Saginaw Bay with gusty winds, the ice has broken up in the bay and the ice along the inner bay is gone. A few boat anglers fishing near Spoils Island did well for walleye. White bass were caught in the Hot Pond. Perch anglers from Kawkawlin to Sebewaing might want to get their shore-fishing gear and start hitting the cuts and rivers this coming weekend. Perch fishing was good around Rose Island and Geiger Road but the ice is now gone. Some anglers were using air boats to get around. Outside the Thumb, pier and boat anglers will want to start gearing up for the early-season trout and salmon fishing.
- Saginaw River boat anglers on the lower river near the train bridge at Essexville took some nice perch on minnows.
- Au Gres Area the ice is gone.
- Au Gres River the ice is gone from the mouth and those surfcasting are out trying their luck when the weather cooperates.
- Rifle River with rain in the forecast, the sucker run should start to pick up by this weekend.
- Pine River near Standish is open near the mouth but shore anglers were not doing much yet.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
- Au Sable River the tailwaters below Foote Dam are still quite cold. Combine the cold water temperatures and low flows due to an extremely dry spring thus far and anglers will see there has not been much of a “signal” to stimulate upstream migration or spawning steelhead. There are fair numbers of steelhead below Foote Dam and as soon as the ice is gone from the impoundments temperatures will start to rise and catch rates will really heat up. The water was low and clear so fishing tactics will be different than those years with usual high water.
- Tawas Area ice was hanging on in the northernmost part of Tawas Bay, from Jerry’s Marina back north toward shore. A lot of perch were under the ice but most of them are quite small and not worth taking a swim for. A few walleye were caught in the evening near the artificial reef. Boat anglers starting to venture out caught a couple Atlantic salmon or lake trout.
Weekly Fishing Tip: Walleye hot spots this spring
Many anglers are eagerly waiting for the walleye season on Lower Peninsula inland waters to open on April 25. Once it does many will flock to one of many hot spots for walleye fishing located across the state – will you be joining them?
In 2014 Michigan Outdoor News provided a list of inland lakes and rivers and streams ideal for early season walleye fishing. They included the rivers of: Tittabawassee, St. Joseph, Grand, Muskegon, Big Manistee, Black, Boardman, Cass, Flint and Raisin. They also included the lakes of: Black, Cadillac, Mitchell, Houghton, Lake Charlevoix, Portage, Hamlin, Hardy Pond, Holloway Reservoir, Crystal and Lake Macatawa.
Want even more tips for planning a walleye trip this spring? Check out their page online!
And don’t forget – walleye season on U.P. Great Lakes, inland waters and the St. Marys River doesn’t open until May 15.