Saginaw Bay walleye were caught in 25 feet at the Spark Plug with spoons, crank baits or a crawler harness. Off Pinconning, those using spoons in 20 to 25 feet caught fish off Gambil’s. At Finn Road, the fish were shallow in four to six feet and hitting a crawler harness. From Quanicassee to Fish Point, catch rates were good during the week and slower on the weekend. Fish were caught from the buoys off Quanicassee to Thomas Road, along the Slot and between the Coryeon Reef and the Spark Plug in 25 to 28 feet with a harness or plastics in purple or fire-tiger. From Fish Point to Sebewaing, anglers caught a mixed bag in 17 feet. At Bay Port, walleye anglers were fishing outside the islands and the Slot.
Saginaw River smallmouth bass, channel cats and freshwater drum were caught off Smith Park and the Wart Stone Dock.
Flint River anglers were taking limit catches of channel cats in the Holloway Reservoir when using a plain hook with a worm.
Au Gres Area anglers were getting some limit catches when trolling in 30 to 35 feet. Limits were also caught in 15 to 25 feet off Eagle Bay Marina, towards Buoys 1 and 2 and off Gambil’s. Channel cats, perch and freshwater drum were caught. Those using artificial baits or crawlers caught fish off the Pine River in 10 to 15 feet.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Oscoda a few limit catches of lake trout were taken between here and Greenbush when trolling spoons, dodgers with spin-glo’s or cowbells with flatfish in the bottom 10 feet. Atlantic and pink salmon were found in the top 30 of 70 to 90 feet with small spoons on lead core behind planer boards. Orange, chartreuse, blue and silver were good colors. Pier anglers caught a couple walleye, channel cats, carp and freshwater drum when still-fishing with crawlers. A couple walleye and smallmouth bass were also taken on twister tail jigs. The walleye bite slowed and the fish were on the small side.
Au Sable River anglers caught walleye and catfish in the early morning or evening when floating crawlers and leeches. Walleye were taken in some of the upstream holes below Foote Dam. Smallmouth bass were taken by those casting streamer flies, jigs, crank baits, spinners and popper flies. Pike have been caught throughout when casting spinners and crank baits in deeper water and along the weed lines. Those fly fishing the upper stretch above Mio reported good brown trout fishing even with the hex hatches. Foote Pond was good for smallmouth bass, rock bass and pike when casting spinners or floating crawlers and leeches off Foote Park and Old Orchard Park.
Tawas Area those trolling were marking lake trout but not many were caught. Walleye anglers were getting some fish down near the “Steeples” and the Charity Islands in 30 to 40 feet or inside Jerry’s Marina. Pier anglers reported a slow summer pattern with only a few large and smallmouth bass or carp taken.
Tawas River was producing some rock bass, channel cats, freshwater drum, large and smallmouth bass when still-fishing or casting.
Fishing Tip: How to catch your own nightcrawlers
Are you interested in catching and keeping your own nightcrawlers? It’s fairly easy to do so, just follow these simple steps.
- Know where to look. Scout areas (such as parks, playgrounds, open grassy areas) after a good rain. Look for nightcrawler castings (the little piles of dirt they leave behind) and then plan a visit following the next good rain.
- Know when to collect. Nightcrawlers are best caught an hour or so after dark.
- Bring the right equipment. Nightcrawlers are sensitive to vibrations so wear light-weight shoes. They’re also sensitive to bright light so consider rigging your flashlight with a red cover over the lens.
- Store them properly. Upon catching, just lay them on top of some storage bedding — don’t mix them in. This will allow you to remove sick or dead nightcrawlers more easily.