Brrrrr…bring your fishing gear!

If the checklist reads: auger…tip-up…ice skimmer…shelter, you know it’s time to go ice-fishing, one of Michigan’s popular winter activities.

Michigan is at the top of the list of destinations for anyone who is serious about fishing. But casting a line isn’t just a warm weather sport. Even during the winter months, the fish in the Great Lake State are here and biting!

Ice fishing can be a perfect getaway. It’s also a true test of skill. If you think it's difficult hooking a fish in the heat of summer, try doing it when the lake is frozen.

Each year in Michigan, ice fishing enthusiasts take to the “freeze” and find the perfect icy section of lake to nab the slumbering swimmers. In several communities, entire festivals are coordinated to celebrate the sport, including:

Tip-Up-Town USA This event is so much fun it takes two weekends to enjoy. Venture onto frozen Houghton Lake the last two weekends in January for the annual Tip-Up-Town USA festival. The festivities include a polar bear dip into the icy waters, games on the ice. Michigan’s largest winter carnival with a grand parade, snow-sculpting and fishing contests.

White Lake Perch Festival Venture outside during the winter and have fun at the Perch Festival, every January, in Montague. Enjoy ice fishing tournaments, a chilli cook-off, fish dinner and dancing.

Super Trap Attack Open This ice fishing tournament at Wampler’s Lake in Brooklyn, near Jackson, leads up to the North American Ice Fishing Competition. The featured fish at the Michigan-based competition is the sunfish. There is also a free ice fishing seminar and kid’s ice fishing clinic during the course of the weekend, mid-January.

Quincy Chain of Lakes Tip Up Festival Bundle up and head over to Quincy during February for the area’s annual Tip-Up Festival. Activities are planned for the entire family, such as fishing contests for children and adults, a parade, games, dances, helicopter rides, races and fireworks. The event also includes a Tip-Up queen scholarship pageant, food, crafts, pony rides, snowmobile races, chain-saw and wood carving contests and polar bear jumpers.

Shanty Days Experience fun in the wintertime in Caseville, February. Located at the mouth of the Pigeon River on Saginaw Bay, this festival features ice fishing as well as four wheeler races, sled dog races, demolition derby, polar bear dip, live entertainment, a craft show, kids activities and the Annual Potty Trotty.

Celebrate Michigan's world-class freshwater fishing on during the Free Fishing Weekend, February 13-14, 2010. All fishing license fees are waived for residents and outstate visitors alike on both inland and Great Lakes waters. All fishing regulations will still apply.

Best Ice-fishing locations
Fishing enthusiasts with a preference towards the chilly, can also find top-notch ice fishing in these locations:

Houghton Lake Michigan’s largest inland lake at more than 20,000 acres, is renown for its “catch.” Pike, panfish and gills are among the most common fish. The lake is shallow so it freezes early.

Not far from Houghton, Higgins Lake is a known spot for trout and yellow perch. Due to the depth of the lake, safe freezing doesn’t occur until January.

Located within Pentogan County Park in southern Iron County, Chicagon Lake offers diverse deep water ice-fishery. Walleyes, lake trout and perch are among the best catches.

Get the gear

Before heading out on the ice, be sure to stop by one of Michigan’s premier sporting good stores to stock up on supplies. As one of the largest sporting goods stores in the Midwest, Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare and Gaylord boasts thousands of top brand outdoors and sporting products under one roof. Cabela’s in Dundee is the world’s foremost outfitter for year-round sporting gear for both hunting and fishing.

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