Michigan Fishing Reports » Saginaw Bay

07-12-2010 Saginaw Bay

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:08 +0000

Captain Terry Walsh of Termar Charters reports from AuGres: Walleye fishing in the AuGres area of Saginaw Bay has been spotty the last couple of weeks due to extremely HOT weather, bug hatches, and a mix of thunder storms and very windy conditions. Fishing started picking up again yesterday (Monday) in the 15-17-foot depths where anglers trolled primarily with crawler harnesses. Experiment with blade colors and leader length, as the fish have been very selective of late. Plastic baits, especially the 5/8-ounce "Rattle Tots", have been very effective. Again, a lot of color experimentation has been necessary. Good fishing!

Asian Carp Ypsilanti Town Hall Meeting Video

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:18:47 +0000

Testimony before Congress by GLFC Chair Dr. Mike Hanson

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:20:24 +0000

Written testimony before Congress on February 9th by Great Lakes Fishery Commission Chair Mike Hanson “The Great Lakes Fishery Commission” has more than 50 years experience controlling the invasive sea lamprey”

Written Testimony to Congress on Asian Carp

Video of the testimony

Carp Summit

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:08:13 +0000

Governors of five Great Lake’s state met with President Barack Obama’s administration to work out a plan to prevent Asian Carp from reaching Lake Michigan, which would allow their movement into the other Great Lakes.

The Army Corp and other agencies are doing a great deal of testing and scientific work throughout the region and have committed significant resources in the $75-80 million range.

Although the governors and federal officials found many common solutions they could not convince officials to close navigational locks which lead into Lake Michigan but left the summit with this option is still on the table.

Officials hope to have a final report by next month, which will provide more information about the navigational locks.

Although all admit that closure of the locks is not the single answer to this by any means. The navigational locks were not built as fish barriers, so closing them will not necessarily prevent the carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

Illinois Governor Flynn said shipping from Chicago would have to be rerouted at currently undetermined costs if the navigational locks are closed.

The summit was a first step to convince the administration is that the long-term effects of allowing the carp are irreversible,” he said. “The effects of closing the locks and moving some of that shipping to rail and truck are not.”

Please join with us and sign the petition at http://www.stopasiancarp.com

Don’t forget Lake Trout season is closed!

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:08:35 +0000

Don’t forget Lake Trout season is closed! They are in close spawning right now, so if you
catch one be sure to throw it back.

10-31-2009 Saginaw Bay Fishing Report

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:19:47 +0000

According to the Michigan DNR Reported some decent catches of perch along the shipping channel, near buoys 17 and 18 and out by the Spark Plug. Some were 9 to 10 inches but a few were closer to 12 inches. Shore anglers caught perch in the Linwood Marina and the Eagle Bay Marina. Though sorting is necessary, anglers were taking enough fish to keep it interesting. Activity on the east side of the Bay was slow except for a few perch caught in the marina and the river at Sebewaing.

10-22-2009 Saginaw Bay Fishing Report

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:37:46 +0000

According to the MDNR

Saginaw Bay – A few perch were caught along the shipping channel and up the old shipping channel. Boats were lucky to get 5 to 8 keepers. Boat anglers vertical jigging with jigs or spoons baited with minnows are taking a few walleye at the mouth of the Saginaw River. One nice perch was caught off Quanicassee when fishing in 30 feet of water out near the end of the shipping channel, which is a long ways out from Quanicassee. Huge clouds of emerald shiners are starting to show up near shore and in the mouth of some rivers, so maybe the perch will follow.

Saginaw River – Shore anglers caught perch at Smith Park in Essexville.

09/11/2009 Saginaw Bay Fishing Report

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:05:42 +0000

Captain Terry Walsh Termar Charters, AuGres, Michigan reports

The four-day Labor Day weekend provided some of the nicest fishing weather of the summer. Winds were light and variable and the sky clear and sunny. And the walleye cooperated! And so did the salmon!

Salmon fishing may be proving to be the best it has been in several years out of Harrisville. Most anglers I talked with said they ”had been taking three or four kings, some steelhead, and all the lake trout you want.” Another angler I talked with said he had “caught/released over 60 steelhead so far this summer while running two to three colors of lead core.” The best fishing has been 90 to 120-feet of water from Harrisville north to Black River. Anglers reported fish were all in good share and “full of small smelt and minnows.” Some kings hit the 20-pound class!

Anglers fishing walleye from Tawas down to the Singing Bridge were taking some really nice fish in the five to six-pound class. These were some of the nicest fish I’ve seen this summer–real tournament fish! Crawler harnesses behind two-ounce inline sinkers run 100 feet back behind planer boards were getting the job done.

The shallow waters south of AuGres really produced some excellent walleye fishing all weekend. Ten to 13-feet was magic, but some anglers fished even shallower. It wasn’t hard finding fish as the large numbers of boats in a given area was a dead give away! We ran Rattle Tots on one side of the TERMAR and Wally Pops on the other, both producing equally well. Purple and chartreuse Wally Pops’ harnesses and green herringbone, ”Pinconning Paralizer,” and “U of M” (the latter two colors are custom painted) really nailed the fish. We ran the Wally Pops behind inline sinkers and 20-feet behind Off Shore In-Line Boards with Tattle Tale Flags, which really proved their merit when lures picked up weeds or light-striking fish. The Rattle Tots were run 25-30 feet back behind the small boards.

I know archery deer season is fast approaching, but don’t put put the tackle and boat up too soon–there’s plenty of good fall fishing ahead!

–
Capt. Terry Walsh
(989) 846.8318

08/13/2009 Saginaw Bay Fishing Report

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:34:50 +0000

Captain Ryan Sagady from Bay Sportfishing Charters reports from Saginaw Bay:

The fishing has been hot lately on the Saginaw Bay. We have taken easy limits and probably caught over 60 walleyes on my last two charter trips. The action has taken place in 10-13 feet of water on crawler harnesses with silver blades. There are a lot of floating weeds in shallow and Bass Pro fish weights have been the key to success in the weeds. The lip on the weight is just enough to catch floating weeds traveling down your line, keeping your harness clean. Be sure to use your electric trolling motor to stealthily troll over these shallow fish without spooking them. You also want to make sure that your Off Shore boards are far away from the boat in these shallow water situations. The usage of tattle flags has also been instrumental in detecting a buildup of weeds on my weights. Summer is winding down so be sure to get out and do some walleye fishing. The good old days are happening right now on the Saginaw Bay!!!!!