South West Lower Peninsula Area Fishing Report

January 15th, 2022

1-10-22 SW Michigan
Chris Brandt Fishing Report
Good ice in E. Kent Co but please take your spud as there is a lot of snow insulating some of the ice.
Bluegills are smashing small fire tiger and black/white tungsten tipped with at least 2 spikes. Focus on drop offs from 15 to 25 feet of water. If using electronics, the suspended fish are way more active than the bottom dwellers. I will drop my rig just above them and work them up with fast and short jigging action as high as you can get them in the water column and then freeze it there and wait for the attack. They have a very quick bite so be ready to set the hook the second you see movement on your spring bobber. Remember when the fish are hooked do not stop reeling and keep constant pressure on them until they’re out of the hole.
Crappie have been on the move in the same depths, also almost ALWAYS suspended and in small schools. They definitely preferred small gulp minnows cut in half on a moonshine chartreuse jig. They also are not as finicky as the bluegill, if they see it they smash it. Some crappie also hit on the spike set up but nowhere near as aggressive.
You have to chase them! Once you catch one or two in a hole they would either move on or get smart and lock their jaws. If they vanish find what direction the school moved and start drilling multiple holes to find them. Once you find them drill a circle of holes about 12 feet around your school and put em on the ice! If they get lockjaw, jig like crazy until they get excited or do a small color change.

Pro tip… If you can stand it put your hand in the ice fishing hole with your of transducer and aim in a 360° direction to see which way they’ve moved. Thanks to Chris Brandt for an awesome "Guest Report" Tight lines!