Capt. Dan

[Dave Yell]

Capt. Dan, I'm making my annual pilgrimage to the Bay on Sunday. Wondered if you could give your "best bets" on where to try first. We're just a couple rooks looking to drown a few minnows and hopefully stink the pan. Thanks--Dave

[Walleye Express]

Dave.
Good to hear from you again. Have you retired yet? A lot more room during the weekdays on the Bay recently. Theres going to be a visable pack of guys no matter what road you decide to go off from. The guys off Linwwood are mainly consintrating their efforts in 16 to 20 feet of water. 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 miles out. The 20 foot zone will be after the 2nd crack. Both these zones have taken turns producing, with no rime or reason.

The guys going off Boutell road and Parish roads are staying in 12 to 15 foot of water. 2 to 2 1/2 miles out. And again, where they are fishing is no secret. On any halfway clear day those packs to are in clear view as well. The second crak off these roads lately though have been kinda tretcherous.

I think the best track out and the more localized is from the Bay City State Park. And as the weather starts getting warmer, this spot will produce more walleyes as well, as they start grouping down towards the river mouths of the Saginaw and the Kawkawlin rivers. The second crack over there will give you 11 feet, not a bad spot to start. There will be another pack farther out that will give you around 18 feet.

In essence, the fish are going to be where you find them from here on out. They are starting to school up a little and move around a lot more now. My last trip out we'd have 3 or 4 at a time in the hole, versus the one at a time when it was colder. If this is your first trip out, go out from the SP and stay with the well worn path and the group. Never learn the program on the bay off by yourself somewhere. Good luck.

[Dave Yell]

Thanks for the advice Dan! Well be out there all day Sunday.

[Fishawk]

Went out of linwood yesterday eve. Marked a few fish after 4:30 but just as it was getting dark the fish moved in. My Vexilar was going nuts. I landed one nice 5lbr. Had 3 more hits but couldnt hook them. They wouldnt hit the dead rod though. All were on the Do-Jigger. There must have been a school of eyes chasing bait fish, I was amazed when I looked in the stomach of the 5lbr, There was 14 minnows in that guy. Man was he on the feed or what. Boy was it fun trying to get across the crack last night. There for a while I though I was going to have to drive to Bay City to get over. Would have been a little easyer if the guy who had the planks would have let me cross. Said I should have brought my own. Yeah I know, but a little help would have shown a lot of sportsmenship.

[Walleye Express]

Fishhawk.
Saginaw Bay will never have a monopoly on good samaritans. I'm never surprised by the generosity of some and the (screw you) attitude of others. I basically don't go out of my way to volunteer much of anything anymore, except advice or tips on this board and my fishing reports. You just can't tell or trust who your dealing with anymore, or their mental attitude towards you personally. I do think I would have let you cross the crack on my skids though, if you would have been there when I crossed myself. He!!, what would that have hurt?


Also, got some more recent news from today on the Bay. My bud went out this morning. Said theres some water in places and the ice is as slick as Snot on Chrome. Said without chains in this 30+ wind today, guys were having one heck of a time turning to where they wanted to go, and standing up to auger a hole or set up their shanties. Anybody heading this way for the weekend might be well advised to throw on some chains and wear some ice cleats.

[Fishawk]

Hey Dan
Have you heard any reports about the fishing and the ice on the east side of the bay. A guy I work with said he was out on that side last weekend and said they did really well, But he is a B.S'er so I dont know if I believe him or not. The ice should be a little better on that side. But than again with the fish moving to the river I dont know how the fishing would be. What do you think.

[Walleye Express]

Hawk.
Ice is way better/safer. Can't vouch for the fishing.