fun night

[olddog413]

Started out in 16 ft. ay independence bridge last night, cousin was in 17ft. Had fish on the flasher imediately upon our 3;30 arrival. They would come up, take a look then go back down. Then that classic "switch " got flipped and for an hour and a half, The action was furious. I'm talking, as fast as you got it down, closed your bail, you were bit ! I caught 22, my cousin 17. Missed some too. The only drawback was the size...small. Managed a limit of 15 inchers (best eaters). Funny thing though, these fish seem to run in school of year class, and with new runs constantly coming up, each day can bring the big ones so hang in there. I did notice some bigger fish on the flasher that were above the school of smaller ones, I'm going to try to target those this morning. Good luck and be careful....I noticed people were actually walking right across the channel !! VERY STUPID !!!! Thursday, you couldn't get out more than five yards. Realize if you go in, most people won't help you, and you also risk the lives of the ones who will !Oh yeah, half ounce spoons with a minnow head were the ticket.

[pilatusbahn]

Old Dog-were you with the pack just off-shore of the launch or further up between the pilings? Just curious. I fished further up river towards the stacks. Same setup and same results. Lots of little ones but waiting for the hogs to hit the river.

[olddog413]

Old Dog-were you with the pack just off-shore of the launch or further up between the pilings? Just curious. I fished further up river towards the stacks. Same setup and same results. Lots of little ones but waiting for the hogs to hit the river.well guy, I ve got to tell you....while i don't mind sharing info on how to, and even where to....i'm noy about to put you right in my hole, sorry if that offends you. I'm out there almost twice dailly, so there will be plenty of useful posts in the future guys. As for the hogs, fresh runs occurr all the time, walleye tend to run by year class, so thier will be days when they are runts and days when they are hogs. Another interesting fact is that all of those walleye except the runts are in that river to feed on the gizzard shad to fatten up for spawning. Towards last ice ALL of them, regardless of how for up the system they are , will head downriver to the mouth to stage up for the big run. Fishing can be phenominal. good luck and be safe !!

[wildboar6768]

Where's Indy Bridge at?

[olddog413]

Where's Indy Bridge at? Independence bridge is wilder road from the west side and trumble street from the east side. There is a boat launch/ free parking on either side.For the east side/golson park it's on the end of johnson st., and coming from wilder on the west side, turn left at the foot of the bridge, then right turn about a quarter mile down, there are signs at both. careful on the west side the channel runs along that shore it's over 20ft right off shore, about 20 t0 30 yards out.

[wildboar6768]

Thanks. I take it 1/2 ounce spoons are needed because of current?

[walleyeman2006]

old dog has a very important point there if you go down your on your own until the coast gaurd or fire dept gets there ....i do carry a rope but imm still not going to risk falling through...of course people would call for help on cell phones ...but the kicker in the saginaw river is if you go all the way under you die the current will sweep you down stream and away from the hole in a flash....cant believe people are walking all over that river yet im leary to even go on it

[wildboar6768]

Point taken. This would be my first trip/ time on the Saginaw. I'm not looking to make the evening news, just looking to catch some fish. Had my kids the last two weekends so I'm itchin to get out on the ice.

[MichiganOutdoorFan]

old dog has a very important point there if you go down your on your own until the coast gaurd or fire dept gets there ....i do carry a rope but imm still not going to risk falling through...of course people would call for help on cell phones ...but the kicker in the saginaw river is if you go all the way under you die the current will sweep you down stream and away from the hole in a flash....cant believe people are walking all over that river yet im leary to even go on it



And to think on Sunday there was a group ripping between shantys on thier sleds going up and down the river with no care in the world. OK so maybe a guy with a 700 sled could to get across open water, but there was also a guy on a quad with them. THAT guy is a complete idiot! There was 3 inches MAX on the river and with that current and snow I am sure there was less in certain areas. Talk about a horrible way to go..looking up at ice!

Old Dog.. it would be great if you could keep us posted how you do this week along with ice conditions. I will be there this weekend hoping to duplicate what I did Sunday (see my post Saginaw Bay/River Report 1/29). Thanks for the tips guys and I will update here as much as possible.

[olddog413]

I'll be keeping up on the posts. Got 38 with five keepers between two of us this morning, would be out there right now,but had to have my taxes done. Going out in the morning, will post after that. One more thing, be aware that this ice really can be dangerous to a novice. Despite the cold temps, the snow acts as an insulater, slowing down the normal1/2 to an 1 inch these temps should allow to form. Plus the current wears at the ice from the bottom. What is scary to me is the number of clueless idiots who are out there,some in street clothes,long pole in hand, who only go out there to try to win the $1000.00. It is amazing one of those people haven't drown yet. I'll say an extra prayer tonight.

[Cramer1]

I will add another extra word of caution to everyone going out on the Saginaw river. I went out today at about 3:45 in the afternoon by the Indy bridge, on the east side, off of the Golson boat launch. There was a shanty straight out from the launch, and I went to the left and stayed close to shore and around the seawall to the little bay area. I wasn't that far out there and one whack with my spud went thru! I moved back toward shore quickly, puckered up a little. Found about 4 inches of ice and fished there. Did not catch a fish, should have fished the other side where everyone was. As I was leaving, a guy comes right down the middle of the river on a snowmobile. Man that must be some strong ice!

[walleyeman2006]

I was out there tonight from 4 till 11pm lost a keeper caught a lot of 10 inchers saw one snowmobile on the ice...those guys are a blown belt from making the news lol i dont think i went more then 20 minutes with out a bite fished from 18 fow to 8 ft 4 inches of ice but there should be more by morning its cold lol did best on a lead head laying almost on the bottom ....had something knock my pole off the bucket too and that one had a 5 inch shad on it...ill be back there around 6 am............................
,
,
side note a 440 will go acrossed open water ive done it but no sled will keep you on top when its breaking ice though once the ski goes under its good bye lol people actually race sleds on open water in the summer time even the old ones will stay on plain as long as you keep going that is

[pilatusbahn]

Old Dog-
I understand, I wasnt trying to get your "exact" spot. Yesterday had to drive across the brigde and I'd bet there were 100 guys out there.
Just asking whereabouts on the river. Last year when we fished out of
the boat we did alot better in a certain area and was curious if you were
at the launch or further upstream. I think I'll stay where I was, at least of
the 20 or so fish I was catching they were a tad bigger but numbers are growing there as well and ice was 4-5" thick last night.

[JimDandy]

I have seen amazing things done with snowmobiles on water---almost like they float. Just because a snowmobile can cross a strecth of ice does not mean man or animal can make the same journey. The wieght is displaced across the entire length of a snowmoile not like a man's foot which bears all the wieght with each step. Everyone stay safe and plan an escape from the ice before you even leave home.:rolleyes:

[Southend517]

There was still open spots on the river Sun, I even saw to guys in a small baot fishing one of the open spots sat. by the bay city boys clubs.

[olddog413]

Didn't mean to be rude, anyways. We were parking right on the river behind Newcor, been going there for years. Today, when we left the owner put no tresspassing notes on our trucks. We went in , and they said it was a liability issue.Just little ones lately anyways, had them rushing the lures then backing off all morning. Type,size, or color...nothing seemed to turn them on. Only seven throwbacks. It may even be a tougher bite during this next arctic blast. One good thing is it will help make more ice. Well, I'm off to find me another "honey hole ".