Little Bay De Noc: The cold evenings had formed a crust on the snow layer with slush underneath, making travel difficult at times. Walleye anglers reported fair to good catches just south of Aronson Island with rapalas and minnows in 30 to 40 feet. Although this area is being fished, DANGEROUS ice conditions exist, and extreme caution needs to be used. Overall, the best walleye catches were south of Gladstone using jig raps in 30 to 40 feet. Perch catches were steady, especially at Kipling, when using wigglers or minnows in 26 to 32 feet. A few whitefish were caught off Sand Point in Escanaba when using minnows or spawn in 70 to 85 feet but, again, caution needs to be used in this area as well. Those spearing at Kipling reported a few nice pike taken southeast of Butler Island when using decoys in 6 feet or so. Several vehicles have gone through the ice, so most are using ATVs or snowmobiles.

Munising: Has some ice fishing; however, conditions were variable, with open water in some areas. Bay Furnace, the East and West Channel, around Grand Island and Trout Bay had open water. The ice near Sand Point was not safe. Powell Point was fishable, but there is always unstable ice due to currents in the area. Off Brown’s Public Launch, a boat setting nets had cut a path from the docks out into the bay, so use caution. At the city docks, a few were venturing out, but use the foot path as there are areas of open water. There was ice off the Anna River dock. Most anglers were jigging for coho, splake or whitefish when using Swedish pimples and spawn or jigs tipped with minnow heads, but catch rates were spotty.