Hello, all.
I am very hesitant and apprehensive about reporting the fishing action again this week on the Bay. Because we had yet another fatality on the Bay this past Saturday the 24th. And with reporting the continuing good fishing, I feel as much a part of the bad news as I do the good. Those same open waters spots that claimed the first victim earlier this month has claimed another man. I had a bad gut feeling on Saturday, when I seen a Coast Guard helicopter flying over my house on its way to the Bay. This is a terrible thing to watch and I'm afraid it might not be over yet. As the word of the great fishing on the Bay spreads, we get more and more people from out of the area and the state coming here unaware of these open water spots. Yet what can we do, and why so many water open spots this year on the Bay?
I have a theory about those spots this year. I feel that the waters never did entirely turn over this fall on the Bay. The air and water temps stayed warmer longer than usual this winter, and the warmer waters didn't get a chance to cool down enough. Then as those surprise sub-zero temps froze the surface layers quickly, these slightly warmer layers pooled up. And those usual spots (us locals know about) that are always thin because of the Bays dynamics, heave these slightly warmer waters to the surface at these pinch points keeping them open. And I've heard recently that these spots are growing in size with each high wind event. For those of you who have a Computer, there is a real time satellite view of the Bay that shows these open spots on the Bay.
http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=h&page=1 Some days of course, the view will be obscured with clouds, but most are not. Please, plan your fishing trips around and away from these spots. Use your GPS going out and coming in. Never blindly head straight in towards any shore lights. No fish in the world is worth yours or your loved ones life.
As for the report, the fishing has stayed steady and new pictures for your viewing pleasure are enclosed. Very few places on the bay are skunking people out. I've heard of and seen fish caught in 11 to 24 FOW all week. And the river continues to be on fire from the mouth all the way into Saginaw. The bigger fish seem to be stickling together and segregated from the little ones when you find them on the river. A bud of mine watched a guy keel haul 5 nice keepers out of a hole 20 yards from him as he caught 25 sub legals on the same lure and bait. But that's the way it's been going all season on the river. The bay fish (for the most part) are all in that 17 to 22 inch range and perfect eaters. The Bay for the most part is safe, with ice thickness up to 20 inches in some sections.
The cracks are always an issue after any wind event. But it's this same ice thickness that gives most that false sense of security. Come here and enjoy what could be the best fishing we've ever seen on the Bay. But please use all your senses of safety when you do. Be safe, fish smart and tight lines. Capt. Dan.
