Recomendations for Saginaw River

[swampbuckster]

Heading out to the Saginaw River this weekend. I was wondering if anybody had any ideas on rod/reel/ line setup as well as what to use below the ice. I was just going to try some Ratt'l Traps and Jigging Rapalas tipped with a minnow. What works best out there? Appreciate the feedback

[flockshot]

those should work...be carefull and follow the tracks. theres a few thin areas by water discharges...i also do ok on just standard jigheads with minnows on the back. the dont drag the current as much as spoons..and allow a nice tight line to feel hits.

[calvin21]

How do you use Rat'L'Traps below the ice.  I use them in the summer all the time for bass, never in the winter.  Also what size and what do you catch?

[swampbuckster]

Rat'l Traps work sweet vertically jigging. They swim just like a spearing decoy. You can almost "string puppet" them around your hole. The rattle and the movement will bring in panfish, then you throw your teardrop and waxxie down at em, and I've caught Bass, Pike, Perch, almost everything on them. You should give them a try.

[TrekJeff]

Cool, I've never thought of using rattle traps.  I brought a bunch back from Louisiana a few years ago.  What size do you use?  I have them up to three inches long...I ssupect the smaller the better?

[swampbuckster]

Size depends on what your after. Use common sense. A 7 inch perch probably won't hit a 3 inch rat'l trap but a 38" Northern would love it!

[Quack_Attack]

Other alternate lures to use from your "bass tackle" - vibrating lures like the "Cicada" and tail spinners like the "Little George". I carry these at times and have never used 'em but have heard of others having success with 'em.

Generally use Raps, Pimples, Hawgers, or regular round 1/4 - 1/2 oz jig heads. Heavy  on the regular jig heads and Hawgers both w/ stingers. Although the biggest I've caught from the River, 8#+, came on a #7 Rap.

Like to use a 28" - 32" MH action rod w/8# mono. Be sure to put a swivel at least a foot above your lure to prevent line twist.

[One]

Hopefully I'll be headed up for sunday afternoon. Never fished up there before, So I dont really know where to go. I heard the independance bridge was a place to start. I bought a gander mountian set-up w/ 6lb line and a few jigging spoons. I heard also a stinger is a must. I also have a question: Is it poss. to catch perch in this area of the river? Like I said, never fished up there so any place to catch fish is a good place.

[flockshot]

Hopefully I'll be headed up for sunday afternoon. Never fished up there before, So I dont really know where to go. I heard the independance bridge was a place to start. I bought a gander mountian set-up w/ 6lb line and a few jigging spoons. I heard also a stinger is a must. I also have a question: Is it poss. to catch perch in this area of the river? Like I said, never fished up there so any place to catch fish is a good place.

ive never caught a perch..thats for sure...stingers help as most fish are small. but the hawgs will inhale a jig...spoons i think are over rated up there..they catch the current to much for my taste..bring up some simple jigheads. they work real well...stay clear of any water inlets...the river has tons of current so some of those inlets open the water up more then you would normally think. ...just remember...stay real clear of water inlets even if they look safe..if you fall through on that river..they start the search in saginaw bay. and its just a search..no rescue.

[swampbuckster]

I was up there a few years back and I was shocked to see that no one uses tip-ups up there. I guess it has something to do with the current. Also, guys said to drill your auger hole on an angle that way your line isn't at a 45 degree angle with the current involved. But, thanks for the info everyone. I have been asking around myself other than online and I hear for every 10, one keeper. I think me and my dad and his buddy are going to head out to Saginaw Bay. The Catfish Hole? That's what the other guy says they are catching the eyes. I dunno. I need to run into some walleye though. Not many inland lakes around here that have them. Hopefully this little bit of a warm up speeds things up.

[flockshot]

i have it from reliable sources that the bay is sketchy at best...get an up to date report from a bait shop before you hit it...the wind and snow have played havoc on it..last i heard you couldnt get to the good walleye waters.


and as far as tip ups..you can use them..you just have to forget anything you've ever known about tip up fishing..we did ok last year using a huge weight a 2 foot leader with a floating crawler harness and fake worms. lol. wasnt worth the trouble though. lol.

[swampbuckster]

and as far as tip ups..you can use them..you just have to forget anything you've ever known about tip up fishing..we did ok last year using a huge weight a 2 foot leader with a floating crawler harness and fake worms. lol. wasnt worth the trouble though. lol.

What? Fake worms? Tip-Ups? Those two words don't go together! I guess your right. Yeah, I dunno. My dad's got some half &%^% plans for tomorrow. I am use to the local lakes around here near Stockbridge and know where to go when I want to catch fish. It's hard to make all these plans, head out and actually catch some fish but then again I ain't gonna catch any walleye in Joslin Lake!  So, I guess one of the guys is talking about Linwood exit or something like that. Something like 8 miles out.  I am bringing my snowmobiles to make transportation a little easier. Just gonna wing it I guess!

[flockshot]

What? Fake worms? Tip-Ups? Those two words don't go together! I guess your right. Yeah, I dunno. My dad's got some half &%^% plans for tomorrow. I am use to the local lakes around here near Stockbridge and know where to go when I want to catch fish. It's hard to make all these plans, head out and actually catch some fish but then again I ain't gonna catch any walleye in Joslin Lake!  So, I guess one of the guys is talking about Linwood exit or something like that. Something like 8 miles out.  I am bringing my snowmobiles to make transportation a little easier. Just gonna wing it I guess!

sorry not last year..the year before...and for the bay just becareful. i cancelled my trip becuase of the reports i was getting.  the tip up thing was more of a joke..i bet someone i could catch a fish using a summer tactic. it worked for a few fish. lol.  the rivers a numbers game..but every day a few more hawgs enter it..so theres always a chance at a biggun..good luck where ever you go. if you hit the river "becareful walking" lol.

[swampbuckster]

Cool, thanks for the advice. But hey, summer tackle will actually work from time to time! I caught a bass last night when I set a Jitterbug in the auger hole! Ok, just kidding about that but thanks again for the advice. Oh, BTW, What kinda thickness is the ice 8 miles out? I just can't imagine riding my snowmobile 8 miles out across a lake. Around here, you would be lucky to mark 1 mile across a lake on a tripometer.

[flockshot]

Cool, thanks for the advice. But hey, summer tackle will actually work from time to time! I caught a bass last night when I set a Jitterbug in the auger hole! Ok, just kidding about that but thanks again for the advice. Oh, BTW, What kinda thickness is the ice 8 miles out? I just can't imagine riding my snowmobile 8 miles out across a lake. Around here, you would be lucky to mark 1 mile across a lake on a tripometer.

i dunno know for sure..but my good friend slipbob, (he was a member on here) just moved..he lived right near the bay and i was being told it depended on the wind. thered be 14 inches in one spot..and 4 in another...thats last week..so i dunno reliably whats going on now..but id call and ask. a few places.

[swampbuckster]

 Yeah, definitely. The other guy we are going with is trying to get the down low on conditions so hopefully we work out some kinda plan!