Saginaw Bay Outing

[Tim]

I am planning on fishing the Bay tomorrow morning and would appreciate any info., with any recommendations on where to fish and how deep. Any other ideas would also be GREATLY welcomed! Thanks in advance to all!

Tim

[Fishawk]

Tim,
We have been going out of Linwood, Parish Rd, and State Park.
Fishing 17 to 20 feet of water. We dont hammer them every time we go out but seem to pick up a few nice fish. Try Do-jiggers in white, orange, or green. If you dont find fish in the first spot you stop, just keep moving around and you will find them. Be careful crossing the cracks. Try to cross where others have been crossing, and even then be careful. Last Sat. my buddy crossed in a well used area and he went through. Not bad enough to lose any gear, but I found a different place to cross. I didnt want to get wet. Have fun and Good luck fishing.

[Walleye Express]

Tim.
Talked to two buds today on their cell phones. One bud was in 20 feet off Linwood Road, nothing at 10:30am. Said the 2nd crack was open a ways. They had snowmobiles so jumping the crack was easy, but said 4 wheelers would have had a tough time crossing. 2nd Bud was in 16 foot straight out off State Park. Had one 5 pounder lost one 10:45am. I was going to head out but the wind has since picked up. Going out from Parish Road the crack crossing are few, and seems to be a lot of heaved up ice areas. Both Boutell and Linwood are better to a point. Seems State Park is the ideal place, as you trade 6 or 7 road miles to simply go an extra 1 ice mile and end up in the same places. Bad part is getting your minnows anywhere near the park. Also, be sure to get a parking park permit. Or you will have a ticket on your windshield when you get off the Bay. And they are serious about collecting.

[Tim]

Gentlemen,

I appreciate all the info., with regards to Linwood, I fished the third crack on Sunday and saw a few scoot through on the camera with no interest in 16ft. My friend crossed the 3rd crack and managed 8 (with his budy), he was only a few feet deeper than us but it was toooooo COLD to leave. I completely understand there is no way to predict where and when they are going to be active; but, it is at least a 2 hr. trip and need input, like provided.

Dan,

I have never been off of the State Park, are everyone pretty much hitting the same areas i.e. Boutell, Linwood, Parrish? When I was out on Sunday, there was a group that was near the second crack and South of us. Would this be the State Park Boys or Boutell or both?

Finally, if I want to launch off the Park where would I go from I75 and I have no problem driving to Linwood for bait. Also, how deep would you recommend?

THIS FEEDBACK IS GREAT! THANKS!!!!

Tim

[Walleye Express]

Tim.
The group you seen south of linwood could indeed have been from any of the roads south of linwood road. Heck, when I went out of Parish and finally set up, punched in State Park on the GPS and discovered I was closer to State Park than the access road I used. The walleyes main goal being the winter is winding down is spawning, and the Kawkawlin and Saginaw Rivers in the bays southern basin are the rivers they'll head for.

They will eventually gravitate that way and be in waters as shallow as 4 to 6 feet along that shore before its over. Thats not to say those deeper depths will dry up. Its all in the timing. And coming down I-75, take the Beaver Road exit and turn East. It leads you right to the Park. You could jog North on M-13 and get bait at Franks.