Saginaw Bay fishing catch rates continue to be slow due to ice conditions. Very few walleye anglers had been out. Yellow perch fishing was hit or miss, with the better action at Pinconning and the Linwood Marina, though most of the fish were throw-backs. On the east side, a few anglers were found at Vanderbilt Park and the Finn Road access site, but no fish were recorded. Wildfowl Bay was still producing, though anglers are sorting through a lot of small ones to get a couple keepers. Perch fishing from Sebewaing to Bay Port is slow, with mostly small fish being caught.
- Saginaw River anglers are getting out at all locations; however, caution still needs to be used. Walleye fishing was spotty, with only a couple fish taken from Veterans Park on M-13, north of the Zilwaukee Bridge near Crow Island, off the Zilwaukee boat launch and near First Street. Anglers are sorting out the small ones to get a few keepers. Good baits were an orange jig tipped with a minnow or a blue and silver #3 jigging rap. Crappie were caught around the docks at Bay Harbor Yacht Club in Bay City.
- Tittabawassee River continues to not be fishable at this point.
Au Gres Area, a few pike were speared inside Northport Marina and on the south side of the breakwalls. A couple lake trout were caught on spoons. Perch fishing was good, with limit catches taken in 4 to 8 feet with jack hooks or jigs tipped with minnows north of the Pine River.
- Au Gres River produced small walleye, along with a few keepers, were caught on jigs and spoons tipped with minnow heads.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Tawas Area: Had a slow week of fishing with anglers only getting a few lake trout, the occasional brown trout and a few small perch. The trout were caught on spoons or jigs tipped with minnows, and the perch were caught on minnows in 8 to 10 feet.
- Tawas River: Before the river froze up, a brown trout and a lake trout were caught when casting spoons and body baits at Gateway Park.
Fishing Tip: Targeting walleye? Wait until the sun goes down!
While many anglers pack up their gear and head off the ice after dusk settles in, some anglers will stick it out – especially if they’ve got a lighted shelter. This can be an ideal time to target walleye and to see some angling success.
Many anglers adopt a simple presentation when targeting walleye in the dark – they jig a spoon to catch the fishes’ attention and then offer them a setline with a minnow nearby. Focus on baits that glow to appeal to the walleye’s senses, and keep the minnows small to accommodate their slower appetites.
Want even more tips for targeting walleye? Visit the walleye page on DNR website.