Saginaw Bay ice conditions are starting to vary. Anglers are reporting that the top portion of the ice is getting soft and at least two machines have gone through recently. With warmer weather and windy conditions this week, the ice will quickly become questionable. Open water can be seen in area ditches and cuts as well as a few spots on the Quanicassee River. Big yellow perch were caught, but no walleye. Anglers were fishing just north of Pinconning near the Bay/Arenac County line in 6 to 9 feet. The average size was 10-12” and some limits were reported. On the east side, limits of perch were taken at Vanderbilt Park in 4 to 8 feet however ice conditions were rapidly deteriorating. Fishing was better between Sebewaing and Bay Port with some perch caught though anglers were sorting the small fish. Wildfowl Bay had lots of perch, but many were small.
- Saginaw River catch rates have been poor. Ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly and hardly anyone is fishing upstream of the mouth. A few anglers were spotted at the mouth but ice conditions there are also deteriorating.
- Tittabawassee River at the Caldwell launch has started to open-up. A few anglers were out but had no success. Areas downstream were still ice covered however the City of Midland has put up two small signs saying the launch is closed due to upstream work on the dam.
Au Gres Area Lake trout, walleye and whitefish were caught near Pt. Au Gres in 10 to 20 feet on spoons and jigs with minnows. North of the break wall, lake trout and whitefish were hitting in 8 to 15 feet. There were so many anglers down in the Pine River / Palmer Road area that it is even hard to find a place to park. The perch action was spotty, but a few limit catches were taken from Hale Road south to Sagatoo Road in 8 to 12 feet when using jack hooks and minnows.
- Au Gres River small walleye and the occasional keeper were caught in 8 to 10 feet when using jigs tipped with minnows.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Tawas Area there is now open water from Tawas Point to the south. A few boats trolling body baits down near Alabaster in 18 to 22 feet caught a couple walleye. Ice fishing was slow with only a couple walleye and lake trout taken out near the artificial reef when using spoons or jigs tipped with minnows in 20 to 22 feet. A few perch were caught in 14 to 16 feet, but most were small.
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