Hi again everyone.
I know it's only been one short week since my last report. But things can change fast this time of year as eluded to in my previous report. In just one short week, both the water conditions and the success on the Saginaw River has turned around 180 degrees. Oh ya, the water levels are still very low, but the water clarity visibility has went from 9 inches last Saturday to 4 feet this past Saturday 11-10-07. And for us veteran river rats who know what this means, good water clarity on the Saginaw changes the whole fish catching dynamics for the better. And all the walleyes being caught this fall seem to be in the best physical conditions I've seen them in, in years. All plump and sassy. That really comes as no surprise, when watching school after massive school of both shiners and gizzard shad swimming by your boat while anchored or on the rivers while slipping along vertical jigging. I'd actualy like to get out on the river even more right now rather then just during weekends, but I've had puppy setting duty now for over 5 weeks. And if any of you are looking for a good AKC Registered Lab puppies (black or yellow) with the parents having good pedigree from good Duck and Pheasant hunting stock, get a hold of me through my web site below.
Another thing that's happening a little more this year (or at least it seems to me), is the walleyes willingness to bite artificial offerings being jigged, versus jigging with real minnows. All the walleyes I caught in my short 2 daylight hours of fishing on the river yesterday (11-10-07) were all caught on plastic. Actually it was within 1 hour, as I jigged with real minnows for the first hour and never caught a walleye. With how hard good bait is to find anymore, this trend might be exactly what the doctor ordered, at least for river fishing. Even tried some night trolling. But it seems the night trolling bite hasn't started up near Saginaw yet for some reason. But getting back to the plastics. This new 10 pac of plastics I picked up for jigging from Franks yesterday called "Realistic Minnow", made by Berkley Power Bait did the fish catching job quit nicely for me. The color/type was Smelt, and the length was 3". Another great choice is the 1/4 and 1/8 ounce "Mimic Minnow" in perch color, made by Northland Fishing Tackle Company. Keeping either of these offerings "short hopping" along bottom on a tight line has been killer for a few of my closest friends (and now me) when fishing the river. Of the 6 keepers I caught yesterday, here's a picture of me and the 3 I kept for the dinner table. Also included is a picture of 2 buds who were also pulling off the river at the same time as me, and who also kept only a couple from their 6 fish catch. Please, never keep more then you will use?
On another subject and speaking of the dinner table. With the recent Water Resources Act (WRDA, HR 1495) being voted into law recently, Federal monies (35 million to our state alone) for a new or improved rain water/sewage holding/processing facility for the City of Saginaw, just may be coming their way up to stop the spillage of raw sewage from that Cities Water Municipality every time we get a rain storm. Let's all keep our fingers crossed and have a voice on that score when the time comes. For our own health and resource sake, lets try to stay aware if, when and where these monies are assigned. And like I always say. Be safe, fish smart and Tight lines. Capt. Dan.
