Saginaw Bay in general, the perch were just not biting very well along the inner bay. A few were taken off Quanicassee in 14 to 17 feet. Some walleye were caught about four miles northeast of Spoils Island, off the Callahan Reef, and the middle of the Slot. Shore and pier anglers in the Sebewaing Marina caught bluegills, crappie and the occasional bass or pike.
Au Gres Area of Saginaw Bay #Walleyefishing off the port and near the points picked up some. A good number of fish were caught in 38 to 40 feet south of Pointe Au Gres and in 10 to 20 feet off Eagle Bay Marina. A decent number of perch were also caught.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Oscoda angler effort and catch rates were low. Pier anglers fishing at night caught some channel cats. A few smallmouth bass were taken on small spoons, crank baits, jigs and crawlers.
- Au Sable River pike were caught on spoons and crank baits along the weed line in the slow water near the mouth. Smallmouth bass, a few decent channel cats, and rock bass were caught when floating crawlers. Water temperatures below Foote Dam were in the low 70’s and dropping.
Tawas Area walleye were caught down near Alabaster in 15 to 20 feet near the rocks. A few small perch were taken near Buoy #4 inside Tawas Bay.
- Tawas River Chinook salmon were caught in the lower river.
Fishing Tip: What to do when you’re looking for crappie in the fall
This time of year can bring some of the best results when it comes to fishing for crappie. Want to target these panfish when you head out in the coming days or weeks?
These fish often stay in deeper water longer than other panfish – and they also tend to move around more as they target large schools of baitfish. If you use baits that imitate a crappie’s food of choice you’ll be more likely to find them.
Keep in mind that crappies will get less and less active as the water cools off and they slow down. You’ll then want to slow your presentation and offer smaller baits to keep seeing success.
Try your luck at some great crappie fishing this fall. For more information on this species, visit their Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them website.