Fishing Report For Glen Lake, MI

Current Report: Good To Very Good

This fishery is divided in two sections, Big Glen Lake which is the deeper of the two, and Little Glen Lake which is shallower. Smallmouth are being caught in both lakes, as well as the area on both sides of the Narrows.

WINTER. The lake has iced over, and Winter has isolated smallies around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. They can generally be found from 15 to 40 feet deep. Locals report catching nice fish around the Narrows. Jigging spoons, tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs, minnows and Ned rigs are tempting smallmouth to bite in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 4 to 15 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, 4 to 10 feet deep and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Some of the better spawning areas include protected, shallow flats and points around the Narrows, the shoreline along Old Settlers Park, and drop-offs along Little Glen. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 15 to 20 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass typically feed shallow early and late in the day, in 3 to 8 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. Popular Summer holding areas include rip rap at the dam, as well as rocky points, humps and structure near the thermocline. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 20 to 30 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action. Anglers fishing points, humps, and deeper weed edges, on both Big and Little Glen, are reporting good catches.

FALL. Once Fall arrives smallmouth move into coves and bays 10 to 25 feet deep. Popular areas include deep flats and ledges with drop-offs in Big Glen. They thrive in the cooler, shallow water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 20 to 35 feet deep.

Current Report: Very Good To Excellent

A healthy population of yellow perch reside here, providing a steady food source for larger, predator fish. They also provide fun fishing for anglers, and make for tasty table fare.

WINTER. The cold of winter has driven perch deeper again in search of food and stable water conditions. Ice fishing has been very good on both Little Glen and Big Glen, for these fat scroungers. Mid-depth flats are ideal Winter holding spots. Gig Glen: Perch are being caught when they are feeding in weedy areas, in 10 to 20 of water. Later in the season they will drop to as deep as 50 feet. Little Glen: Lots of yellow perch are being caught in 8 to 12 ft around the narrows where Little Glen connects to Big Glen. Fishing for them in Winter is good using minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. As the lake begins to freeze over, they remain deep. These baits continue to work now, while ice fishing, and again once the ice is gone. Plenty of yellow perch were caught last winter through the ice, and there's no reason to expect anything different this year.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring when the water temperature warms to the mid 50's and mid 60's. Anglers will begin to catch them in 10 to 18 feet of water using spinners, small spinnerbaits, underspins, minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. Docks, weed lines, drop offs all attract yellow perch searching for a meal. They spawn in 6 to 15 feet of water. Later in Spring, they migrate back to deeper water to feed. Coves and flats with dense vegetation areas historically delivered great stringers of perch.

SUMMER. Fat yellow perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in 20 to 30 feet of water. In early Summer, plus the first and last hours of the day, seek them out in feeding zones, 10 to 12 feet deep. Drop-offs, standing timber, lay-down trees, shallow weed lines, and in areas with submerged vegetation, are key feeding spots.

FALL. Early Fall finds yellow perch feeding in 15 to 25 feet of water. Later in the Fall, they begin migrating toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper sections, around the edges of weedbeds, drop offs along flats, channel edges, rock piles and humps. In late Fall focus on 25 to 30 feet deep cover. Minnows, spinners, spoons and small jigs are ideal this time of year.

Current Report: Good

Thanks to an on-going stocking program by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, there is a healthy rainbow trout fishery here.

WINTER. Now that Winter has sets in, and the lake has frozen over, jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching rainbows out of 15 to 30 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channel in the main basin, near the dam, and along deep channel troughs. Ice fishing for rainbows was decent last Winter, and is expected to be good again this year in 15 to 25 feet of water. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to 15 to 30 feet of water. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, have been the best approach after ice out. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. Structure in the deep basin edges of Big Glen, points, and flats adjacent to deep water are popular in Spring. Late Spring finds them feeding in 20 to 36 feet of water, after they spawn. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 20 to 40 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Trolling the main basin with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. In summer trout commonly suspend above the thermocline, above humps, deep channel edges and mid-lake structure. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with fairly heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Anglers catch them 10 to 30 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, and flats. Rainbows feed on deeper rocky structure, humps, and ledges, anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that these trout have had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Autumn, they move into 25 to 35 feet of water.