Author Topic: Southwest Michigan Ice? (Read 5799 times)

squirrel-master · « **on:** Dec 13, 2013, 05:39 PM »

Does anyone know what ice conditions are like in southwest Michigan? I heard some of the channels were good but I'm not sure which ones. I'm looking for somewhere to go that's around here this weekend. I did check magician lake and it didn't look good.

3300 · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 13, 2013, 07:07 PM »

welcome to the site!

there is lots of ice discussion here and you didn't say what area or county or any thing
all we know is you say channels have ice some where

all i know 6 people were on gull lake today and stayed on the dark ice not snow covered. others on other lakes talking about how shaky it is and falling thru and spud going thru in one hit

you need to dig in and read up or ask what lakes you want help on

squirrel-master · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 13, 2013, 07:34 PM »

Sorry about not being specific enough. The channels I usually go to are in lake of the woods, paw paw lake and van auken lake. Other than channels, i am not against branching out for some better ice. I'm in the Benton harbor area right now so I'm just looking for anything around the area.

steelheader32 · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 13, 2013, 08:43 PM »

I would think van auken channels are locked up but everyone seems hush hush on it I live in Kalamazoo and fish it when I can. If you hear anything let me know

squirrel-master · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 13, 2013, 09:35 PM »

I'm also from kalamazoo. I live on crooked lake, but have never really done well on it ice fishing. I hope to figure out where they are this year now that I have a new Marcum. My problem is all my good secret spots are more towards benton harbor.

Tipup Master · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 05:30 AM »

I was by Hess Lake in Baroda Friday afternoon. It wasn't quite ready but was close. I usually never fish this lake as I've never did good there. Some people say they do good on it during the early ice season. Singer Lake which is late to freeze was locked in but still a ways from being fishable. Do you know the condition of Magician or Dewey?

squirrel-master · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 10:53 AM »

Checked magician this morning and it had good ice until about 50ft it then the spud went through and it began cracking bad. I heard there was two guys out last night on it but I don't know how they got out there. Me and some buddies went this morning on a channel behind subway in st Joe. Caught a lot of really small perch but nothing close to keepers.

pullbangloss · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 11:10 AM »

Careful out there! This snow really put a hurting on the ice.

Pbl

squirrel-master · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 11:12 AM »

It was 4.5"-5" in the channel I was at which was good but the lakes are definitly still iffy

limitingout · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 11:48 AM »

Quote from: bnimtz on Dec 14, 2013, 10:53 AM

Checked magician this morning and it had good ice until about 50ft it then the spud went through and it began cracking bad. I heard there was two guys out last night on it but I don't know how they got out there. Me and some buddies went this morning on a channel behind subway in st Joe. Caught a lot of really small perch but nothing close to keepers.

That was me and a buddy on magician last night. The ice is very dangerous you had to walk on bare ice and spud the whole way if you tried to walk on the snow you would go through.I tracked a route knowing snow was coming I might go east tonite.

squirrel-master · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 04:12 PM »

So lake of the woods is not good

SMALMTH · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 14, 2013, 06:21 PM »

A friend of mine got on at Lake of The Woods yesterday, but it's not very safe. I'd give it a few days.

gopackgo · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 15, 2013, 04:17 PM »

I've heard Portage Lake and Gravel Lake both have 3-4... warm up 40s by friday. I wouldn't mind some warmer temps to melt this snow and re-freeze.

Tipup Master · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 15, 2013, 04:44 PM »

checked 3 lakes yesterday and none of them are ready but getting close. Boyle and Madron both had about 2 inches. Dayton had about the same. Never fished Madron though. Anyone been on Madron?

michiganice · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 09:08 AM »

Thanks for the updates.

squirrel-master · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 10:16 AM »

Is there any lakes that are good in the kalamazoo area?

MC_angler · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 10:31 AM »

Quote from: Tipup Master on Dec 15, 2013, 04:44 PM

checked 3 lakes yesterday and none of them are ready but getting close. Boyle and Madron both had about 2 inches. Dayton had about the same. Never fished Madron though. Anyone been on Madron?

New to the area... also curious about Madron Lake and Boyle Lake, if they are worth my time. Not trying to spill the beans about anybody's secret spot so PMs are welcome if you want to help a guy out

squirrel-master · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 10:36 AM »

Quote from: MC_angler on Dec 16, 2013, 10:31 AM

New to the area... also curious about Madron Lake and Boyle Lake, if they are worth my time. Not trying to spill the beans about anybody's secret spot so PMs are welcome if you want to help a guy out

I am also curious about these lakes if anyone is willing to tell.

gopackgo · « **Reply #18 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 01:15 PM »

Anyone ever try Asylum Lake off of Drake rd? Quite a walk back from the parking area, but no boat launch.. wondering if anyone has had success with big gills here

cnewby · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 01:28 PM »

Quote from: gopackgo on Dec 16, 2013, 01:15 PM

Anyone ever try Asylum Lake off of Drake rd? Quite a walk back from the parking area, but no boat launch.. wondering if anyone has had success with big gills here

tons of "big gills", bring all your friends.

gopackgo · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 02:29 PM »

Quote from: cnewby on Dec 16, 2013, 01:28 PM

tons of "big gills", bring all your friends.

I sense sarcasm....

Hermin · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 02:35 PM »

Years ago my dad used to kill the blue gil on asylum lake. Every winter the gazette used to run pictures of a guy that ice fished out of there and did super good. Now for the bad news.

Quote

Results from a 2008 study showed that water quality in the lake has decreased after years of heavy stormwater loads and the infiltration of nutrients from fertilizers. The pollution fed a process called eutrophication, in which a body of water receives so many nutrients that excessive plant growth occurs. That can decrease the dissolved oxygen in the water, causing fish kills and other problems.

WMU was suppose to be doing a project to fix the problems however I haven't been able to locate any news on it.

squirrel-master · « **Reply #22 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 02:39 PM »

Quote from: Hermin on Dec 16, 2013, 02:35 PM

Years ago my dad used to kill the blue gil on asylum lake. Every winter the gazette used to run pictures of a guy that ice fished out of there and did super good. Now for the bad news.

Doesn't sound good, any other good lakes in the area?

chi92 · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 04:38 PM »

Tipup Master; I have been on Madron during the summer and caught a lot of small gills. Never fished it on the winter.

fishcharmmer · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 06:55 PM »

got out tonight for the first time we kept 24 we did selective harvest

squirrel-master · « **Reply #25 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 07:14 PM »

Which lake was that?

strike master 90 · « **Reply #26 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 08:12 PM »

Safe water new Buchanan

squirrel-master · « **Reply #27 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 08:38 PM »

Is that madron lake near Buchanan?

bobberbill · « **Reply #28 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 08:40 PM »

Quote from: bnimtz on Dec 16, 2013, 07:14 PM

Which lake was that?

squirrel-master · « **Reply #29 on:** Dec 16, 2013, 08:44 PM »

Thxs, anyone know how Boyle lake is out there fishing wise? I tried to fish there two years back but by the time i got out there the ice was melting and it wasn't to safe so i didn't risk it.

News:

Author Topic: Southwest Michigan Ice? (Read 5799 times)