Saginaw Bay anglers are getting a few perch in five feet of water off Newman Road. Many walleye anglers are going four miles off Linwood or off the Bay City State Park and fishing in 17 feet. On the east side, those going off Thomas Road and Sunset Bay caught walleye in the middle of the Slot in 14 feet. Drifting snow along the east side is making access and travel difficult. At Mud Creek, local perch anglers were averaging 12 to 15 fish per trip. Most fish were eight to nine inches long. Pike spearing was slow.
Saginaw River fishing was slow at Wickes Park but the occasional keeper was caught downtown off the St. Mary’s Health building. Catch rates were slow between the Zilwaukee Bridge and Bay City. Anglers did manage to catch a couple fish near the Middle Grounds and Cass Avenue or downstream of the Veteran’s Bridge. A few perch were caught off Smith Park at Essexville. Fishing at the mouth was slow.
Au Gres walleye anglers going off Santiago Road were heading south and fishing in 20 feet of water. No activity at the mouth of the Pine River; the road into the access site was drifted shut.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Oscoda: Au Sable River fishing pressure was down. Access to the river is good since there hasn’t been a lot of snow accumulation. If walking the snowmobile trails be sure to watch for sleds as they may not be looking for you. The Rea Road launch is usable but you will need 4-wheel drive and check the ramp for ice as you may not be able to get back up into the parking lot. Parking is limited and there is not a lot of room to maneuver. Whirlpool was the best launch for now as it was plowed, sanded and salted from River Road to the launch. The River Store is plowed with parking, but with the cold, ice flows may stop anglers from launching. The Boy Scout Camp and other spots along the river are not accessible as the two tracks are snowed in.
Tawas was producing some perch in 15 feet off Jerry’s Marina. Anglers were taking about 15 fish per trip but the keepers were only seven or eight inches. A few walleye were caught in 20 feet. There were reports of a whitefish and one brown trout caught. Inside the harbor, anglers caught a few perch and a couple pike.
Weekly Fishing Tip: Fishing for walleye and whitefish on Saginaw Bay
Many anglers flock to Saginaw Bay in the winter to target walleye and experience an added perk – the possibility of catching lake whitefish!
- To target walleye, many anglers jig with spoons of various colors. You may want to tip your spoon with a minnow to further entice them.
- To target lake whitefish, many anglers use spawn or a wax worm on a spoon to encourage bites.