Saginaw Bay anglers trolling for walleye are switching from body baits to crawler harnesses. That’s a good sign that the early spring pattern is ending and the summer pattern is setting up. Good walleye fishing catches reported from a variety of locations. Limit catches were also reported. Some general hot spots were 21 feet at the Black Hole, 20 feet off Linwood, 16 feet off Pinconning and 21 feet just east of the Dumping Ground. Fish were also caught in four to eight feet east of Spoils Island and along the Callahan Reef, four to 16 feet in the Slot between Fish Point and Quanicassee or the Slot between Heisterman Island and the tip of Sand Point. Good colors for crawler harness spinners were purple, green or anti-freeze and gold.
- Saginaw River walleye were still being caught in the lower river between the mouth and the Independence Bridge. Anglers are trolling, vertical jigging or casting jigs.
Au Gres a good number of limit walleye catches were reported in 20 to 35 feet between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres. A few boats heading further south did very well off the Saganing Bar.
- Au Gres River shore anglers fishing at night caught channel cats.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Grindstone City is producing a good mix of trout and salmon. Those trolling are taking a mix of trout and salmon out near the wreck of the Philadelphia. Near Lighthouse Park, those trolling for walleye in 12 feet did well.
Oscoda boats are finally heading out and catching a good number of steelhead, salmon, lake trout and walleye. Lake trout are in 90 to 120 feet and hitting on spoons. Salmon and steelhead were in 60 to 80 feet and hitting on spoons and body baits. Good colors were orange or combinations of black and blue.
- Au Sable River steelhead are still making their way up to the beds. Anglers have done well with spawn, wax worms and fly’s. Walleye are being caught off the pier and by those drifting at the mouth. Try crawlers and leeches.
Port Austin did not have much activity as harbor renovations are on-going.
Tawas daytime fishing off the pier was kind of slow. A few carp and bass were caught inside the harbor and a couple salmon were caught on large shiners on the outside. Night fishing off the pier was more productive for walleye by those casting body baits or still-fishing with large shiners. Walleye were caught by those trolling crawler harnesses between the tip of Tawas Point and Buoy #2.
- Tawas River shore anglers caught mostly smallmouth bass.
Weekly Fishing Tip: Clean Boats, Clean Tournaments
Do you organize fishing tournaments? Do you know how important it is to clean the boats of tournament participants to reduce the risk of spreading invasive species?
Wisconsin Sea Grant has developed a 10-minute video that provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a boat-watching station that looks to prevent the spread of Eurasian milfoil, zebra/quagga mussels, and spiny water fleas. Check out their “Clean Boats, Clean Tournaments” video below: