · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 22, 2006, 03:30 PM »

great news!

fatboy · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 22, 2006, 09:08 PM »

Hey Ryan,

Be careful out there, saw some open water on the lakes down by Watervleit.

WntrMrngWood · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 23, 2006, 10:33 AM »

ryan, sorry it took so long to post. i been real busy wrapping up the first half of semester. if you want to meet up, i wouldn't mind fishing any of the lakes tomorrow. i'm gonna try and get some work done in the morning, then work on a buddy's truck around noon. might be an afternoon adventure for me. let me know. if anyone else is interested, throw a post.

travis

ice-dogg · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 23, 2006, 04:21 PM »

How is the ice holding up on Gun and other local lakes???

fishinboy · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 12:10 AM »

hey travis,
yeah I think that I'm going to try and fish sugarloaf at three or four on friday. If the ice isn't good, then I'll probably try another lake, maybe asylum.
-Ryan

spoonfed · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 07:30 AM »

does anybody ever fish austin lake.heard of some nice perch in that lake.any info please.

WntrMrngWood · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 08:28 AM »

only thing i know about asylum is that it is shallow and very large. the fish can be very difficult to locate from what i've heard. However, i have never fished it. best chance is to get a map and try to locate some weed lines.

travis

Reel Wet Ride · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 10:25 AM »

Austin....Austin is big and shallow. But I've heard the same thing, plug some holes in the ice and bounce around til you find em. I'm doing an install job there this weekend, I'll see if the guy I'm working for knows anything.

Eyecatcher · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 10:44 AM »

Both Austin and West appear to be very unsafe. The ice is very black and uneven due to freeze thaw cycles of the last two weeks. I would look elsewhere.

On the perch, yes there are great perch in Austin but they are very scattered. You need to be patient but can catch some dandies. Orange Jig and a waxy always seem to work for me. Also have used a little cicada as an attractor.

Kziceman · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 11:18 AM »

Asylum still has good ice...not much action though.

Sugarloaf has 3 inches of good ice...

spoonfed · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 12:25 PM »

i was told on austin to start around the boat launch area.gravel beds or something, any info on where to start.thanks for the replies.

fishinboy · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 06:59 PM »

went out to sugarloaf for a couple of hours tonight. The fishing was pretty slow and there was about 3 inches of good clear ice, like KZ said. There still is open water in a couple of spots on the lake, where the creek flows in at the southwest corner and along the north shore.

Kziceman · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 07:31 PM »

I'm going out Saturaday early am for Crappie. Everything looks good on the Northeast side.

WntrMrngWood · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 24, 2006, 08:25 PM »

good luck kz. fishinboy-i figured the fishing might be slow at sugarloaf...can't say why, i just didn't have a good feeling about it. i'm thinking about heading to asylum tomorrow afternoon.

tight lines,

travis

fishinboy · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 25, 2006, 12:48 PM »

Hey John,
Did you do any good this morning? I think I'm heading out Sunday morning to give it another shot.

Kziceman · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 25, 2006, 04:14 PM »

Ryan,

I only caught a few little gills...very windy made things difficult. I am going back to Sugarloaf early am. I'll probably have my shanty if the wind dies down. I talked to a couple of guys we have been catching a few pike off the sand bar up front.

See you out there.

Kziceman · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 26, 2006, 04:59 PM »

Sugarlaof...a bunch of small perch.. a few small gills...3 perch, 2 -8" and one 11.5 inch...pretty hard fishing for three fish.

Kziceman · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 26, 2006, 05:10 PM »

..Austin has some nice perch if you can find them. Usually they are out in the middle in the deepest part of the lake...8 feet. Another spot to try is off the boat launch. Checked the lake yesterday...there was open water out in the middle a few guys fishing in close off the ramp but not much action.

ice-dogg · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 26, 2006, 07:58 PM »

Hey Kz I think I may make the trip next Sat. morning. I will let you know.

Kziceman · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 26, 2006, 09:08 PM »

Sounds good Icedog...

Looks like it's going to warm up this week... but still cold at night. I'll get a fishing report for Gun by Tuesday or Wednesday.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USMI0099?from=36hr_fcst10DayLink_undeclared

Reel Wet Ride · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 27, 2006, 01:39 PM »

Guys were fishing West Lake (across the street from Austin) @ drive up diner. Don't know if they caught anything, but they were there. No-one on Austin's South End.

News:

Author Topic: Kalamazoo-area Ice (Read 4719 times)