2017 Higgins outing

[Nitemoves]

Higgins lake outing Feb 11, 2017


Make sure your tip ups and reels are able to fish in deep water over 100 feet. You can jig or use live bait ( smelt, big blues or grays). This time of the year you need to be near the bottom. The perch bite is pretty good right now too live bait( wigglers and waxies) off the north state park you will see the groups of shanties.

We should plan to be on the ice by 7 am. Meeting place will be at the west DNR launch. This way everyone can fish together and we do not leave anyone behind


Lodging
Am-Vets Lodge (989)821-6574
Located On the lake, it's the best place to stay for fishing and it's close to the lake trout grounds. It's $33/night for members $37/night for non members. Houghton lake is less than 10 miles away and there is a ton of lodging down there to. Also if amvets is full great escape motor lodge is real close to the lake on old 27 just north of the first Higgins lake exit off of 127 their number is 989-821-6343.

The ice should be good for at least foot travel for this outing, it is currently 5-6"s thick with a cold snap expected for the next couple weeks.

Give me a call if you are going to be there, or have any ?'s 586-615-7459 Carl Ventimiglia

[Nitemoves]

Ice update- I just went out and checked ice thickness the most ice I found was 6.5" the least was 5". I didn't feel comfortable driving the quad out to my trout spot as the ice was getting thinner out that way and I didn't bring a sled to pull my gear so I don't have a fishing report. But the good news is the holes iced up as soon as I opened them up so another day or two we should be good to go.

[Nitemoves]

Had a buddy check the ice yesterday and there was 7-8". The temps are much colder than they are down here.

[Bad Dog]

Carl,
I'm planning to head up Friday after work . What type and weight line is best for fishing the trout holes? Are you using braid when jigging? I'll be putting line on a tip-up also. What do you recommend for that?

[Bad Dog]

Have you decided how the Higgins Lake outing AOY points will be scored?

[Nitemoves]

Braid is fine I have both on my equipment just put a leader on the business end. Most of mine have 10 or 12 lb mono.

[Nitemoves]

Here is a map cross hairs show boat launch meeting spot just off of old 127, the bait shop is just a couple miles north of dnr Boat launch.

[Nitemoves]

Thanks to the guys who showed up we had a great time and fishing was very good. Friday brought us a very cold snowy day but we managed a couple of limits of trout all on jigging poles. With high hopes for Saturday we all met up and were fishing by day break. The 9 fisherman had some beautiful weather for the day. We put 15 trout on the ice with most coming on tip ups right near the bottom. Around 2pm we all headed to the house for a nice dinner of venison chili, pasta salad, and smoked beer brats. The first event for angler of the year are as follows Carl Ventimiglia 1rst, Carl Ventimiglia SR 2nd, Tom Gorguze 3rd.

[Adamwest]

Tom, is there a video of the Higgins Lake outing?