Eight Point Lake

Budd Lake Fishing Contest 2/19/12



Dennis & Chachi 

The 2012 Frost Bite Open Fishing Tournament had a big turnout and a great day for ice fishing. My nephew Chachi and I got on the lake at 6:45am ready to fish. Our first stop on our way to registration was at Riches sleeper shanty to meet up with Millais and Rich for the tournament. They moved their shanty to the South shore Saturday night after a two day stay on Houghton Lake. The sleeper shanty experience has added another level to ice fishing all together. Fishing started at 8am and we were setup on South shore along with lots of other fishermen. Things went well early and we hooked all of our pan fish by 9 am. Then we worked the rest of the day trying to find a walleye or a pike to complete the stringer. Everyone in our team and as far as I could see fished hard without ever producing a fish. It turned out to be one of those days and we ended up hooking lots of pan fish, but no big fish. At weigh in no walleyes were caught and the winning team of Mark Reinkee and his wife won the tournament with 9 lbs, one pike and a 10 pan fish. Another fun even made possible by Kens Landing and the Harrison Chamber.

Rich and Chaci fishing 12 FOW

Great ice fishing weather

Houghton Lake 2/17/12

Mark and Tracker waiting for a bite

We fished the West Side of Houghton Lake Friday afternoon from 2 - 7pm.  Mark and I headed out 1.6 miles to one of our winter fishing areas in 9 FOW.  We setup and found good weeds and saw a few walleyes on the camera early.  The fish didn't cooperate at all and we had our fist shut out of the year on HL.  The ice conditions were very good with about 10 to 11 inches in most areas. 

Holly and Danny

West Side of Houghton Lake

Budd Lake 2/12/12

Chachi taking a break by the power dock

We spent seven hours today walking Budd Lake marking out fishing spots for Frost Bite Fishing Tournament that will be held next Sunday.  Chachi and I checked out a lot of new fishing spots and didn't find many fish.  We didn't hook any fish today, but we did find a few new areas that have nice fish structure.

Afternoon setup on the West side

Budd Lake 2/12/12

Underwater camera clip of a musky found in 15 FOW while scouting for walleye.

3" Magnum Report

After getting my boat uncovered and ready I headed for the boat launch at lake Erie metro park only to realize that my fuel line was bad so we decided to hit the Gibraltar Marinas. We ended up slaying the jumbo perch, lunker gills and crappies. We caught about 30 perch over 10" and about 50 gills over 8" and about 10 average size crappies over the weekend. It was nice to sit on the dock watching a bobber in February.

- Rich "3-Inch Mag"

Pratt Lake 2/3/12

 

Slow bite on Pratt Lake.  We made it out on Friday and found lots of fish but not much activity.  The blue gills were scattered in 10 to 18 FOW in most areas we looked.  Ice conditions are still good with about 8 inches in most areas.  If your heading out on the lake make sure you have ice cleats on.

2012 Houghton Lake Ice Fishing Tournament

2012 Sportsmen for Their Neighbors Ice Fishing Tournament

Brought to you by Central Michigan District Health Department

Saturday March 10th, 2012

South Shore DNR Boat Launch Houghton Lake. M-55 and Townline Rd.

Registration begins at 7:00 AM with fishing starting at 8:00 AM.

Weigh in is at 1:00 PM with prizes being given away at 2:00 PM.

Two-person teams

$15 per person prior to event

$20 per person day of event

Prizes for (legal caught):

u Largest Pike

u Largest Walleye

u Largest stringer of Walleye

u Largest stringer of Walleye

u Heaviest mess of pan fish

u Largest Sunfish

u Largest Perch

u Largest Crappie

All fish caught will be donated to local food banks in order to help decrease hunger in Central Michigan. There will also be a canned food drive as well as a wild game drop off to be donated to food banks as well.

Family events will also be going on for those not interested in ice fishing include:

Skating rink, Chili Cook Off, Professional Fisherman appearances, Dietitians

Hotel Rooms at a discount rate through the Beachfront Hotel

www.Beachfronthl.com or call 989-202-4700

(2 queen beds with a beachfront view for $69.99 with a Jacuzzi upgrade for $10 more)

Visit CMDHD.ORG for registration information or contact:

 Jake Trombley

(989) 615-3968

TROMBL49@MSU.EDU

A special thanks to our Premier Sponsor:

Lyman’s on the Lake Buy your bait at Lyman’s!