How thick is the ice on the Saginaw River?

five to six inches
His friend, Corbin Berent, said the ice is mostly five to six inches in Saginaw and that it is “definitely safe ice.” Andy Gorske, manager of Frank’s Great Outdoors in Linwood, said it does depend on where fishermen plan to go, but five or six inches is a decent walking ice thickness.

Is there ice on the Saginaw River?

There’s not much ice on the Saginaw Bay, either. But with colder weather ahead, MLive’s Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa expects that will soon change. Jeff Dyer, sales manager at Frank’s Great Outdoors in Linwood, said there’s not much ice fishing happening on the Saginaw River or the Saginaw Bay yet.

What kind of fish are in the Saginaw River?

Saginaw Bay and Pinconning River

• Type of Fishing: Shore, Pier, Boat.
• Typical Fish Species Available: Bullhead, Carp, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Sucker, Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch.
• Bait: Worms, Minnows, Artificial.
• Hours: Dawn until Dusk.
• Fees: $3.00.

Does Saginaw Bay have ice fishing?

In a typical winter, Saginaw Bay gets safe fishing ice somewhere in early- to mid-January. Once the ice locks in edge-to-edge, anglers enjoy arguably the best ice fishing for walleye in Michigan. In most years the ice provides a safe fishing platform throughout January, February and March.

Can You ice fish in the Saginaw River?

There are few places anglers can ice fish for walleye on a river. Even the Saginaw River doesn’t produce safe ice all winter long or even every year for that matter. When the conditions are right, fishing is almost always good enough to brag about. The Saginaw River is little more than 20 miles long.

How long does it take to catch walleye on the Saginaw River?

In most instances an ice fisherman won’t have to walk more than 1/4 mile to reach any of the popular fishing spots. Among ice fishermen, one lure dominates the winter walleye scene on the Saginaw River. The popular Jigging Rapala has the advantage of tracking into the current, eliminating the problem of line twist.

What kind of jig to use on the Saginaw River?

Boat fishermen take to the river as soon as open water appears and the ice flows disappear. Because the average depth of the Saginaw River is 20 feet and the current is modest, vertical jigging ranks as the most popular open water fishing method. A 1/4 to 3/8 ounce jig tipped with a live shiner minnow works best on the Saginaw.

Are there boat launches on the Saginaw River?

In addition to several public and private boat launches dotted along the river at strategic points, the cities of Bay City and Saginaw both maintain a ribbon of park land that borders the river. An ice fisherman can gain access to the river at any of these parks. Many of these parks also have boat launch facilities.