Saginaw Bay anglers caught pike and small perch at the Palmer Road Cut. Walleye were caught on body baits and crawler harnesses in five to 10 feet off Eagle Bay Marina. Crappie were caught in the marina. Boat anglers caught walleye on a flicker shad in four to eight feet off Gambil’s Marina near Pinconning. A few walleye were taken on crawlers out near the Spark Plug and from Quanicassee to Finn Road in eight to 10 feet with a crawler harness and husky jerks. In the Quanicassee River, anglers were targeting catfish and carp. From Sebewaing to Caseville, bass anglers are working the shallows as the fish are starting to get on the beds. Some also caught pike and the odd walleye. The breakwall area at Caseville is closed for concrete work so access may be limited.
- Saginaw River walleye catches are winding down. Anglers fishing near Smith Park caught smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish, freshwater drum and the occasional walleye.
- Tittabawassee River those trolling shad raps and flicker shads caught a few white bass. Near Gordonville, a few smallmouth bass and the occasional walleye were taken on jigs and twisters.
Au Gres Area in Saginaw Bay: Those fishing between the points caught a few walleye in 15 to 25 feet with crawlers and body baits. Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass, pike, suckers and the odd walleye or perch. Bass angling increased and a good number of fish were caught near the lighthouse.
- Au Gres River a few walleye were caught. Those surfcasting down near the Singing Bridge reported slow catch rates.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Oscoda boat anglers trolling inside 25 feet near the river mouth caught walleye on body baits especially in the evening. Pier anglers casting body baits, still-fishing with minnows and crawlers or floating a crawler harness up and down the pier caught walleye. Fire-tiger, clown and chartreuse were good colors. Atlantic salmon and lake trout were caught when casting spoons and jerk baits or still-fishing with minnows. Good colors were chrome and blue or chrome and orange. A couple large pike were caught on minnows.
- Au Sable River water temperatures in the lower river were in the upper 50’s. Atlantic salmon were caught when casting spoons and trolling plugs through the holes in Oscoda. The steelhead bite slowed but there was still a good number of fish in the system. Anglers did well when drifting flies, wobble-glo’s and beads. Yarn eggs, black stonefly nymphs, and caddis nymphs were good fly patterns. Carp and suckers were also caught by those drifting flies but the sucker run has slowed.
Tawas Area boat anglers caught walleye between the reef and Whitestone Point when casting jigs or trolling body baits and crawlers in 15 to 25 feet. Pier anglers caught Atlantic salmon, pike, or the odd walleye on body baits, jigs and minnows. Walleye were caught in eight to 10 feet off the Pine River.
- Tawas River walleye, smallmouth bass, pike, carp, freshwater drum and channel cats were caught with worms on the bottom or when casting lures.
Fishing Tip: Using stick/body baits when fishing for trout
Trout season is well under way with many anglers using dry flies and spinners. But what if you’re interested in waging battle with the largest trout in the river? Have you considered using stickbaits or body baits?
Many avid trout anglers swear by using these types of lures if you’re looking to catch big stream trout. Stickbaits and body baits mimic the minnows and small fish many trout species love to eat.
Keep in mind you won’t catch large quantities of trout when you’re using this type of bait, but the ones you do find will be high-quality and worth the effort. Consider fishing with lures you’d normally use when targeting bass and/or northern pike and stick with natural colors for the best chance of success.
To learn even more about fishing for trout in Michigan check out their page online.