2008 Houghton Lake Walleye Opener

Fishing action was excellent on the first day of walleye season. Despite the cold windy weather the walleyes were in full gear and our morning of fishing was action packed.

We started out the trolling our normal early season walleye area running 3" bombers (red/white) (blue/clear) 55 to 60 foot back and number 5 Tail Dancers (black/silver) (blue/silver) 35 foot back. We fished 4 to 6 FOW all morning and ended up landing six fish one of which had a DNR jaw tag. All of the walleyes we caught looked great and were 17 to 22 inches long a great sign for Houghton Lake.

Water temperatures started out at 54.3 degrees F and slowly dropped all day long. The cold SW wind chilled down the walleye fishing by dark and dropped the water temperatures to 52 by 8:45pm.

Our other fishing team members had a great day too. The total walleye count for the opener was 17 legal walleyes and one 14-incher. I have to also comment on the large number of small northern pike that we boated. In our boat trolling six rods we landed 64 pike, 12 bass, and 12 walleyes which made the bad fishing weather a great time.

We will be out fishing HL on Thursday (5-1), Friday (5-2), and Saturday(5-3). I'll report back soon.

March Fishing Report

I haven't posted a report in a few weeks because I've been busy fishing every lake I can get on.

Houghton Lake Report:

We are still catching walleyes from 4pm - dark using jigging spoons tipped with minnows. Our best spot has been 1.2 miles north east on Layman's Bait shop in 10 FOW. We are consistently landing walleyes, perch, and a few nice crappies.

Pratt Lake Report:

Walleye fishing has picked up. They are feeding in shallow water 7 - 8 FOW right before dark. Using jigging spoons tipped with a minnow. I have been getting a few pan fish but I haven't found the big ones yet. I'll focus on them after walleye season closes on the 15th.

Budd Lake Report:

Pan fishing is on fire. Every tip we make we are limiting out on blue gills, perch, and nice crappy. We are targeting 19 FOW outside of any weed bed we can find. Work the South East end of the lake. Our last trip out we found the walleyes but couldn't get them out of the hole.

Long Lake Report:

Walleyes and crappy are being caught daily on the North end of the lake in 20 - 22 FOW.

Sugar Springs Report:

This like has more blue gills then you can haul in. I fished the Springs two weeks ago and picked up two walleyes, some bass, several pike, and some nice gills. Fish the West end of the like in 10 FOW.

I'll report back on Monday after this weekends fishing action. We will be on Pratt Lake Friday looking for a few big walleye.

Good Luck.

March Fishing Report

I haven't posted a report in a few weeks because I've been busy fishing every lake I can get on.

Houghton Lake Report:

We are still catching walleyes from 4pm - dark using jigging spoons tipped with minnows. Our best spot has been 1.2 miles north east on Layman's Bait shop in 10 FOW. We are consistently landing walleyes, perch, and a few nice crappies.

Pratt Lake Report:

Walleye fishing has picked up. They are feeding in shallow water 7 - 8 FOW right before dark. Using jigging spoons tipped with a minnow. I have been getting a few pan fish but I haven't found the big ones yet. I'll focus on them after walleye season closes on the 15th.

Budd Lake Report:

Pan fishing is on fire. Every tip we make we are limiting out on blue gills, perch, and nice crappy. We are targeting 19 FOW outside of any weed bed we can find. Work the South East end of the lake. Our last trip out we found the walleyes but couldn't get them out of the hole.

Long Lake Report:

Walleyes and crappy are being caught daily on the North end of the lake in 20 - 22 FOW.

Sugar Springs Report:

This like has more blue gills then you can haul in. I fished the Springs two weeks ago and picked up two walleyes, some bass, several pike, and some nice gills. Fish the West end of the like in 10 FOW.

I'll report back on Monday after this weekends fishing action. We will be on Pratt Lake Friday looking for a few big walleye.

Good Luck.

2008 Ice Fishing Fun

2008 Fishing Video Clip.

2008 Ice Fishing Fun

2008 Fishing Video Clip.

Fishing Report 2-3-08

Houghton Lake 2-1-08

• Find the weed areas and you will find the fish. Caught three walleyes in 9FOW using a watermellon colored Northland jigging spoon with a 2-inch minnow. Fishing has been the best from 4:00pm to dark.

Stevenson Lake (Clare) 2-2-08

• Our fishing team spent the afternoon scouting and fishing Stevenson Lake without much success. We fished for six hours and only caught a few small bluegills. I used my camera all day and only saw small bluegills and a few bass. The lake has limited weeds and where you find the weeds is where you will find the most fishermen.

Budd Lake 2-3-08

• Perch fishing is still very good. We had to spend about one hour drilling holes and looking with the camera to find a good school of perch in 15 FOW. We caught some very nice fish and had a great time. I still see a lot of guys fishing in front of the power dock and on the north end of the lake.

Fishing Report 2-3-08

Houghton Lake 2-1-08

• Find the weed areas and you will find the fish. Caught three walleyes in 9FOW using a watermellon colored Northland jigging spoon with a 2-inch minnow. Fishing has been the best from 4:00pm to dark.

Stevenson Lake (Clare) 2-2-08

• Our fishing team spent the afternoon scouting and fishing Stevenson Lake without much success. We fished for six hours and only caught a few small bluegills. I used my camera all day and only saw small bluegills and a few bass. The lake has limited weeds and where you find the weeds is where you will find the most fishermen.

Budd Lake 2-3-08

• Perch fishing is still very good. We had to spend about one hour drilling holes and looking with the camera to find a good school of perch in 15 FOW. We caught some very nice fish and had a great time. I still see a lot of guys fishing in front of the power dock and on the north end of the lake.