FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL

FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2006

Another interesting weekend! White outs, Sun, Clippers kept rolling in Saturday
bringing more snow. Snowmobilers loved it. Ice fishermen had to tolerate it. Expect
to find 12 to 14 inches of clear ice under 4 inches of white ice. You won't cut many
holes without a gas auger. Many are surprised how much ice we have.

Pike --In between storms, Northern Pike fishing has been good. See pictures. It's
not as easy as earlier in the season but limits of 30 inch pike are still common.
Fish edges of the weed beds, usually in 6 to 10 foot depths. Golden shiners or suckers are
both working. The ice is 12 to 14 inches thick so keep a gaff handy for large pike.
Without one, you'll have difficulty turning their heads up the hole. A mouth spreader is
another handy tool for removing the hooks. Bring you tip-ups! Pike spearing season
ends February 28th . The dark house guys will go into hibernation when it ends.

Crappie --8 to 10 inch Specks are hitting at the mouth of the Big and Small Coves on
Lake Mitchell. This past week they've been on the bottom, not suspended which has
been the norm. This may change. Most are fishing them with red and white Custom
Spin Glow Jigs, tipped with small minnows. Some are using small #14 or #16 treble
hooks, baited with a minnow. The small treble gives a better hook set when
lifting large Crappies. The East side of Lake Cadillac has been on and off when
it comes to Crappie. This has always been one of the prime areas and should pick up.

Yellow Perch --We're still catching lots of small ones with a few 8 to 10's. Catching
numbers isn't a problem. Consistently catching keeper size is. Small minnows or
wigglers work equally well. The East boat launch on Cadillac or the Kenwood Park
areas are the best. As spawning continues they'll start coming to shallower depths.
Currently most are caught in the 12 to 15 foot range.

Walleye --No report. Haven't seen or heard of any this week, not even by accident.
Have heard that Portage or Long Lakes are producing.

Bluegill/Sunfish --Both coves on Mitchell and the high school area on Cadillac are
best for Gills. The Bluegill purest that have been catching keeper Gills consistently,
recommend dark colored micro jigs baited with red spikes. The bite is very light.
Spring bobbers barely move. Micro Lite rods also help. Drill some extra holes a
head of time, so that if you start catching them, you can move in the area and not spook
other fish.

Smelt -- Green Lake is a good bet! Reports of 100 smelt per person caught during
the day and especially at night. The South end DNR launch and the Interlochen side
have both been good with 8 to 10 inches of ice to work on. Red spikes and wax worms
on Hali Jigs are just the ticket. Use them on Cadillac Elite Rods and you're rigged right.
They're hitting on Higgins Lake also. Save a few for your tip-ups, because we're
told the Lake Trout fishing is excellent, in 80 to 100 foot depths. Also, Perch fishing has
been good. Reports are starting to come from Crystal Lake. The ice is a little iffy, but
many are out there. Hearing mixed bags of Smelt, Perch, Whitefish and Cisco's. Crystal
is always the last one to freeze and the first one to open.

Stop by the Pilgrim Village for your tackle and bait. Our store is open from 7:00 AM to
11:00 at night.

Kathy

Lance

Click on above photo to enlarge