Saginaw Bay Area boat anglers fishing for walleye reported slow to fair catch rates however a few that put in a whole day did manage to get up to five fish. Boats were launching from Patterson Road. A few perch anglers were out fishing in shallow waters only between Quanicassee and Fish Point. Any ice anglers should use caution and stay in shallow waters only.
Saginaw River boat anglers reported slow to fair walleye fishing at best. There have been no tag returns from caught walleye which indicates slow catch rates, or the fish caught were sub-legal.
Fishing Tip: Relax while ice fishing by using tip-ups
Tip-ups are a perfect technique to use for the entire ice fishing season in Michigan. This method allows anglers to sit back and relax, yet still experience the thrill of the catch!
Early in the season stick by shallow structures where species like northern pike and walleye will congregate. Try a variety of depths to figure out where they’re targeting exactly. However, if you are walleye fishing, the minnow should be hung 12 to 15 inches off the bottom. For pike the minnow should be hung three to seven feet off the bottom or just above the top of any vertical aquatic plants. The minnows should be hung in these positions for walleye and pike regardless of the over water depth.
Tip-ups become even more productive later in the season as less-aggressive fish are drawn to your presentation.
For more information on fishing during Michigan’s winter, visit Michigan.gov/fishing.