Saginaw Bay fair #walleyefishing action was reported straight out from Gambil’s in 23 feet, off Linwood in 15 to 20 feet, Finn Road in four to six feet, near the inner Spark Plug in 20 feet or north of Spoils Island in 16 feet. Spoons or a crawler harness worked best. At Quanicassee, shallow waters five to eight feet were better as the deeper water was too weedy. From Oakhurst to Fish Point, the inner edge had better fishing than the deeper side of the Slot. A crawler harness worked best but a few were using plastics. At Sebewaing, fish were taken in 12 to 15 feet. Port Austin had no reports.
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Saginaw River Saginaw River at Smith Park was producing smallmouth bass, channel cats, and freshwater drum.
Au Gres Area #walleyefishing anglers were fishing straight out in 30 to 40 feet and a few limit catches were reported near the Charity Islands and around the Steeples with a crawler harness in 20 to 30 feet. Perch, channel cats and freshwater drum were also caught.
- Au Gres River pier fishing was slow with only a couple channel cats, smallmouth bass or pike caught. Shore anglers on the Pine River were targeting channel cats or whatever may bite.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Grindstone City shore anglers caught the odd walleye, smallmouth bass or catfish.
Oscoda Area those trolling found decent numbers of lake trout with spoons, spin-glo’s and dodgers in the bottom 15 of 75 to 95 feet. Atlantic salmon were hitting on spoons and lead core in the top 25 feet. Pier anglers still-fishing with crawlers caught channel cats and a few walleye in the evening. Those casting jigs or crank baits caught smallmouth bass, rock bass and freshwater drum.
- Au Sable River anglers drifting crawlers through the holes in Oscoda found a few walleye, smallmouth bass, and freshwater drum. Bladed harnesses and beads were effective attractors when drifting crawlers. Channel cats were caught between Mill Street and the mouth when still-fishing with crawlers after dark. Smallmouth bass and a few yellow perch were caught along the weedy cuts and still waters of the lower river when using perch rigs with minnows. Walleye were caught by those drifting crawlers in the tailwaters of Mio, Cooke, and Foote Dam. The evening hatches have the brown trout in feeding mode in the upper river and the tributaries between Grayling and Mio. Hex nymphs and spinner patterns can be very effective this time of year.
Tawas Area #walleyefishing was slow. There was activity off Jerry’s Marina and Buoys 4 and 6 but few fish were caught. Pier anglers casting or still-fishing with tube baits, spinners and body baits were targeting large and smallmouth bass, pike or catfish.
- Tawas River a few catfish and freshwater drum were caught but the action was slow.
Fishing Tip: Eating safe fish in Michigan
There are many benefits to eating fish, but anglers should be aware that some fish have mercury, dioxin, PCBs or other chemicals in them that can be bad for your health if you eat too many.
The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services’ Eat Safe Fish Guide helps you learn about eating safe, local and healthful fish from throughout the state. Their “3Cs” message is simple and easy to remember when it comes to eating safe fish:
- Choose – A general rule of thumb is to remember S.A.F.E.
Smaller fish are usually a good choice, Avoid large predator fish and bottom-feeders, Fat should be removed, Eat fish that have been broiled or grilled on a rack. - Clean – Learn about cleaning techniques (including trimming as much fat from the fish as possible) to help remove chemicals from the fish.
- Cook – Discover cooking techniques that can be used to remove even more chemicals from the fish.
Be informed and check out the Eat Safe Fish Guide to help protect yourself and your family from chemicals that could someday make you sick.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/eatsafefish and then click on the “Going Fishing?” button.