Saginaw Bay Fishing for walleye was reported to be spotty, with windy days and storms on the east side of the bay. When weather allowed, anglers reported getting good numbers of walleye out from Sebewaing in 8 to 10 feet of water and on the edge of the slot in 12 to 14 feet of water. Around Quanicassee, anglers found walleye starting in about 8 feet of water as well as in the south end of the slot in 10 to 14 feet of water. Walleye were caught on body baits, and crawler harnesses were starting to do very well.
Lower Saginaw Bay Walleye anglers reported catching a few fish in 15 to 17 feet of water northeast of Spoils Island when trolling with flicker shads. Both shore and boat anglers reported catching and releasing a few smallmouth bass at Smith Park in Essexville.
Saginaw River Anglers reported catching a few walleye, a lot of white bass and an occasional northern pike while casting jig and twister tail combinations from shore at Veterans Memorial Park in Bay City. Further upstream in Saginaw, anglers drifting and jiggling were catching white bass and an occasional walleye.
Tittabawassee River Anglers in the vicinity of Center Road caught large numbers of white bass and an occasional walleye when casting jig and twister tail combinations. In Freeland, some walleye and white bass were caught by anglers trolling body baits. At Dow Dam, a few smallmouth bass were caught by anglers casting body baits.
Outer Saginaw Bay
Oscoda/Au Sable River – Atlantic salmon were caught off the end of the pier and throughout the lower river. Most fish caught came off minnows or casting spoons in blue/silver and orange/gold. Some walleye were caught by pier anglers throwing deep crank baits, with dawn and dusk being the most productive times. Fire tiger and black/gold crank baits seemed to produce the best results. Boat anglers managed to pick up a few walleye and did well on lake trout and Atlantic salmon when using spoons in 30 to 50 feet of water. Downstream of the Foote Dam, steelhead fishing seemed to slow; however, there were still fish landed off of the gravel. Anglers had the most luck when bottom-bouncing beads, spawn bags or flies. Anglers float fishing also had luck with beads and flies.
Port Austin – A few Atlantic salmon were caught off the break wall toward the end while using minnows and night crawlers. Boats trolling for salmon and trout caught lake trout and a few steelhead in around 40 feet of water while using downriggers and spoons, planer boards and body baits.
Fishing tip: Taking great catch-and-release photos
Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?
- Wet your hands before you handle the fish – that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (aka slime) the fish has coating its body.
- Remember fish cannot breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot.
- Take the photo with the fish close to the water, that way if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water – not on a hard surface.
- While holding a fish, do not pinch or squeeze it, and do not stick your fingers in its gills.
- Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you.