Ice Fishing Coming Quickly.

It is not even Christmas yet and many local fisherman are gearing up for what looks to be like a long ice fishing season. Colder than normal temperatures are freezing the head of Presque Isle Bay and brave ice fisherman should be venturing onto the ice soon. I like to wait until the ice is at least 5 inches thick but many people go out on 3 inch ice.

Normally, the ice is thick enough around the later part of January. However, this year, unless it warms up significantly, the ice should be ready in the first week of January.

The species of fish that can be caught through the ice in Presque Isle Bay include crappies, bluegills, perch, steelhead trout, a few northern pike, and occassionally large or smallmouth bass. I have heard rumors about walleyes being caught through the ice in Presque Isle Bay but have never seen or caught one myself.

Good luck fishing and be very careful if you venture onto the ice. I will be bringing you pictures and updates as ice fishing season continues.

Steelhead Finally Get High Waters.

A local fisherman once told me that if you can brave the snow and cold, the best steelhead fishing is right around Christmas. This year I believe he is right. We received about 10 inches of snow last week and the past few days, temperatures have skyrocketed into the upper 40's. The snowpack is almost totally gone and the streams are flowing above their banks. In a couple days when the stream levels decrease there should be a plethora of new and old steelhead in the streams and they should be quite a distance from the mouths. I bet they will be eager to hit about anything also! Good luck fishin'