“We typically see the bay freezing in February or March. There are a few years when it did freeze in late January, but that is typically when we get those long periods of cold weather,” Smith says. Historically, dating back to the mid-1800s, Grand Traverse Bay would freeze more than 50 percent of the time, she says.
What is the best month to ice fish?
March is my favorite month for ice-fishing. The days are longer, the weather isn’t as cold, and the fish like to get caught in March. Following are some things to keep in mind to catch more fish through the ice until the end of the ice season.
Are there walleye in Grand Traverse Bay?
There are large numbers of trout, too, including lake trout, brown trout, and steelhead (rainbow) trout. Yellow perch, lake whitefish, cisco, smallmouth bass, and walleye are also plentiful – just to name some of the most popular species.
What kind of fish do you catch in the Grand Traverse Bay?
Anglers can chase on foot, carp, smallmouth, lake-trout, and king salmon. Also anglers can work the many drop offs and shelves with sinking fly flies for the same species that are not working their way into the shallows.
Does time of day matter for ice fishing?
The best time of day to ice fish is during the first couple of hours after sunrise, and for about 2 hours both before and after sunset. These are the times when most fish are heading to their feeding grounds, and when most species are active.
Is it good to ice fish at night?
Less fishing pressure Most anglers are active during the day, so fishing at night will mean fewer anglers hovering over that hot brush pile or creek channel. The reduced the number of anglers crunching across the ice and the potential fish disturbance won’t hurt either.
When was the last time Grand Traverse Bay froze over?
Grand Traverse Bay officially froze on Wednesday, February 13, according to The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay. The bay is considered frozen when west bay freezes up to Power Island for at least 24 hours. In 2018, the bay was declared frozen on February 11 and remained frozen for 14 days before thawing.
Is Grand Traverse Bay frozen 2022?
Some years, West Grand Traverse Bay freezes over completely, from the shores of Old Mission Peninsula to Power Island. Some years, the ice barely reaches 20 feet from shore. According to Heather Smith, Baykeeper for the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, a total freeze-over is still in play for 2022.
How deep is Traverse Bay Michigan?
Grand Traverse Bay is a deep bay of Lake Michigan formed by the Leelanau Peninsula in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The bay is 32 miles (51 km) long, 10 mi (16 km) wide, and up to 620 feet (190 m) deep in spots.
What is the deepest point in Grand Traverse Bay?
The deepest spot that we know of is about 620 feet in East Grand Traverse Bay off of the Old Mission Harbor. A dream would be actually just getting up to the Straits of Mackinac.
How do you catch a Cisco ice fishing?
Stop your offering a foot above the fish, and jig it a few times. They will usually rise and take it. If they rise but don’t take, reel it up a few feet and jig it more aggressively. Ciscos will chase a lure all over the water column at times, and often only respond to a very aggressive presentation.
What kind of fish can you catch in Traverse City Michigan?
Smallmouth Bass, walleye, King and Coho Salmon, steelhead, Lake Trout, Brown Trout and Great Lakes Muskie are just a few types of fish swimming in our waters. And you know those trophy sized ones you see in pictures? You might just catch one here!
How do you catch Cisco in Grand Traverse Bay?
How far across is Grand Traverse Bay?
Grand Traverse Bay, northeastern arm of Lake Michigan, indenting the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, U.S. The bay is 32 miles (51 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide; Old Mission Peninsula, which is just 3 miles (5 km) wide, juts into the bay for 17 miles (27 km), dividing it into an East Arm and a …
What is the limit for Cisco in Michigan?
Michigan statewide general hook and line regulations establish a daily catch possession limit for Cisco and Lake Whitefish of 12 fish in any combination and without size limits (FO-200.18). The fishery is allowed year round.
What depth should I ice fish?
In my experience, I’ve found that most of the best ice-fishing action comes in water from 3-to-20 feet deep. I like to set up my traps so that they cover a variety of depths. Areas with rock piles, weed beds, or dramatic contours are all good spots.
How do you catch a big fish in ice fishing?
How do you measure ice fishing depth?
What can you use for bait for ice fishing?
ICE FISHING BAIT For ice fishing live bait, try wax worms (bee moth larva), maggots, spikes (fly larvae), wigglers (mayfly larvae) or minnows. You can drop your bait and leave it alone, or you can slowly jig to attract the fish. Ice fishing jigging also works with artificial ice fishing bait.
Do fish bite after dark ice fishing?
Some anglers do have success on nights with bright moonlight. Most of these fish are sight-dependent when feeding and darkness keeps them hunkered down. The most popular types of fish to target for a night bite are crappie and walleye.
Do glow sticks attract fish?
Do glow sticks attract fish? Yes. Glow sticks are useful at attracting fish in murky or dirty water but you can also use them to attract fish in deep water where sunlight does not reach. Popular glow sticks to attract fish include 1 inch, 3 inch and up to 6 inch glow sticks.
Does Little Traverse Bay freeze over?
Wind from the west will push ice into Little Traverse Bay, and cold temperatures freeze ice floes together. “The ice floes look like a pack.
Does Suttons Bay freeze?
Last weekend, ice boaters, ice fishermen and people walking their dogs flocked to the frozen surface of Suttons Bay for some winter fun.
When was the last time Lake Michigan frozen over?
In records dating from the middle 1800s, even in the coldest winters, Lake Michigan has never completely frozen over. It has been as much as 90 percent or more ice-covered in 1903-04, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1998-99 and 2013-14, but the lake is a massive reservoir of heat that is released only slowly into the air.
How much of Lake Huron is frozen?
Lake Huron = 48.7% (long-term average AMIC is 63.5%)