Help with Saginaw walleye pointers, Thanks

[BrokenWing]

I am planning a couple trips to Saginaw Bay for this year's ice fishing season . I would like to fish for walleye mainly but perch fishing is cool too. I am getting better with the different areas on the bay since I fished it a lot more this year for walleye throughout the summer. The basic gear I have covered such as ice shanties, fish finder/gps, heaters, poles and a sled but I do have some questions.
1. Where are the launch sites, I need a pretty good site since I have 2wd and the trailer for the shanty and sled is pretty heavy?
2a. What are some basic locations; Linwood drop-off, Blackhole?
2b. For the early season are the reefs northeast of Sebewing and between Sand Point a better place to try.
3. What are some of the special lures that I should look into buying? I bought some Do-Jiggers knock offs and I have some jigging Rapalas and simple jigs but what are the go-to colors/sizes?
4. Now for the important stuff... from the fishing grounds are there any good restaurants that can be accessed by sled. I would like to be able to pack up the gear and head somewhere for lunch and a beer.

Thanks for the help just looking for some pointers to get started. PM me if there is anything that you do not want to post. Also if someone lacks the access to Saginaw Bay's summer fishery but can show me some places for the hardwater season I am of course willing to swap trips!! Lake Erie and Detroit River are also places that I could also offer as places to swap.

Rich

[BrokenWing]

thanks for the PM

[Joe R.]

Linwood Rd. is probably your best option. Usually you can get a spot in the parking lot so the 2WD shouldn't be a problem. If things are froze up enough you can park on the ice as well and shouldn't have any problems with a 2 WD vehicle. The Village Inn is right in the middle of Linwood. Not even a mile from where you park. Good burgers and of course a nice brew to go with it.

The secret to fishing the bay in the winter is not limiting yourself. You don't need to follow the crowds. Set up and fish, if you don't mark or catch anything in 30-45 minutes move. The only time I won't make a move is if it's last 45 minutes before dark. I'll sit tight at that point.

Good luck,
Joe

[Ralph Smith]

A place on the eastside where you can target both the perch and walleye, and maybe a pike or 2 would be Bayport. The bayport Inn is right there with food and brew, and they even have a couple rooms upstairs if you want to stay for a few days. Can drive right from bar to ice and out into wildfowl bay.

[bankerman]

I'm definitely heading over as well. But I have no sled or shanty. Does anybody take fishermen out to the spots or rent shanties, like on Simcoe? I should just buy a cheap sled!

Is Frank's the bait place if you're fishing out of Linwood?

Please advise-I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Ralph Smith]

I'm definitely heading over as well. But I have no sled or shanty. Does anybody take fishermen out to the spots or rent shanties, like on Simcoe? I should just buy a cheap sled!

Is Frank's the bait place if you're fishing out of Linwood?

Please advise-I'd greatly appreciate it.

You can find sleds cheap, and would be a good choice to get out on bay. If your walking, I'd say the sag. rivermouth would be good choice, but don't go out alone, and a shanty to me is a must have on the bay unless its really warm out on late ice. There's usually plenty of people at these spots, and if you tell someone you've never been there, they will give you the do's and don'ts. If your off westside, Franks opens early, and is good for bait. Eastside, you can hit michigansportsman in essexville right on M-25, or further out you have the red barn in sebewing, and walsh's gun and tackle in caseville. Those are the larger places.

I've heard there's a guy at fishpoint that charters guys out on ice, and there's a guy in essexville that does also. Used to post on here under walleyexpress. He is also on Franks website under the fishing report. Not many permanant shanties now days, due to portability of the ones you can buy, also the destruction that disrespectfull idiots do out there to them. Good luck and just be sure where your at and going. Go with someone familiar your first time if you can, lots on this site go out frequently in winter, and would probobly let you tag along in the same vacinity their heading.

[H2Ofowl]

On the thumb side of the bay try:
Doug and Christine Deming
Fish Point Lodge
4130 Miller Avenue,
Unionville, Michigan 48767
voice: (989) 674-2631


http://fishpointlodge.com/

Great people.
JB

[BrokenWing]

What about Wildfowl Bay for walleye, I know it is a little shallow but I was just thinking?

[charb1990]

when it gets real cold you can go from the dnr launch at the mouth of the saginaw river and go to the bay and fish and when you want to eat to up the kawkalin and go to castaways that way you dont have to drive the sleds on land at all.

[BrokenWing]

That sounds fun.

Thanks

[DAWG54]

As far as lures go the past few years blue and silver do-jigger and green and white swedish pimple have been my go to's, but last year there were times when you had to go small and genz worms did pretty good. Also just a hook and a minnow on bottom did well at times.

[Ralph Smith]

when it gets real cold you can go from the dnr launch at the mouth of the saginaw river and go to the bay and fish and when you want to eat to up the kawkalin and go to castaways that way you dont have to drive the sleds on land at all.

Yep, good idea.....or you can just park at castaways and leave out from there on to bay and head to rivermouth or north to same areas off linwood they go to from linwood. Just about same distance. They have a really big parking lot beside the place and plow snow over seawall to river to make a big snow ramp to get on and off the river. If you don't leave the ice, and only travel on private property (no state land) you don't need a trail sticker either.