Saginaw Bay: Pinconning Park dock is in. The ice is pretty much gone except for a few floating sheets and what little could be found in couple marinas on the east side. Those trolling near Spoils Island caught walleye in 15 to 17 feet when using bandits. The average was five to nine fish per boat, and some were 8-10 pounds. On the east side, open-water season has started, but catch rates were poor. Many were moving multiple times while looking for perch but had nothing to show for their efforts. Sebewaing to Bayport had little activity, and fishing was slow. Some were targeting Mud Creek for perch, but none were caught. Fishing was slow at Caseville except for a couple lake trout and burbot caught from the pier and small perch in the marina. Anglers are reminded that the inland waters off Saginaw Bay are now closed for northern pike and walleye.
Saginaw River Walleye and pike season are closed until the last Saturday in April.
Au Gres Area there is one dock in at the launch. A brown trout was caught by a perch angler using minnows off Palmer Road. A few anglers were fishing the Pine River; however, no fish were caught, as it is still a bit too cold for suckers. Several campers were setting up along the Rifle River for the sucker run, but no reports had come in yet.
Au Gres River a few lake trout were caught when trolling body baits. A couple steelhead and the occasional sucker were caught upstream of the boat launch.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Tawas Area pier anglers caught lake trout when still-fishing with minnows or casting spoons and body baits. There is one dock in, and those trolling and jigging in 10 to 25 feet or more with spoons and body baits caught lake trout and walleye.