MI DNR Report
Published January 6, 2009

Saginaw Bay is a diverse fishery that is a tribute to conservation efforts and environmental standards. Many decades of industrial pollution and runoff from the single largest freshwater watershed in the United Sates lead to declining numbers of fish and toxic levels of chemicals.

Aggressive actions by industry, municipalities, and agricultural sources have contributed to a return to a healthy watershed. Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron is again teeming with fish, including record numbers of walleyes. This is demonstrated by phenomenal numbers of walleyes in the 20-inch range, with a fair number of much larger fish also found.

The spring season includes massive spawning runs to the Saginaw River and other tributaries to the Bay. Some of these walleyes live year-round in Saginaw Bay, while others make a long distance migration from Lake Huron. When the AIM Pro Walleye Series visits Saginaw Bay on May 22 through 24, 2009 these walleyes will be recovering from the spawn and actively feeding to recover.

Target areas will include the “Inner Bay” which is relatively shallow and known for its large population of perch, which will be finishing their spawn. But Pro Anglers will also check out the Saginaw River which is the year-round home of some huge fish, as well as the far reaches of the “Outer Bay” which is marked by submerged humps and islands and large walleyes targeting suspended baitfish.

Past fishing events suggest that slow trolling crawler harnesses may be a key presentation. Daily catches of 50 walleyes are possible. But don’t discount those Pros who will be trolling crank baits in hopes of bigger bites. Then again, other Pros may fish for “quality versus quantity” and jig for fewer numbers of big fish in the river, or even slip bobbers on windblown points.

Quotes From the Pros

“Bay City, incredible fishery with fish everywhere you look for them. great place, great people and millions of walleyes, don't get much better than that.”
– Chad Shilling

Bay City: “Right time to be there, plenty of fish should be caught without making long runs. Potential for 50 fish days.”
- John Kolinski

Bay City--- “This tournament brings new meaning to the term “Bay City Rollers”. Thank god there are fish close by.”
- Jesse Buechel

“Saginaw Bay in May, expect 30 to 50 fish days and a wide range of tricks and tactics to catch them. This one is a spinner fisherman’s dream.”
- Tom Kemos

Bay City- “We should hit this fishery right on. Saginaw Bay has had a great comeback over the last few years and the time of year is perfect.”
- Jason Przekurat

“Bay City, more fish than you can shake a rattle trap at.”
- Tom Gatzke

“Bay City, walleyes close in, in the middle, and far out--you just have to find'em!!”
- Gary Speicher

"The Bay is like fishing several lakes within one. The various walleye haunts, from weeds to open water to the reefs and river, the Bay always tests the Pro Angler's mind against the pea sized walleye brain to the max. And add the weather conditions and it's GAME ON!"
- Steve Fellegy PWT '93 Saginaw Bay winner

“Saginaw Bay and the Saginaw River is probably the hottest year round walleye bite in the country. With most of the fish in the 4 to 6 lb range and a bunch of whoppers swimming around, this AIM event will truly be a big fish battle.”
- Tommy Skarlis

“Bay City, this should be a great bite seeing as we are going a week or so later than the PWT last year. I would image that open water spinners would be the primary technique – although the Saginaw River may play a “sleeper” role.”
- Keith Kavajecz

“Bay City, the Bay is in great shape, this will probably be the highest catch rate of any tournament I fish this year.”
- Rick Olson

“Bay city a small town atmosphere with a great fish population and potential for some monster bags”
- Rich Boggs

“Saginaw Bay is going to be a fantastic body of water on which to hold the first AIM tournament. Its walleye fishery is on fire and AIM is going to be there at the peak for large quantities of fish to be caught. I would expect the average AIM contestant to catch, record, release, over 40 fish each day of the event.”
- Pat Neu