Full Day Ice Fishing in Michigan's Hottest Spots
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
8hour guided ice fishing adventure targeting multiple speciesExpert techniques using live bait, lures, and tipupsAccess to premium locations across Michigan waters
Picture this: you're out on the frozen lake at sunrise, jigging for crappie through a perfectly drilled hole while the steam rises from your coffee mug. That's exactly what you'll get with REEL'D IN OUTDOORS GUIDE SERVICE on this top-rated 8-hour ice fishing adventure. Whether you're a weekend warrior looking to dial in your technique or a complete beginner who's never held a jigging rod, this trip covers all the bases. We'll hit the prime spots across Michigan, from the renowned waters of Newaygo County to world-class destinations like Saginaw Bay, Big Star Lake, and Muskegon Lake. Your guide knows where the fish are holding based on current conditions, so you're not wasting time drilling random holes.
Your full day starts early because that's when the bite is usually best – especially for walleye and northern pike. You'll be fishing solo with your guide, which means personalized attention and the flexibility to move spots if the action slows down. This isn't a cookie-cutter trip where everyone does the same thing. Your guide reads the conditions and adjusts tactics throughout the day, whether that means switching from live minnows to jigging spoons, moving to deeper structure, or setting up tip-ups for pike. The beauty of ice fishing in Michigan is the variety – one minute you're sight-fishing bluegill in shallow bays, the next you're working deep basins for suspended crappie. The scenery changes too, from the vast expanses of Saginaw Bay to the intimate settings of inland lakes like Big Star near Baldwin.
We run a mixed bag approach that keeps things interesting and productive. Live bait is the bread and butter – fathead minnows, wax worms, and spikes depending on what we're targeting. But we also throw artificials when the fish are aggressive, especially tungsten jigs tipped with plastics for walleye or small spoons for perch. The tip-up spread is where things get exciting – nothing beats hearing that flag pop up and knowing a northern pike just grabbed your sucker. Your guide handles all the hole drilling and brings the shelter, heater, and electronics. The Vexilar or Humminbird will show you exactly what's happening below the ice, and trust me, watching fish come up to investigate your bait never gets old. We move around based on what the fish are telling us, and with locations spanning from Cadillac's Lake Mitchell to the current hotspots along the Saginaw River, there's always a backup plan.
Crappie are the customer favorite for good reason – they school up tight in winter and when you find them, you can fill a bucket fast. Look for them suspended over deep basins or relating to standing timber in 15-25 feet of water. February and March are prime time when they start their pre-spawn movement. These slab-sided fighters put up a surprising battle on light tackle, and there's nothing quite like watching a big crappie materialize on your electronics before it commits to your minnow. The best part? Where there's one, there's usually a dozen more.
Walleye fishing through the ice is a whole different game than summer trolling, and many anglers say it's even better. These golden beauties relate to structure and current breaks, especially around the Saginaw system where we can target them along channel edges and humps. Peak feeding times are early morning and late afternoon, which fits perfectly into our full-day schedule. A 5-pound walleye pulling drag through 6 inches of ice while you're trying to thread it through the hole – that's what keeps anglers coming back season after season.
Northern pike turn into absolute savages under the ice, and they're trending as one of the most exciting targets for tip-up fishing. They patrol the weed edges and ambush anything that looks like an easy meal. The anticipation of watching your tip-up flag is addictive, then the sprint across the ice when it pops. These toothy predators average 24-30 inches but we regularly see fish pushing 35-plus inches, especially on the bigger water systems. The fight is violent and unpredictable – they'll make runs, jump, and thrash all the way to the hole.
American Yellow Perch might be smaller, but they make up for it in numbers and table fare. These striped beauties school up in massive groups over sandy flats and drop-offs. Once you dial in the right depth and presentation, it's game on. Perch are excellent for beginners because they're aggressive biters and relatively easy to catch, but they also challenge experienced anglers to fine-tune their presentations. The 10-12 inch jumbo perch we target are thick-bodied and fight harder than you'd expect.
Bluegill fishing through the ice is pure fun, especially in the shallows where you can sight-fish them. These scrappy panfish relate to weedy bays and protected areas, often in water less than 10 feet deep. They're perfect for working on your jigging technique because they can be finicky one day and aggressive the next. The bull bluegill we target are thick, colorful, and surprisingly strong fighters that will test your drag system on ultralight gear.
This best trip combines the technical aspects of ice fishing with the raw excitement of hooking into multiple species throughout the day. Your guide's local knowledge spans multiple counties and water systems, so you're always fishing the most productive spots based on current conditions. The personalized one-on-one instruction means you'll leave as a better angler, whether you're learning to read electronics, perfecting your jigging cadence, or understanding how structure relates to fish positioning. Ice fishing in Michigan doesn't get better than this – book your spot now and see why anglers are calling this the world-
Perca FlavescensYellow perch are the bread and butter of Michigan ice fishing - reliable, tasty, and perfect for keeping the action going all day. These golden beauties with dark vertical stripes typically run 6-10 inches and travel in huge schools. Find one and you'll often catch a dozen from the same hole. They love hanging around weed beds, rocky areas, and drop-offs in 12-25 feet of water. Winter is actually prime time since they school up tight and feed actively. What makes perch so popular is that sweet, firm meat - some say it's the best eating fish that swims. They're not big fighters but make up for it in numbers and taste. Kids especially love them since they bite readily and are easy to catch. Pro tip: once you locate a school, mark your GPS and try multiple depths - perch will suspend at different levels throughout the day.
Lepomis MacrochirusBluegill are the perfect starter fish but don't let that fool you - big bulls will bend your rod and put up a surprising fight. These colorful panfish average 6-8 inches but the thick-bodied males can push 10-plus inches and really test your tackle. They love shallow, weedy areas around docks, fallen trees, and vegetation in 8-15 feet of water during winter. Spring through early summer is prime time when they're aggressive and feeding heavily before spawning. What guests love is how willing they are to bite and that scrappy fight - they'll make your drag sing. The flaky white meat is excellent too. They travel in schools, so finding one usually means more action. Here's my tip: use small jigs tipped with wigglers or waxworms, and don't be afraid to downsize your presentation - their mouths are smaller than you think, but their appetite is huge.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusCrappie are some of the tastiest panfish you'll find under Michigan ice. These slab-sided beauties typically run 8-12 inches and travel in schools, so when you find one, you'll often find more. Black crappie prefer clearer water while whites handle murkier conditions - both love hanging around submerged timber, weed edges, and drop-offs in 10-20 feet of water. Winter fishing is prime time since they school up tight and feed actively through the ice. What makes them special is that sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. They put up a decent scrap for their size too. My go-to tip: when you mark fish on the finder, drop your jig right to them but work it super slow - crappie will follow a bait forever before committing, so patience pays off big time.
Esox LuciusNorthern pike are our water wolves - aggressive predators that'll hammer your bait without warning. These toothy critters average 24-30 inches but can stretch over 40 inches in our better lakes. They're ambush hunters that love hanging around weed edges, shallow bays, and drop-offs where they can surprise prey. Winter pushes them to deeper structure, but they still hit hard when they're feeding. What guests love most is that sudden, violent strike that'll nearly rip the rod from your hands. They fight dirty too - jumping, rolling, and using every trick to throw the hook. The meat's decent eating if you know how to deal with the Y-bones. One key tip: use a steel leader or heavy fluorocarbon - those razor teeth will slice through regular line like butter. When you hook one, keep pressure on but let your drag do the work.
Sander VitreusWalleye are the gold standard for eating and one of our most sought-after species through the ice. These golden-flanked beauties average 14-18 inches but can push 20-plus pounds in Michigan waters. Those glassy eyes aren't just for show - they help walleye hunt in low light, making dawn, dusk, and overcast days your best bet. Look for them along rocky drop-offs, weed edges, and river channels in 15-30 feet of water. They're notorious for light bites, so you need to stay sharp on the rod. The payoff is worth it though - firm, mild fillets that are absolutely perfect fried up. Winter concentrates them in predictable spots, making ice season prime time. Here's a local trick: when you get a walleye bite, don't horse them up fast. Keep steady pressure but let them fight - they love to throw the hook right at the hole.
Newaygo, Michigan, USA