Saginaw Bay Report- 12/6

[Ruler]

Went out today in the lower bay. The strong southwest wind had blown the water out and it was down about a foot and a half. A LOT of ice had also blown out and open water started about 3/4 of a mile off shore. I could see white ice on the horizon. I didn't go out too far because of the strong wind and the fact that I crossed a crack that was only frozen over with about 1/2". This put me in water about a foot deep. I fished for about 20 minutes and saw absolutely nothing and caught even less. The wind made fishing miserable, so I didn't stick around long.

Walking in, I got on the wrong path and started walking in the ditch instead of the road next to the ditch. I wasn't paying much attention until I broke though. I now know that about 1/2" of ice will hold me fine until I put the spud down. :) Thankfully, the ditch wasn't deep and I just got the lower half of my boots wet.

Being either persistent enough (or stupid enough), I decided to check out a cut at Quanicasee. For those of you who know the area, I stopped at the second bridge. The ice looked pretty bad, but I was able to pick my way out on the ice. There was about 2.5" of ice on the cut. I spudded a hole and sat down. However, when I dropped my line in the hole, it was like I was fishing the Saginaw River- my line went down on a significant angle. Hmmmm.... the wind must be pushing the water out of the bay, which means it's being drawn out of here. Ah well, no biggie. As I'm fishing, I start seeing little white chunks of something float by the hole. I put my hand in the hole to try to catch one and see what it is. Reaching my hand under the ice, I feel part of the underside of the ice flake off in my hand!!! :eek: You can bet I got off that ice in a hurry! First time I've ever seen a current in that cut like that.

I stopped by a bait shop on the way home- nothing but grim reports. Anybody have any good reports for ice fishing???

[just ducky]

We we're out on Thursday (12/5) by Pinconning and caught a ton but they were small. Had to sort through them to get some to eat. Two of us ended up taking home about 50 from 7" to 10" with a couple going 12" or 13". Ice was about 2" thick, but the water wasn't more than 12" to 18" deep, so it wasn't any big deal. Hundred or so guys out and no one going through that we could see.

[fishin again]

Hey just ducky, that is BY FAR the best report I have heard yet. Y ou are doing something right if you kept 50 and also caught a couple of FOOT LONG perch! I was out yesterday afternoon on the west side of the bay and caught 10 really small perch. Fished several different spots along the bay. Ice was 3" in most spots, but you have to watch out for the ice under some of the snow. Talked to several guys who had the same garbage reports.

[Ruler]

Sounds like you did the best of anybody I've heard of this year so far Ducky... And just think that I woke up this morning and decided to not go because of the winds and general lack of good reports! :mad: :( :( You mind my asking what you were using?

[just ducky]

Ruler,
To be honest with you, we weren't prepared to be ice fishing on Thursday, so I didn't have all of my gear with me yet. We were actually (believe it or not) going duck hunting but decided we ought to throw our fishing stuff in as well. But when loading the truck at 4 in the morning, you forget some things. Anyway, we were just using teardrops (white with an orange dot, or chartreuse with a black dot) tipped with perch minnows. when we got a few, we started using eyes on the teardrops, but minnows seemed to be working about as well. One guy near us was using a small off-white colored spoon with an orange bead on the hook and he was getting three to our one. As I said, I had a limited supply of tackle with me, so I had no options. And in case you wondered, we only saw three ducks so we went searching for the fish instead. Lucked out!

[davedmg]

Just: Were you really fishing in a foot and a half of water? I have lots to learn, seems like.

[Ruler]

Thanks for the info JD. I'm already busy tomorrow (combined b-day party for my neice, sister-in-law, and myself which I'd rather skip and go fishing), but think I'll try it on Monday if the weather co-operates. I'll post how I do when I go. Glad you got into a few fish, even with the limited tackle! :)

Dave, when ice fishing, you don't need a lot of water at the beginning of the season. In fact, the best depth IMO is about 1.5 - 2 feet- fish aren't as spooky as when it's shallower and you don't need barbs on your hooks like when in deeper water. Last year, I caught a perch with no more than 4" of water under the ice off Pine River.

[The Whale]

We hit off Pine area Saturday (7th.) with around three hundred other people within eye sight, spread out from Wigwam Bay to south of Palmer Rd. Perch very spooky and sacttered. Anywhere from 6" of water under ice to 3'. Very slow, sorting most, some dandys (10.5"), far and few between those though. Kens/Jacks as well as minnows. Nobody doing anything spectacular. Wind was blowing a bit, not too horrible, no shanty needed.

With what the weather is calling for this early half of week, ice should remain, but doubt it will increase, three inches was typical out there, be careful. A couple atv's out, most walking though.

Outstanding to be out there for the first trip this year, ready for more real soon, no skunk on us either !!!



Whale :cool:

[davedmg]

Ruler:

I never would have suspected that! Thanks for the tip.

[just ducky]

davedmg,
Up on the bay they come in real shallow at first ice. We had bunches spooking from under us in 4" - 8" of water as we walked out. But yeah, it wasn't over 18" where we fished. You had to be careful when you augered a hole because when you broke through you'd go right into the sand. I caught 'em in shallow water down on Anchor Bay one year also on first ice. So don't be fooled that the water is that shallow. At least you can feel a little more comfortable fishing on thin ice when the water is only knee deep!

[fishin again]

Fished just north of Linwood this morning. Had a nice school come in just before dawn and plopped 9 decent fish onto the ice. I then punched another 18 holes during the morning and saw a total of 6 fish. The fish seem pretty scattered (and small) and it is seems real hard to find schools of fish. I haven't seen any minnows in the shallows either (1'-3' range). Talked to a few other people that were near Pinconning this morning and had about the same story to tell. Does anyone have any thoughts as to why this year has been so slow for first ice??

[jeremy L]

i think the reason there fishing is so bad right now is the same reason the kings stayed around until dec and the steel never ran this fall very good and that reason is it has been a screwed up year. There has been little in the way of normal temps. this year for any period of time, there also has been a lack of rain and some spots, like caseville, are not as good in years of below normal rainfall.

Lets hope the fishing gets better.