Saginaw Bay Walleye/ice report

[BlackRhino]

Just called two places and got conflicting reports. One, up in the Linwood area, said they were riding machines out ~2 miles and getting walleye in 5 FOW. I figure 2 miles would be in approx. 18 FOW... Then we called another place down by the State Park, and they said they were walking out 1/4 mile, not riding machines, getting a few in 7 FOW. That one sounded a little more believable.

Can anyone (who does not sell minnows) shed some light on the ice thicknesses and the walleye fishing? It cant be that long before we are able to safely ride out to at least 18 ft can it?

[theangler]

It will be a long time because the ice keeps blowing out. Every time we are about to get good ice the wind blows it all out. Better just plan on fishing in under 10 foot, there are plenty of gators roaming the water.

[walleyeman2006]

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=h&page=1&template=sub&image=t1.07025.1544.LakeHuron.143.250m.jpg
theres a pic of the bay as it stands today

1/4 mile out and 7 ft of water makes no sence at all i dont think that there was that kind of water before the water went down lol unless its a 1/4 mile out onto a river channel lol.....thomas rd people are getting out to 8-10 fow witch is over 1 mile out ...not safe to be that far out yet IMO...by the weekend it might be though

[Ralph Smith]

you can get to 7' off the turn around at end of state park rd. within 1/4 mile. more like an 1/8th mile off areas by killarney beach. Doesn't take long to get to deep enough water in the right areas off state park compared to east and west sides of bay. Always gets thicker faster on east side of bay then west.

[perchinatorx]

fished palmer and 5fow 1/4 mile out no eyes lots of small perch

[Bulletproof]

you can get to 7' off the turn around at end of state park rd. within 1/4 mile. more like an 1/8th mile off areas by killarney beach. Doesn't take long to get to deep enough water in the right areas off state park compared to east and west sides of bay. Always gets thicker faster on east side of bay then west.

Yup.

[roostersbane]

Fished Boutell Tues, about 5 feet of water, 3 inches of clear ice. No fish.
Was chasin wallies

[adam bomb]

hey rooster,
i didnt do anything since i talked to ya on the phone. never had a bite. the slush under the ice was terrible. youd get your hole cleaned out and itd be good for a bit, then all of the sudden it would fill up again. couldnt get rid of it no matter where i was in 3-4 fow.

[brokentines]

I was at Linwood rd. Saturday. Walked out 1/2 mile. 4 f.o.w. There were guys out alot further on foot. Ice was measured at 5 inches where I was. The whole bay will freeze fast once it gets locked in. ( Ice from the east to the west.) Harder for it to break off that way.

[jig head]

the ice out from state park is starting to look like it will be good to go by sat.
been going out and checking every day
looking at the radar shot in the post above the whole bay looks locked in.
the areas that look like water in the sat shot appeared to be clear new ice when I drove my snowmobile around out there tonight.

[limige]

not any more, it's open around the east edge and straight out from the river, can't be long though. it's darn cold out!

now where's those walligators..

[Ralph Smith]

the ice out from state park is starting to look like it will be good to go by sat.
been going out and checking every day
looking at the radar shot in the post above the whole bay looks locked in.
the areas that look like water in the sat shot appeared to be clear new ice when I drove my snowmobile around out there tonight.


That wasn't you that had that ski-doo elan at the turn around going out was it?

[brooksie]

Hey Jighead...when you say ready to go by Sat. Do you mean state park area is safely supporting four-wheeler traffic? Or still just plenty solid for foot traffic still?

Does anybody know about Linwood for quad or sled travel yet? May still be too early....not sure.

Thanks in advance.

[adam bomb]

IMHO travel by ATV or snowmobile is still risky. sure, there are areas that are thick enough, but with the way its been breaking off and refreezing there are pockets of thin ice....just my .02