Fish With Jim Outfitters offers Ice Fishing Trips on the most productive Inland Lakes that Northern Michigan has to offer.  Our mobile guide service will give your group the best possible fishing trip by being on the best bite and the best ice conditions.  Come catch some of Northern Michigan's game fish through the ice including; Lake Trout, Splake, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Perch, Burbot, Cisco and more in Northern Michigan's inland lakes.  Fish With Jim Outfitters frequently ice fishes many lakes in the Northwest Lower Michigan.  We provide your group everything needed to enjoy a day out on the ice including safe transportation, heated shanty, electronics, rods, tackle and bait.

 

2023 Rates

Fully Guided Trips

1/2 Day $179 - Per Fisherman for 4 Hours

Full Day $219 - Per Fisherman for 7 hours

We have a capacity of up to 16 fully guided fisherman per day.

 

Follow-Out Trips

$119 - Per Fisherman

 

What is included in your trip

We provide warm shanties with propane heaters, transportation, Marcum LX-7 fish-finders, an array of rods featuring the in-line style reel from Eagle Claw, a huge selection of proven tackle, bait and local knowledge on our fully guided ice fishing trips.  If you have all the gear and are just looking to tag along for the day we have a semi-guided option.

 

Shanties and Fishing Gear

Currently Fish With Jim Outfitters has many good options for shanties.  We currently have 6 Eskimo hub style shanties that are insulated and 2 permanent shanties.

 

Eskimo Outbreak 650XD

(Group of 4 people)

Fish With Jim Outfitters has 2 Outbreak 650XD's.  Don’t trip. Stay warm. Fish longer, in 94 square feet of comfort that is perfect for a group of 4. The Outbreak 650XD is the perfect party sized shelter keep you warm and comfortable during your time on the ice. Best of all, its all-access, full panel door makes loading and unloading quicker and easier, so you can focus on fishing.

 

Eskimo Outbreak 450XD

(Group of 3 people)

Fish With Jim Outfitters has 2 Outbreak 450XD’s.  This is the perfect family sized shelter of 72 square feet for a group of 3 to keep you warm and comfortable during your time on the ice. Best of all, its all-access, full panel door makes loading and unloading quicker and easier, so you can focus on fishing.

 

Eskimo Outbreak 250XD

(Group of 2 people)

Fish With Jim Outfitters has 2 Outbreak 250XD’s. This shelter offers 51 square feet of insulated, packable comfort. The Outbreak 250XD is the perfect shelter for a group of 2 to keep you warm and comfortable during your time on the ice. Best of all, its all-access, full panel door makes loading and unloading quicker and easier, so you can focus on fishing.

 

Other Trip Details

Meeting Place: We access our lakes in many places, please contact us for a meeting location.

License: Purchase a Michigan Fishing License for $10 daily.  Click Here

Tackle: All tackle is provided at no extra cost.

Keeping Fish: Anglers may keep fish on Fish With Jim Outfitters fishing outings.  Size limits and possession limits are set by the MDNR..

Fish Cleaning: Winter fish cleaning is not available.

What To Bring: We recommend you bring the following items to make your trip as enjoyable as possible; drinks and snacks, warm clothes, boots, gloves, hat, polarized sunglasses, camera and a cooler for your catch.

Gratuity: Please remember your guide at the end of the day. A normal tip is 15% of the total value of your trip.

Places To Stay: There are many quality places to stay in the Traverse City Area.  Please contact us and we can assist you in finding a place to stay.

 

Where We Fish

Fish With Jim Outfitters ice fishes many of the Inland Lakes in the Northwest Lower Michigan area.

 

Bear Lake is a 316 acre lake that is very clear and has a max depth of 60 feet. It is located just east of Grayling off of M-72.    We target Bear Lake in January for Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Perch.

 

Burt Lake is a 17,120 acre lake that is located 30 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge.  The lake is approximately 10 miles long from north to south, about 5 miles at its widest, and 73 feet (at its deepest.  Burt Lake can produce a mixed bag catch including; Burbot, Walleye, Cisco and Perch during the ice fishing season but, we primarily target it in March when the Burbot begin their annual spawn.

 

Lake Charlevoix is the third largest lake in Michigan with a surface area of over 17,200 acres and 56 miles of shoreline. The maximum depth in the main basin is 122 feet and in the south arm, 58 feet. Lake Charlevoix is located in Northwest Lower Michigan between Charlevoix, East Jordan and Boyne City.  We target Lake Charlevoix at the end of January for pike and during February for Cisco with an occasional Lake Trout.

 

Lake Skegemog is a 2,561 acre lake that is located east of Traverse City off of M-72.  Lake Skegemog is part of the Northwest Michigan Chain O’Lakes.  We target Skegemog in January for Perch.

 

Thumb Lake is a 484 acre lake that has three distinct basins with a max depth of just over 100 ft.  It is located just east of Boyne Falls.  Thumb Lake also know as Lake Louise.  We target Thumb Lake in January for Splake and Perch.

 

Torch Lake is the second largest inland lake by surface area and the largest by water volume.  It has an average depth of 111ft and is over 300ft at its deepest point.  does not freeze annually but, In the event they do have safe ice, we do extend our ice fishing trips to the destinations.  We primarily target it in late February - March for Lake Trout and Burbot when they begin their annual spawn.