Saginaw Bay had excellent walleye fishing when the wind stops blowing and boats can get out. Good catches were reported off Gambil’s Marina near Pinconning in 23 feet, and around the Old Dumping Grounds. Excellent fishing was reported in the Slot from Quanicassee to Sebewaing and near the weed beds in Wildfowl Bay. Most have switched over to crawler harnesses, but a few are doing well on spoons, Flicker-Shad, and other assorted crankbaits. At Caseville, walleye anglers were exploring the waters around the Charity Islands and along the reefs between Caseville and Port Austin.
- Saginaw River those trolling in the lower river caught walleye as far upstream as the Coast Guard Station. This is the place to go if it’s too windy to fish out on the bay.
Au Gres Area of Saginaw Bay had excellent #walleyefishing with lots of limit catches taken. Many were fishing straight off the river mouth in 25 to 30 feet, off Eagle Bay Marina and south towards Pinconning in eight to 22 feet. Big yellow perch and pike were also caught.
- Au Gres River shore anglers caught crappie, pumpkinseed, bullhead, freshwater drum, catfish and pike.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Oscoda lake trout were caught in the bottom 15 feet of waters 70 to 90 feet deep. A couple Atlantics were caught on spoons higher in the water column. Pier anglers had good catches of channel catfish when still-fishing with crawlers. Walleye were caught from the pier and the river mouth when still-fishing or drifting crawlers as well as casting body baits and jigs. Largemouth and smallmouth bass along with freshwater drum were caught by those casting jigs with twister tails or drifting crawlers.
- Au Sable River those still-fishing crawlers from shore or drifting crawlers from boats caught walleye, channel cats, freshwater drum, and carp between River Road and the mouth. Smallmouth anglers took fish when casting jigs or crank baits. Try targeting the holes and near woody debris for smallmouth bass and walleye. The deeper holes near Foote Dam can also provide some good size smallmouth bass this time of year.
Tawas Area walleye were caught off Jerry’s Marina and out near Buoy #2 in 60 feet however success in Tawas Bay was spotty.
- Tawas River shore anglers caught an assortment of bass, freshwater drum, catfish and some pike.
Fishing Tip: Taking great catch-and-release photos:
Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?
Check out the following steps:
- Wet your hands before you handle the fish, that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (aka slime) the fish has coating their body.
- Remember a fish can not breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot.
- Take the photo with the fish fairly close to the water, that way if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water not on a hard surface.
- While holding the fish do not pinch or squeeze it and do not stick your fingers in its gills.
- Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you.