Ice Fishing Michigan

Michigan is a winter wonderland – especially for ice fishing! These days, visitor bloggers Elyse Walter and Christian LeSage from Michigan Department of All-natural sources give us six easy rules for a great and safe ice fishing experience with Pure Michigan.

Michigan offers some wonderful outside opportunities over summer and winter, including world-class fishing. Although some anglers head for the indoors when the conditions dip, others anticipate winter’s most popular angling activity – ice fishing.

Numerous fishermen and households anticipate the options ice fishing provides them over these colder months, with some proclaiming this the optimum time going fishing! Ice fishing is usually a more personal occasion and several fishermen welcome sharing a discussion about how precisely they’re doing and exactly what has worked for all of them. Others like the solitude that wintery sport offers as they battle the elements in their pursuit to catch fish. A few of the great things about ice fishing through the fact you can get to just about everywhere on a lake through the period and you will find numerous types open to target.

In the event that you’ve never ever already been ice fishing there are some what to contemplate so you are ready to have a fun and safe knowledge. We often recommend following these six simple guidelines:

1. Never ever fish alone.

2. Inform somebody where you’re going so when you anticipate to return.

3. Constantly test the ice with a spud (an extended shank with a chisel-like end).

4. Take the appropriate disaster products, like ice selections and a life jacket.

5. Take a mobile (enclosed in a synthetic bag) to you if you need to demand assistance.

6. Lakes are usually a less dangerous choice during the early cold temperatures as streams or streams have actually movement which makes all of them less safe at times.

Once you round-up your equipment (take a look at this listing within “Ice Fishing, the Coolest Sport Around” article) you’ll would you like to contemplate which species to fish for. Possibly you’d prefer to choose panfish while hook-and-line fishing, including bluegill, yellow perch or crappie. Make use of a tip-up to focus on larger game seafood, like north pike, walleye and various trout species. Or – the opportunity unique to Michigan – think about going spearing for some monster seafood like northern pike or muskellunge. Please be aware there are lots of restrictions of spear fishing (for instance, muskellunge collect is restricted to 1 per angler per season and a harvest tag is necessary), fishermen should browse the 2014 Michigan Fishing Guide for more information.

It doesn't matter what style of ice fishing method you choose keep in mind this easy tip: success is most often seen around dawn until mid-morning or from late mid-day until sundown.

Require extra motivation to drop a range this winter months? Test it for free as part of the 2015 Winter totally free Fishing sunday, coming Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15. This annual week-end provides two days where no fishing license is required for residents or non-residents – although all fishing laws nonetheless apply.

The division of Natural sources has actually coordinated the Winter Free Fishing sunday annually since 1994 so that you can display the great angling opportunities for sale in Michigan and allow residents and visitors alike to use the ability free of charge.

While many individuals and people will flock for their preferred fishing hole as an element of on the weekend, other people will join official occasions coordinated throughout the state that will offer hands-on ice fishing knowledge. The state 2015 Winter complimentary Fishing sunday occasion number will undoubtedly be offered by later this winter months.

Don’t miss your chance to experience Michigan’s outstanding winter months fishing options and get family outdoors. Start planning your next fishing travel at www.michigan.gov/fishing!