Saginaw Bay Yellow perch were caught on perch rigs off the mouth of the river near Buoys 17-18. Fish were also caught off Finn Road, but most were throwbacks. Some perch were caught in shallow water off the mouth of the Quanicassee River in the early morning. Walleye fishing was slow in the bay. Fishing in the Quanicassee River was slow.
Saginaw River Yellow perch are being caught in Essexville near the Wirt Stone dock by shore anglers using perch rigs.
Au Gres Area Walleye fishing was slow with a few caught out towards Pt. Lookout, Whitestone Pt. and at the mouth of the river when using body baits. Those casting body baits, spoons and jigs caught smallmouth bass, pike and lake trout at the breakwall. Large and smallmouth bass were caught out near Pt. Lookout in 10 to 20 feet. Walleye were caught in the Catfish Hole in 17 to 23 feet.
Au Gres River some perch were caught on minnows. There were some reports of good smelt dipping off Foster Road and the Singing Bridge access. Steelhead were spawning in the East Branch.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Oscoda catch rates were slow with a couple walleye, lake trout or coho taken by those trolling spoons and body baits in 10 to 25 feet off the river mouth. Pier anglers caught a couple lake trout, Atlantic salmon, steelhead, brown trout and walleye when casting spoons and body baits or still-fishing spawn bags and minnows. The occasional channel cat was also caught on minnows.
Au Sable River Steelhead, suckers and a couple holdover Atlantic salmon were caught when floating and bouncing beads, spawn bags, flies, or jigs tipped with wax worms. Water temperatures were in the low 50’s.
Tawas Area reported slow action with only a few brown trout and steelhead caught off Tawas Point when using spoons or body baits in 25 to 30 feet. Good catches of perch were taken off the pier when using minnows. A couple Atlantic salmon were also taken when casting spoons and body baits or still-fishing with minnows.
Tawas River had some good perch fishing off the dock and along the shore at Gateway Park. Anglers are getting lots of small fish along with some keepers.
Fishing Tip: Eyes in the field
What’s this oily sheen in the water? If it shatters when you poke it with a stick, it’s likely due to natural bacterial processes. If it clings together, take a picture, note your location and report it to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS).