LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL_2022

[Joe in T.C.]

Drove by lakes Cadillac and Mitchell today.
I was told 5" of ice but I did not check it.
I saw one snowmobile on the lake but there is not much snow anywhere.
Here is what I saw:


Kenwood Park



The Causeway



Mitchell State park



By Thirsty's party store



Little Cove



Big Cove



If you are not familiar with Lake Cadillac or Mitchell here are some tips:

Both lakes are great for ice fishing and you will want to move around as needed.

Primary targets:
Pike: someone gets a 40"+ pike every year, but  20 to low mid 30's are more likely.
Crappie: A mess of 7 to 10" fish is realistic with a chance at a 16" is not unheard of.
Gills and Pannies: Some real nice ones mixed in with the crappies.
Perch: Getting better every year. used to only be little ones now a nice catch of 7 to 10" is realistic with an occasional 11 or 12 in the mix.
Walleye: Great and getting better. Good eaters are common with some 5 to 8 pounders caught as well.

A few areas to try are Little Cove, Big Cove, The Cause Way, Thirsty's, Kenwood Park, Blind Island, The City Dock, Four Winns, and the Slabs.
What area is hot will vary from day to day. Checking with Pilgrims village is highly recomended, they know what's hot and have lake maps to get you pointed in the right direction.
They also cover all your bait and tackle needs and also rent cottages and have hotel rooms as well.
Open 7 am to 7 pm 7 days a week

Other anglers will also help you out most of the time. with one exception.....
Walleye. People tend to be a bit tight-lipped on how or where to catch ole marble eyes.

Good Luck All!

[Doeslayer]

Joe you are the man!!! I say it every year.... Excited for the next skegemog post

[aacosta]

Which has better walleye and panfish opportunities? Friend has a cabin on missaukee, heard the fishing there is hit or miss. Be up the 15th. Thanks

[Iceassin]

Just got back from Mitchell about an hour ago. 2nd time this season actually. Little Cove has 4-5" solid ice. Even a snowmobile was on it. Dumb @&& . Lots of guys out there. Anyway, never limited out either time. Marked 'em alright but tight lipped. The ones I did catch were nice. Mix of Gills and Crappie. Caught 1 sub legal Pike on my homemade Auto Fisherman. At least I know it works.  . That's about it. Good luck if you go.

[Doeslayer]

In my experience.... Mitchell i seem to catch more fish.... Cadillac i catch bigger fish...maybe thats just my luck... Missaukee i used to do really good.... Then i guess they killed off the weeds and its been much tougher... Im sure the fish are still there but idk where

[iceman10]

Thanks for the great post Joe ! I have never been to either , but are close enough to Ind that it’s been on my radar from the lack of ice here ! Happy New Year everyone & tight lines in 2022

[fish fanatic jr]

As far as panfish go I would say mitchell is.  He made a great write up.  Mitchell is really easy to fish one you find weeds.  I tell everyone you have to fish in the weeds not above or edges.  most the time the only way I know for sure where my lure is in the weeds is because a big red blob comes in and fish on.

Which has better walleye and panfish opportunities? Friend has a cabin on missaukee, heard the fishing there is hit or miss. Be up the 15th. Thanks

[Jpwheelin07]

Any update on ice conditions on Mitchell and Cadillac? Are people using machines out there yet? Thanks in advance!

[Doeslayer]

Machines all over both lakes... Maybe not trucks yet though

[GavinAkaJeter]

I know this is an old thread but I’m looking to make the drive out there tomorrow, but unsure of parking spots. Do you know where I can park?

Machines all over both lakes... Maybe not trucks yet though

[Doeslayer]

There are multiple parking spots, i always park at the state park but if you stop at pilgrims village they can give you all the different spots you can access.... There are some guys that im sure will chime in by tomorrow some time that may be of more assistance

[Joe in T.C.]

Here are most of the main parking spots:

They are also some of the main fishing spots



Good Luck All 

[Doeslayer]

Right on cue joe from tc swoops in and saves the day, youre like an ice fishing batman

[hounds]

How's the Ice?

[scout 2]

Ice is going to be slick after this rain

[Doeslayer]

Just seen a report from a friend that said ice varied from 5 to 8 inches all over mitchell, a couple machines out but not many..... Will be slick as can be next few days the. Supposed to cool down a tad again, ill be up that way last weekend in January ice conditions will depend on where we fish, may just end up being mitchell, options right now are mitchell skegemog leelanau long fife and a few other smaller lakes that are a last resort.... Hoping this 2 week forecast changes for the cooler side for that weekend

[hounds]

Thanks Doeslayer.  Planning to head up in Feb.  17-19th.

[Ronnie D]

Drove by both lakes yesterday morning.
Plenty of shanties out & Pilgrims Village had slushies standing in line for bait.
Opted to fish an off da path nearby smaller lake & had 4" clear w/ 2" milk ice & didn't need my cleats after 1" of fresh powder. Fish are really tight lipped right now.
Swift Tines

[Iceassin]

Drove by both lakes yesterday morning.
Plenty of shanties out & Pilgrims Village had slushies standing in line for bait.
Opted to fish an off da path nearby smaller lake & had 4" clear w/ 2" milk ice & didn't need my cleats after 1" of fresh powder. Fish are really tight lipped right now.
Swift Tines

As did we. Sunrise and Rose in Leroy and Berry just east of Cadillac. Dinks all around. Shoulda' went to Mitchell. 

[Ronnie D]

I was at Berry all day yesterday. I was da guy w/ too much gear & no fish in the blue clam shanty closest to da launch.

[Iceassin]

I was at Berry all day yesterday. I was da guy w/ too much gear & no fish in the blue clam shanty closest to da launch.

Think I saw ya'. You left around the same time we got there... 5ish? Why didn't you tell us the fishing sucked? 

[Ronnie D]

Making da trip on Saturday.
Not looking for a spot, just wanted to know which lake has the thickest weed beds.
Swift Tines

[Doeslayer]

As far as weed beds id say mitchell, Cadillac runs a little deeper, im sure it also has weeds but id say they are more frequent in mitchell

[Ronnie D]

Lotsa' slushies on Saturday at Cadillac.
More CO's than fish.
Got a warning that my tipup had tripped for 7 minutes & should " be more attentive". The 2nd time I watched the dam flag trip, walked towards the flag ( 2 minutes) & here comes da same CO clown on a sno mobile to give me another warning & check my license w/ claim of no memory of seeing me an hour earlier.
Put a few fins on da ice , biggest was a fat 29" snot rocket, tossed back a couple small walleye & didn't see a single pannie all day in da spear hole at 8' deep.

[glenwyo]

Got a warning that my tipup had tripped for 7 minutes & should " be more attentive". The 2nd time I watched the dam flag trip, walked towards the flag ( 2 minutes) & here comes da same CO clown on a sno mobile to give me another warning & check my license w/ claim of no memory of seeing me an hour earlier.

CO must have been bored or must not have had too much to do since he stayed around for an hour or more to watch one of your tipups! I'm sure he could have been doing something else.

[hounds]

How many rods are you allowed in Michigan?   I usually fish two here in Indiana with a Tip up I watch also.  Did not know they could write a ticket for you being slow to get to your tip ups?

[Ronnie D]

3 lines in at anytime in Michigan
The timings. a discretionary call & imo used to find other violations like a cop on a traffic stop. If the CO was so concerned about  da welfare of da fish, then I wouldn't have been held-up for another 10 minutes to show my license & have my gear inspected before retrieving the tipup.

[Iceassin]

The only change that I'm aware of is only 6 "hooks"  total. 1 rod = 6 hooks, 2 rods = 3 hooks, etc. This would mostly affect us Smelt guys.

[Kziceman]

I usually fish 5 hooks for smelt but I thought there was an exception for smelt fishing that allowed unlimited hooks. (?)

[Iceassin]

I usually fish 5 hooks for smelt but I thought there was an exception for smelt fishing that allowed unlimited hooks. (?)

Used to be. I think it's been changed.