Saginaw Bay Boat anglers off Eagle Bay Marina and the Pine River caught some perch in seven to 10 feet. The keepers were running between eight and 10 inches. Shore anglers fishing the lower Pine River caught mostly small perch. Those trolling for walleye caught some nice fish on crank baits out past Buoys 1 & 2. This might indicate the bigger fish are just coming back into the bay as the water cools down. Boat anglers caught walleye about a mile north of Spoils Island and some perch near Buoy #18, in the old shipping channel and off the loading dock near Spoils Island. Perch fishing remains slow and spotty from Quanicassee to Caseville. Boat anglers picked up a few in six to eight feet straight off the mouth of the Quanicassee River. The perch were still not in the cuts and river mouths in big numbers. Currently the water temperatures were in the high 40’s to maybe 50 degrees. Minnows are just starting to move into the river mouths again. Those that want to fish for perch in the river mouths and cuts should start fishing now. If you wait to hear “the perch are in”, by the time you get there it may well be over. Shore anglers at the Finn Road Cut caught bluegills and sunfish but very few perch.
- Saginaw River Walleye were caught in the lower river however most of the keepers were 13 to 14 inches and lots of sub-legal fish were caught and released. Likewise, perch anglers fishing the lower river are starting to get some fish in and near the Bay Aggregate Cut, off Bay Harbor Marina and the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club.
Au Gres Area a couple of walleye and some perch were caught between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres in 20 feet.
- Au Gres River some perch were caught in the lower river from the boat ramp lakeward.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Oscoda Pier anglers caught a few walleye when casting body baits or jigs tipped with minnows in the early morning or after dark. Lake trout and a couple steelhead were caught by those casting body baits and spoons or still-fishing with spawn.
- Au Sable River Atlantic salmon are in spawning mode, so it has been hard to get them to strike. Those casting spoons and spinners or swinging and stripping streamer flies had the best luck, with fish up to 12 pounds caught. Atlantic salmon with a missing adipose fin have a coded wire tag in their snout. Anglers are asked to turn the heads in at Wellman’s, Au Sable River Store, Haglund’s, The Dam Store, or Harrisville State Park. The steelhead action picked up a little bit as fish were caught by those casting spoons or bottom bouncing and floating spawn bags and beads. A few post-spawn Chinook up to 18 pounds along with the odd lake trout, coho or lake run brown trout were caught by those casting spoons and spinners or when backtrolling with plugs in the lower river.
Port Austin a few perch were caught inside the harbor. This is the time when night anglers start to catch walleye off the breakwall when casting spoons or body baits.
Tawas Area Pier anglers in Tawas Bay are getting some walleye at night and a few pike during the day. Shore anglers have also caught walleye including a few limit catches at night behind the State Police Post when casting jig heads and soft plastics at night.
- Tawas River Walleye were hitting at the mouth and in the lower river up to the US-23 Bridge.
Fishing Tip: Proper Storage of Fishing Equipment
It’s getting to be that time of year where many anglers are preparing to store their fishing equipment. Here are a few tips to help you through this process:
- Take your reels apart to clean them and then grease and oil them.
- Check out the hooks on your lures and determine if they need replacement or sharpening.
- Remove the fly line from your reel. If you plan on reusing it consider cleaning it with dish soap.
- Use rod sleeves to store your rods and so the parts don’t get mismatched.
- Store your rods vertically to avoid any bends from occurring.
- Keep your rods at room temperature.
- Check your waders for any leaks; pinhole-sized leaks can be found by putting a flashlight inside your waders in a dark room.
After that you’ll be ready for ice fishing season! But brush up on the basics first!