News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Clem’s Bait and Tackle in Alpena on 9th Avenue is seen on Thursday.

ALPENA — Ice fishing is significant to Northeastern Michigan. It is an activity that brings together all ages to enjoy the beauty of the state. This past season was no exception, and in some cases, was an improvement from the year before.

Compared with the 2023-2024 season, this past season was an improvement from the last, said Tim Cwalinski, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Unit supervisor in Gaylord.

According to Cwalinski, the cold temperatures led to more ice than last year.

“The year before we had very sketchy ice,” Cwalinski said. “This year we had a very cold winter with lots of ice . . . In general, ice conditions were better this year.”

Though the ice conditions improved from the previous season, Cwalinski mentioned that we also had a lot of snow. According to Cwalinski, the accumulations on the ice made it hard for anglers to get out to fish and also made the ice a bit more unpredictable.

However, Cwalinski said that the fishing season was a success, overall.

“People ice fished a lot more this year than last year,” Cwalinski said.

An employee at Clem’s Bait and Tackle agreed. They explained that due to colder temperatures earlier on in the season, anglers were able to get out on the ice earlier.

According to the employee, ice fishing was good on Grand Lake. Anglers fishing for walleye were successful on Long Lake; anglers fishing for perch and pike did well at the boat harbor.

Because last year’s season was so short and there was an influx of people out ice fishing this year, the bait and tackle store had a hard time keeping bait in the store and faced a statewide shortage.

Glen Thompson, an Ossenieke native and avid fisherman, had differing opinions on the season.

“Ice wise, it was a bad season,” Thompson said. “We had some cold weather so the ice built up very quickly. However, that very deep snow pushed the ice down. That makes the water come up through the cracks forming slush on top.”

Thompson explained that he didn’t get out on the ice till a few weeks into the season. This made his season a bit shorter than usual.

Like many anglers, Thompson has his own strategy to ensure he catches the most and the best fish.

“I don’t use an enclosed shanty,” Thompson said. “I just sit on my bucket moving from hole to hole looking for bluegill and pumpkinseeds. You’ve got to be mobile to do well.”

Though the season wasn’t as successful as Thompson hoped, he said it was still fun and spent a portion of it with his granddaughter.

“Took one of my granddaughters out last week,” Thompson said. “She’s already looking forward to next winter.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.