Saginaw Bay walleye were hitting in many places including 17 to 20 feet off Pinconning, 18 feet off Linwood, and five to eight feet off the mouth of the Kawkawlin River however the best reports came from the south end of the Slot from Quanicassee to Sebewaing and up onto the Bar (Coryeon Reef) in 12 to 13 feet. Fish were also caught outside the islands off Bay Port and along the weed beds in Wildfowl Bay. Some of the east side anglers were going out as far as the shipping channel and getting fish in 25 feet and deeper. From Caseville, a couple fish were caught in 15 feet off Oak Point in the early morning. Hot spinner colors were chartreuse, anti-freeze, fire-tiger and purple.
- Au Gres Area is on fire with limit catches of walleye reported in 30 to 45 feet between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres as well as south off the Saganing and Pinconning Bars. Some were fishing in 30 to 35 feet in the middle of the bay near the “Humps”. Most are using a crawler harness but a few were using small spoons.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Oscoda anglers are finding lake trout when trolling spoons in 70 to 100 feet. Pier anglers caught a couple smallmouth bass when casting crank baits. Carp were caught on crawlers near the bottom.
- Au Sable River walleye fishing has been slow near the mouth; however, anglers continue to catch fish in the evening and overnight when drifting crawlers or trolling harnesses and cranks upstream of the Mill Street Bridge. Rock bass, freshwater drum, and smallmouth bass were caught when casting crank baits or still-fishing with crawlers near the bottom.
Tawas Area boat anglers report slow fishing. Pier anglers caught a mix of rock bass, smallmouth bass and carp.
- Tawas River shore anglers caught catfish, bass, pike and freshwater drum.
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.