This year’s walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay is going to go down in the history books as the finest in modern day history. It just continues to amaze. The superb fishing is still south of Point Augres, but incredibly, water depth doesn’t seem to matter. The near shore waters are producing as well as the deeper waters on either side of the shipping channel. The western shores of the bay have a number of commercial nets set from 30 feet in to as shallow as 20 feet of water, so anglers are urged keep a sharp eye out, as some are not marked according to DNR requirements and not easily seen. Whenever I come upon nets, I mark their location on my GPS so I know where they might be the next time I’m trolling the area.
Our troll yesterday was a favorite area in 28 feet of water. Walleye contact was immediate. However, after 45 minutes and only three good fish and a dozen throwbacks, we moved out into 33 feet of water about four miles down from Point Augres and filled a four-party limit in just over three hours of some really nice fish–all in the 18-inch and over class. So if the fish you are looking for aren’t in your first run, don’t be afraid to change locations. I talked to half a dozen captains at the cleaning station yesterday afternoon. Not one had been working the same area or depth of water, but all had limits of really nice fish.
There is a big tournament this weekend out of Augres so be prepared for some heavy boating traffic. My preference is to always stay well outside any of the fleets of boats. There is no likelihood of anglers trolling too close (or over) my lines, and too many boats working a big school of fish will either eventually scatter them or put them down and off the bite.
Have a safe weekend on the water, and enjoy the finest walleye fishing in modern day history on Saginaw Bay. And remember to take your kids fishing. The bite is on, and they won’t get bored!
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Capt. Terry R. Walsh
