When it comes to ice fishing, first ice is the best ice. For one or two weeks after ice-up, game fish in Michigan's inland lakes are on the feed, providing some of the best action of the year.

Every angler, it seems, has a theory to explain why the fishing can be so good. Some say it's because the water temperature changes when the lake freezes. Some say it's because snow-covered ice shields sunlight from the water, reducing photosynthesis and disrupting the lower end of the food chain. Others say that fish, like humans, need variety and change, and the sudden icing of the lake just stirs them up and gets them moving.

Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that early season ice fishing can be spectacular on Michigan lakes. Below is a rundown of 10 lakes where first-ice can be a particularly good time to fish.

1. Cass Lake, Oakland County.
This often overlooked lake supports an unbelievable variety of game fish. Ice fishermen can tie into crappies, bluegills, pike, walleyes, lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, splake, perch, ciscos, and even occasional kokanee salmon. The main body of the lake, with depths of more than 120 feet, may not freeze until well into January, but its several bays are usually frozen by mid-December and are where most anglers concentrate their attention. Look for crappies in six to eight feet of water in the bays and in numerous canals, and use teardrop jigs baited with perch minnows.

Bluegills are usually in deeper water and will hit small teardrops baited with waxworms or mousies. Try tip-ups near the mouths of the bays and canals for pike and walleyes. The area near the mouth of the Clinton River can be outstanding for splake, rainbows, browns, and kokanee salmon.

2. Gull Lake, Kalamazoo and Barry Counties.
Another lake with plenty of variety, Gull supports bass, pike, bluegills, perch, smelt, ciscos, rainbow trout, brown trout, and lake trout. Atlantic salmon are also present, but they're off-limits from September 30 to the last Saturday in April. The bays at the southeast end freeze by mid-December, well before the main body of the lake, and give up good numbers of smelt-fattened pike up to 25 pounds. Tip-ups baited with shiners are preferred.

When the rest of the lake freezes in early January, wigglers are effective for rainbows and browns near the creek mouths at the north end. Jigs and tip-ups take lake trout from the deeper holes.

3. Muskegon Lake, Muskegon County.
High winds and current prevent Muskegon Lake from freezing until January most years, but when the ice finally comes the fishing can be outstanding for walleye, pike, and perch. Most walleyes are caught by jigging spoons tipped with small minnows, especially on the northeast side of the lake. Large pike (up to about 20 pounds) are taken every year, either by spearing, tip-ups, or jigs.

Large perch have created some of the hottest early ice action on Muskegon Lake in recent years. They can be caught in water from 3-50 feet deep, on small minnows or teardrop jigs baited with waxworms, mousies, or wigglers. Try the west end, near the channel, but keep in mind that current can make the ice hazardous.

4. Holloway Reservoir, Genesee and Lapeer Counties.
This reservoir of the Flint River offers excellent fishing for walleye, bluegill, crappie, and northern pike. Look for ice-up to occur around mid-December, though the upper end may not be safe until late in the month. Crappie and bluegill are found off the creek mouths at the east end of the reservoir and among the stumps west of Goose Point. Pike are taken with tip-ups near Stanley Road, along the south side. Walleye action is best at the east end, especially over rock piles in the inlet above Mt. Morris Road. Jigging is the preferred technique.

5. Houghton Lake, Roscommon County.
This largest of Michigan lakes has outstanding populations of walleye, pike, crappies, and bluegills. Because it is such a shallow lake, most anglers seek out weedbeds, then fish their edges for a mixed bag of fish.

Good spots include the South Shore weedbed, near the town of Houghton Lake, the Tip-Up Town site across from the high school, the Middle Ground weedbeds at the center of the lake, and East Bay off the public access site in Prudenville. Both tip-ups and jigs are effective for walleye, while pike are taken primarily on tip-ups (spearing is not allowed on the lake).

Look for safe ice as early as the first of December.

6. Lake Cadillac, Wexford County.
While best known for walleye, Lake Cadillac also supports excellent populations of pike and perch. Walleye anglers do best in 12-15 foot depths near deep holes, and use tip-ups or jigs baited with minnows. Pike to 20 pounds are not uncommon, and are taken on tip-ups with sucker minnows, especially around the two weedbeds on the north shore just east of Kenwood Park. Dusk and dawn don't seem to be as magical here as they are elsewhere -- great catches are recorded all day long.

7. Crystal Lake, Benzie County.
Although this large, deep lake won't freeze most years until January, the first two weeks of ice-up produce some of Michigan's largest lake trout, with one or two each year topping 30 pounds.

Ted Goodwin, of Ted's Bait in Benzonia, says he looks for first-ice lakers in 65-80 feet on water, along the drop-offs near the lake's 100-165 foot depths. Swedish Pimples and whitefish jigs are preferred, although tip-ups baited with smelt can be deadly. Perch fishing can be good, especially early in the season over the beds of silt and mud along the shoreline areas, with wigglers as bait. Night-fishermen catch smelt from shanties off Beulah and at the west end.

8. Manistique Lake, Mackinac and Luce Counties.
This large, shallow lake can be ice-fished as early as the first week of December most years. Walleye are abundant, though they run a bit small, and are taken most often with jigs sweetened with small minnows.

Look for fish in 8-14 feet of water near the islands, in Helmer Bay, and in the large bay at the southwest corner. Weedlines are also productive. Pike up to 10 pounds are often taken from the shallows at the west end. Use tip-ups baited with large minnows, and be aware that you could tangle with occasional muskies. Perch fishing can be outstanding, with fish up to 16 inches taken early in the season. Try off the east access site near Burnt Island, and in Helmer Bay.

9. Lake Independence, Marquette County.
This lake gave up the state record perch in 1947--a 21-incher that weighed three pounds, 12 ounces. Yellow-bellies of 12-18 inches are still common, with the best action in mid-to-late December, soon after first-ice. Some of the best perch grounds are 100-150 yards off Perkins Park in Big Bay. Also try near the Iron River outlet at the west end. Small minnows and wigglers are most effective. Walleye fishing is only fair, with the fish scattered and small. Pike, too, are scattered, but a few fish over 20 pounds are taken each year.

10. Lake Gogebic, Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties.
One of the hottest walleye lakes in the upper Midwest, Gogebic is fast becoming equally well known for jumbo perch. Both species are best caught on first ice, usually from the end of November until early January. Try the north end near Merriweather Creek or the south end near the Slate River for walleyes.

Perch hit well 200-300 yards offshore in front of Gogebic Lodge near the south end of the lake. Large perch are taken with two-inch Swedish Pimples baited with waxworms. Also try teardrops and waxworms, or No. 8 hooks threaded with wigglers. Walleye anglers prefer jigs, with orange Jigging Rapalas the hottest lure.