Saginaw bay/Lake Huron

[gmetime24]

Was wondering how good the bass fishin can be out there this time of the year into late fall. I know things can really heat up but I'm not comfortable with these waters after September. Was thinking of trying out of caseville or Pt Austin. Any input would be great...thanks

[Bass Ninja]

I wouldn't waste your time.  It is dangerous water.

[gmetime24]

So what your saying is the fishing is awesome?? I've spent plenty of time on the big water to know when and where is dangerous

[djkimmel]

It is dangerous water but you just want to be prepared (plenty of gas, oil, food, water, working safety equipment, rain gear, towel, change of clothes, etc.), have a really good chart, don't run anywhere real fast that you aren't familiar with and watch the weather.

Never rely on one single source for navigation or seeking help either. GPS and cell phones can fail when you need them for many reasons. Have a compass. Make sure your flares aren't expired.

I've literally broke and lost more stuff on the Bay than everywhere else outside of my two outboard losses - they did not occur there.

The danger in Saginaw Bay is that it is shallow AND big - a higher risk combination. You can bottom out in swells. The winds that push water one way or another can make a safe area unsafe for a time.

Don't run at high speed anywhere inshore you don't already know to be safe. Even if someone else does it nearby. I have 2 busted lower units from 1 experience of watching boats run a small bay and thinking if they can do it, we can do it. Right. But only if you know there is a small opening blasted through a rock bar AND you know exactly where the opening is!!!

We could have saved some equipment back then if we had all the satellite imagery and Internet information available now, along with GPS instead of nothing and then Loran for a while.

On calmer days, Saginaw Bay in the fall can be awesome! Like all fall fishing, the bass may move a lot and be spotty. But find some of those spots and it will be worth it. You don't have to go to the Charities either. Also like much fall fishing, bigger bass become more available shallower more often in early to mid-fall.

I can't speak personally for the specific areas you mention since I'm not sure I ever fished around Port Austin and I never fall fished near Caseville. Wildfowl Bay and nearby islands however can be real good in the fall though I haven't been there in quite a few years and it is shallower now. I do see a few fishing reports that indicate the fishing can still be good.

If you decide to run to the Charities from that side, see if you can find someone who has done it recently (I haven't) since that side is more tricky now than it was when the water was higher.

I've always wanted to fish more around Port Austin but never found the chance with so many options. It would be interesting to go exploring slowly under favorable conditions. It is very complex looking from Pt Austin all the way to Grindstone. Haven't seen or heard many recent fishing reports from that area.

[gmetime24]

Thanks Dan! I appreciate all your input. Port Austin is a great area for smallies, but it can be very dangerous if you don't take your time to learn it. That area is what turned me onto fishing big water, some of the best smallmouth action comes from Grindstone City

[djkimmel]

That's what I've heard. Eagle Bay area in general too. Doesn't actually look like a 'bay' on satellite images...

Many, many years ago someone I can't recall kept telling me about a canal somewhere along the tip of the thumb that would load up with smallmouth bass every spring. I just never got around to going over there. I fished too many tournaments to squeeze in another day I guess.

Wish I could recall who that was and where that was? Wonder if that still happens? Of course, there are a lot more smallmouth bass and smallmouth bass spots around the entire Bay now.

Good luck out there. Wildfowl Bay was often my 'if it blows' fishing spot back in the day. If it really blowed I could launch in the big canal in Sand Point and fish for quite a while too. Or run to one of the other canals when the water was higher.

I went out a few times when no one else (mostly non-bass anglers) was launching. Took a beating and got real wet for a short time but once I was in the canals I could fish in comfort, and depending upon the time of year, maybe catch at least largemouth bass real well. Then make the horrible short trip back, usually to find the same people lined up at the boat ramp looking at me with a mixture of jealousy and 'you're an idiot' on their face!

Ah... being young and carefree... trying to get a dose of that back with a nice mixture of not quite so much 'you're an idiot' mixed in now that I'm older, and possibly wiser...?? Jury is still out on that.