Saginaw Bay for Divers?
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a good friend of mine uses that guide at Fish Point annually.
the guide has box blinds & layout boats that you can either
freelance both, or be guided......it is cheap too !!
most of the box blinds are offshore, 1/4 mi or more.
the neat part of the layout gunning, you can slip in & out of
the boat yourself to retrieve downed birds....depending how far
out your set....that bay is extremely shallow.
the guide service will leave you a 2-way radio to communicate,
if you choose to freelance with their equipment.
i have waded out myself near a 1/2 mile from shore....generally
2-3 foot depth, but fluctuates annually & of course wind
direction.
the divers start showing up in good numbers by mid Nov., alot of
Redheads, bills, & cans.
i have seen & shot at cans as soon as there opening day, shooting off a reed island at Fish Point.
depending on water levels in Saginaw bay, you can launch a 14'&
maybe larger boat, near these wildlife areas....Fish Point,
Nayonaquin, Wigwam Bay & others & experience good gunning off
the fronts.
just to give you fair warning.....you may never want to go home!
if interested, i will attempt to get the info on the guide service.
the guide has box blinds & layout boats that you can either
freelance both, or be guided......it is cheap too !!
most of the box blinds are offshore, 1/4 mi or more.
the neat part of the layout gunning, you can slip in & out of
the boat yourself to retrieve downed birds....depending how far
out your set....that bay is extremely shallow.
the guide service will leave you a 2-way radio to communicate,
if you choose to freelance with their equipment.
i have waded out myself near a 1/2 mile from shore....generally
2-3 foot depth, but fluctuates annually & of course wind
direction.
the divers start showing up in good numbers by mid Nov., alot of
Redheads, bills, & cans.
i have seen & shot at cans as soon as there opening day, shooting off a reed island at Fish Point.
depending on water levels in Saginaw bay, you can launch a 14'&
maybe larger boat, near these wildlife areas....Fish Point,
Nayonaquin, Wigwam Bay & others & experience good gunning off
the fronts.
just to give you fair warning.....you may never want to go home!
if interested, i will attempt to get the info on the guide service.
Thanks for the detailed info Fowl Talk. I would probably want to go out on my own but may consider this guide for a first time out, especially if he's reasonable. Please pass along his name and number or a web-site.
<P>Saginaw Bay is my home waterfowling spot. We usually hunt Wildfowl bay near the Sebewing Sugar plant. Launch of Geiger Rd or the marina downtown Sebewing. The marsh areas get pounded pretty hard. The best bet is open water in between the marsh and the shoreline about 3/4 mile + out. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">If you want in the marsh, best have an airboat or mud motor. You will also need to watch the wind and the water can blow out on you. Believe me, you can get stuck out there and have to call for help.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I would not suggest wading out to go hunt. Some people do it, but it is not the best thing to do. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Early season is not so good. Middle/Late season is good. End of season is usually iced up.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">As Chuck mentioned.....Nayonaquin (not sure of the spelling) controlled area</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">is a good place to start. Traditionally Michigans' season starts a week prior</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">to Ohio & we've made the trek for several years.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Nayonaquin, unlike Fish Point, is not reserved for opening weekend controlled</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">hunting, atleast it has'nt for several years. The flooded buckwheat fields are</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">the choice early season. A three day license is reasonable, or get the season</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">pass for a couple bucks more, advisable.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Also, there is less hunting pressure around Nayonaquin, compared to Fish Point. Plenty of birds at both, sometimes incredible numbers.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Opening day, like Ohio, gets crowded. The next day, is totally different, you</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">should have a GREAT chance getting into the managed zones, especially the</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">afternoon draw. Bring a jon boat in order to hunt the marsh easier.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">It can get a little nutty off the front of the area on the opener, mainly guys</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">pass shooting birds in & out of the marsh...."teal, lookout, get down ", that</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">kind of nutty stuff. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">The water level in the bay does fluctuate, moreso than the Sandusky, but</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">generally you can grab a bag of dekes,walk out, find a hole in the reeds, and</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">proceed with your limit. Good bottom footing too. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Besides the nice sceniory, we have taken several limits of birds early season,</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">& were choosy.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">The motel Chuck mentioned is relatively close by, and seems to be the fowlers choice, they bedded our Labs too without a problem.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">If you get an opportunity to hunt the opening weekend, i would suggest to,</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">it will give you an idea of the landscape & extend your season the same.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">good luck..... </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">......say uncle first,,,say it !.....now, whos your daddy....<IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/crazy.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" align=absMiddle border=0> sorry, could'nt resist.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">We normally make it a family affair, Dad, both brothers & myself. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Rarely do we hunt together anymore.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I've been absent the last two years, hunting locally with my oldest son (13)</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">during the youth weekend. Now that he turned into a candy a$$ this last year, and has focused his attention on "eye candy", i'm hoping to pal around</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">the marsh with my 8 yr old son.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I believe that Michigan, the youth not only has to pass a hunters safety course, but also has to be of certain age(13-16 ?) in order to hunt !</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Atleast it was.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">If all else fails, i'd be glad to do a road trip with ya'...Bo.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">You need to be at least 12 years old and have passed a hunters safety course to do any hunting in Michigan. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">If you are looking for managed area hunts, Shiawassee is the biggest and best. But you need to get a feel for the area and not go in blind. You will get lost out there and it could be fun finding your way back to where you started. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">My hunting partners and I are considering comming up this fall when the divers get there. We have a two man layout with a small tender boat 1 is only 12ft. and the other is a 14ft. Saginaw seems to be a safe place to hunt with such a small tender boat because it is shallow a good ways off shore. We would like to set up at least a 1/4 of a mile off shore and still be able to wade if necessary. Being this year will be my first in the layout experience I want to keep it safe until we are comfortable with our boat and the rigging process. Thanks to you guys that posted your info. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">A question for those of you that hunt the bay. Does the east side or west side provide better gunning. I believe Linwood is on the west and Sebewaing is on the east. Again I'm looking for conditions and water levels that will be benefical to our rig. Thanks guys. </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">It all depends where the birds are. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I would suggest making a test run up there. It is shallow and there are a lot of areas where you can actually wade and set everything up. BUT, it can be very dangerous even thought it is shallow!!!!! There are lots of rock piles and sand bars just beneath the water surface. It can make for an interesting trip out in the dark if you don't know what you are doing. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">My suggestion would be to go up, take a GPS and mark some points, and ask some of the locals. You will find A LOT of stake blinds out in the open water at the begening of the season. They don't take kindly to layout guys setting up downwind from them either....</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Good luck.... Bass season starts over the Memorial weekend holiday. That would be a good time to go up and check things out. I will probably be up there sometime during the weekend doing some fishing. Most likely for carp though. Man those things are fun to catch...</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">3006, I truly believe one of the great things about layout hunting is you don't have to get up as early. We plan on getting out at first light and find some birds working an area, then we'll set up the spread. An exception to this would be finding those birds on an evening scout and then Try to be the first there in the morning. I do appreciate your advice on the GPS and a pre-scout. It's crucial to know where to go when things get hairy out there. And what do the MI guys consider an appropriate distance downwind? I hate bringing this topic up because I know it causes heated arguments. But Since we are novices to the game of layout, it's good to hear an opinion. Thanks for the info.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">RIVERDAWG</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Big-O-dawg, </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">you got a long haul from home.........if you could make it to Saginaw on the</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">opening weekend, get a license & spend some time around the bay</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">prior to heading there mid season. I can't say a layout would'nt be affective</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">even early season !!</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">It is one of the wildest shorelines i've laid eyes on. Nayonaquin, on the North</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">side of the bay, would be a good area to start. You can launch a 14' boat</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">around one of the perimeter roads of Nayonaquin WMA, IF THE WATER</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">LEVEL IS UP.....no problems, just take your time, and keep an eye on the</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">water levels when your out, especially if she's blowin'.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Get a map of the area from Michigan DNR web site and call the area headquarters & discuss water levels & bird numbers, they were quit responsive whith my questions. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Alot of the boats that i see use flip up sides & just anchor out in the bay</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">with a couple dozen blocks around them. Because of all the reed islands</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">throughout the bay, this method of hunting is effective & looks natural to</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">the birds.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">From what i have noticed, & Chuck mentioned the same, the birds will travel</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">back & forth, between Nayonaquin & Fish Point. Alot of them too......</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Fish Point, on the South side of the bay, gets twice the amount of hunting</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">pressure compared to Nayonaquin. Its bigger, & holds alot of geese, which</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">attracts the goose gunners. Nayonaquin, the goose season is closed during</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">the opener, & some of the surrounding counties.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">By mid November the divers are normally there in good numbers.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">A friend of mine normally does real well on the Saginaw on both, puddlers &</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">divers during this time. Being that much further North, compared to Ohio, its</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">not uncommon to experience some ducky weather early. Twice now, i've</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">experienced snowing & blowing conditions on the opening weekend, were talking the first week of October!!!</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">get out there & do it !</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P>
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There are No ducks in Saginaw Bay. they all pass it over in search of the favorable Sandusky and Maumee bay's.
<P>Nice try Susky. LOL</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Question: Does Michigan offer Sunday? Usually when we go to Maryland we end up wasting a day on our three day license because they are not allowed to hunt on Sunday.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">RIVERDAWG</P>
<P>Yes, Sunday hunting is permitted.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Thanks fowltalk. You probably figure by the way I'm posting that I plan to hunt every day of the waterfowl season in the state of michigan. That could be a bit pricy for me since I'm already a citizen of WV and have a license for WV and OH.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> Fowltalk are you from MI? </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">My buds just want some new terrain that will allow some good opportunities for some fast paced, action packed, layout shooting.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">RIVERDAWG</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">No, not from Michigan, although if i did'nt have to carry all the baggage</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">around as you see in my avatar, i would consider the move.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I've been fowlin' for 30 years in NW & N Central Ohio.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I knew you were looking for an occasional getaway hunting adventure, and you found it. Michigan is a waterfowlers paradise. I can assure you, the boys</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">& you won't be disappointed at what you see in Saginaw Bay.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">The controlled daily draw hunts, (Nayonaquin, Fish Point, Shiawassee) among</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">others, take a back seat to knowone in terms of size, habitat, & management. It truly makes Ohio look silly.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">BTW, I could stare at your avatar all day...nice !</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">just pick me up on your way North..<IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align=absMiddle border=0><IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/cool.gif" align=absMiddle border=0></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0px">Opening weekend for the Fish Point and Shiawassee managed areas is by permit only. After that, you need to go through the daily draws. Cost is about $4 a person if you get drawn plus all the other licenses. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">It should be fun if you get up there. I will be up there a few weekends after our trip to ND. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">If you do go opening weekend, get to the launch early because you may not find a spot to park. People start getting to the launches at dark the night before. Lots of people camp out on the water to claim their spots. I know the last time we went, we arrived at midnight and the launch parking lot on Gieger RD was full and there were trailers parked am both sides of the rd for about 1/4 mile. Not fun.... Pulling out was hell because every dumbass in the world was leaving at the same time and taking forever. Somepeople think they need to take everything out of the boat before they get it out of the water.... Don't understand that. </P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0px">there is no sunday hunting and absolutely no BUCKEYES allowed.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">The hunting is definetly better in Maumee Bay and Fairport Harbor</P>
<P>I agree Susky, "NO Buckeyes ALLOWED!" But bring on the Mountaineers! You Wolverines tend to be soft spoken. Now I know why. You're holding all the ducks and you're trying to keep it your little secret. LOL!! </P>
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