Saginaw Bay Ice Fishing from Sebewaing to Caseville was slow. From Sebewaing to Bay Port, only a few yellow perch were caught, and an occasional pike was caught by those spearing. In Wildfowl Bay, anglers were reporting a good number of perch, but the bite was tough. Only a few pike were caught. A few northern pike were caught at Pinconning Park. At the end of Linwood Road a few yellow perch were caught in 4 to 5 feet of water.
Saginaw River Walleye ice fishing was slow with sub-legal walleye caught and released. However, there were some limit catches of walleye with lots of sorting caught at the middle grounds on M13 in the vicinity of James Clemens Airport while fishing in 24 feet of water. Anglers also did well at Wickes Park between the Lee Street Boat and Center Street Bridge. In both cases a purple jigging Rapala was working best.
Au Gres Area anglers were catching perch and walleye off jigs tipped with minnows. There were some whitefish and walleye caught near the drop-off at Pt. Au Gres in 10 to 15 feet of water, using jig tipped with minnows and or waxworms.
Pine River fishing in the Pine River and Palmer Road area, there were some good catches of perch caught in 5 to 10 feet off jack hooks or jigs tipped with minnows. Some walleye were caught out in deeper water, 10 to 20 feet, off jigs and minnows. Some bluegill and crappie were caught inside Eagle Bay Marina off waxworms and minnows.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Tawas Area perch anglers were catching some smaller fish and a few keepers in 10 to 15 feet of water off minnows and waxworms. Walleye anglers were catching a few in 15 to 20 feet of water off jigs and minnows.
Fishing Tip: Finding panfish through the ice
Have you been attempting to target panfish during your ice fishing trips this winter, but aren’t having much luck? Consider the following things.
Are the panfish sticking to shallow or deep depths? Are they hanging out in the weeds or on the rocks? Are they suspended or are they hugging the bottom?
Panfish are likely to be in deeper water to find more oxygen. Keep that in mind when you look for them!
Also keep your presentation efforts in mind. A popular effort includes putting a jig on the bottom and using a twitch-pause-twitch routine with it.