Fishing Report For Mullett Lake, MI

Current Report: Good

When walleye fishing I prefer to focus on water in the 10' to 35' range .Trolling the west side of the lake from the Grand View Beach to Silver Beach has delivered a lot of quality fish lately.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish shallower. Walleye grow big and healthy in Mullett Lake. According to reported walleye tournaments, anglers are catching fish averaging over 2 1/2 pounds. Jigs, spoons, spinners and deep-diving crankbaits are all catching nice walleyes. Early Fall finds them in 10 to 20 feet of water. Later in Fall, they move out deeper again. Dragging jigs or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, or bottom bouncers, around ledge drop-offs catches walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

WINTER. This Winter fishing for walleye was pretty good through the ice with jigs, spoons and bait. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in 10 to 30 feet of water, along creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. They primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, are all working while deep trolling or slow drifting.

SPRING. Early Spring brings warming water in the shallows, and draws walleye here to feed, especially rocky areas and inlet channels. In Spring work the river area, and anywhere water is flowing in. Here, in 5 to 20 feet deep, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they move shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are catching them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to around 25 feet deep around points, flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore, often staying in close proximity to their spawning locations.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Walleye tend to concentrate in 15 to 35 feet of water, preferring the cooler temperatures. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark, are good times to catch walleye. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, where they are harder to locate. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom, are catching walleye.

Current Report: Good

FALL. As Fall arrives, smallmouth here follow schools of baitfish into coves and bays 5 to 20 feet deep. Mullett Lake is has some exceptional smallmouth bass fishing, especially in the Fall. They thrive in the cold, clean water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs are a great choice when the bass are in 15' or shallower. Drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics are also popular in 10' water or deeper. Jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 20 feet deep. Fishing shallow for smallmouth is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. They can generally be found from 20 to 30 feet deep. Tube baits, jigging spoons, drop shots and Ned rigs often produce when fished with a very slow presentation. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the 50's now, smallmouth have moved from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. The lake is well populated and smallies which are aggressively competing with each other for food. You can use virtually any bass lure, and catch plenty of smallmouth. My favorite is a mid-range crankbait, like the Rapala DT-6, in crawfish colors.They feeding heavily in 3 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, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. 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 to 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 are currently feeding shallow early and late in the day in 5 to 15 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges 12 to 30 feet deep. Often these deeper fish are part of a large school of smallmouth. Anglers fishing around the Elm Creek, Cheboygan River and Indian River Arms, typically report good catches.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Early Fall finds yellow perch feeding aggressively in 5 to 20 feet of water, especially around weed lines and drop offs, Later in the Fall, they begin migrating toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper sections around flats, drop-offs, and submerged humps. Minnows, spinners, spoons and crankbaits are ideal this time of year.

WINTER. According to reports by locals, nightcrawlers cut into small pieces, as well as mealworms and maggots are a good choice for bait here. Ice fishing is popular and fishing activity is very productive. The cold of winter drives perch deeper again in search of food and stable water conditions. Mid-depth flats are ideal Winter holding spots. Early in Winter, perch are caught when they are feeding in weedy areas, in 15 to 20 of water. Later in Winter, as the lake freezes over they descend into 25 to 30 feet of water.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring when the water temperature warms to the mid 50's and mid 60's. Anglers begin to catch them in 2 to 12 feet of water using minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. Docks, weed lines, shallow flats, bays, creek mouths, and drop offs all attract yellow perch searching for a meal.

SUMMER. Fat yellow perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in slightly deeper water. Seek them out around 10 to 25 feet deep, around drop-offs and areas with submerged weed edges.