Question: There was a recent workshop on cisco living in Lake Michigan and there is evidence that
those fish do eat some small fish like goby. What are the chances that cisco stocked in Saginaw
Bay will eat small fish?
Response: The cisco stocked in Saginaw Bay are not from Lake Michigan but they originate from
northern Lake Huron. Research over the coming years will reveal the cisco feeding habits in Saginaw
Bay but it is likely that these fish may be less dependent on small fish for their food source.
Comment: PFAS and PFOS have often been in the news lately and it would be helpful to know more
about how much contaminated fish can be safely eaten. There have been several news releases
about these chemicals in smelt. It seems like these chemicals are concentrated in the smaller fish
lower in the food web instead of in predators.
Response: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has an excellent website
discussing these chemicals and other toxins along with providing guidelines on the amount of fish
caught in certain waters can be safely eaten. This information is being constantly updated and can be
reached through this link, https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/f ... dlife/fish. It is true that
these chemicals do not seem to be accumulating in larger fish and it has been proposed that because
small fish have much more surface area compared to their weight than larger fish, this allows more
toxin to be absorbed. There are indications that because babies also have more surface area
compared to their weight they are more vulnerable to PFAS.
Preparations for opening the Lower Saginaw River to walleye fishing year-around during 2023
(Dr Jeff Jolley, DNR Southern Lake Huron Unit Manager; Dr. Dave Fielder, Research Biologist
and Modeler; Jason Gostiaux, DNR Fishery Biologist and April Simmons, DNR Fishery
Biologist).
Jeff and the staff have been meeting with representatives from the nearby townships, counties, cities
and organizations to help them prepare for a substantial increase of visitors that will be participating
and viewing the increase in quality fishing activity. Opening the Lower Saginaw River year-round will
add an additional 6 weeks of walleye fishing when the fish are available to shore and small boat
anglers. The fishery will be monitored throughout the season to measure the impacts. Creel clerks
are already interviewing the anglers and will continue through the year. Jeff and the staff along with
law enforcement officers occasionally will visit the river during the new season to better understand
how the anglers, public, businesses and others are responding to this new opportunity. Jeff prepared
the fact sheet below to explain the changes and how the fishery is being monitored along with
encouraging anglers to utilize this excellent quality walleye fishing opportunity.
The Walleye and Yellow Perch Workgroup is close to completing a draft Walleye and Yellow Perch
Management Plan for the bay that will be shared with the DNR staff and then brought to this Advisory
Committee for additional input. The next meeting of the Workgroup will take place after the new
season opener so the group will be able to possibly incorporate information learned from the opening.
Questions and Comments:
Comment: Jeff said that the creel clerks have been discussing the opening with the anglers and
there has been support with some caution being expressed. This has provided an opportunity to
reassure the anglers that the fishery is being carefully monitored and changes can be made if
needed.
Comment: Laura Ogar said Jeff’s outreach program has been working well and the response from
around the community is very positive. There is some caution being expressed but there is much
enthusiasm for the new opportunity.
Question: The Dow Dam has been a huge source of walleye spawning and reproduction. Will more
walleye now be able to move above the Dam and spawn upstream?
Response: The DNR is working with Dow and it is anticipated that reproduction will likely increase at
the Dam and above. The future of this walleye spawning habitat in this area looks very good.
Comment: The river has been without ice the entire winter with only open water fishing occurring.
There will be some freezing over the next few days but there may be little ice forming. It appears this
should contribute to a less dramatic opening because it will be just a continuation of the fishery. In
the past when the season opened after the spring closure, anglers came out in huge numbers similar
to the excitement of the deer hunting opener. The monitoring of the harvest and fishery is very
important in assuring the public that the fishery will be protected.
Comment: The opening is being well received and a walleye tournament has been scheduled
during the opener.
Question: Will the walleye size and age be monitored in the Lower Saginaw River during the entire
new open season?
Response: Dave Fielder said that he will be monitoring the size and age of the fish being caught not
only during the new opening but has begun earlier in January. From January 1 through March at
least 50 aging samples will be taken, and another 40 samples will be taken during April. This will
show if the fish being caught are mostly mature larger fish or a mixture with many younger fish. It is
well established that nearly all walleye on the spawning grounds like at the Dow Dam site are larger
mature fish. It is generally thought that spawning walleye do not bite well prior to spawning but begin
to feed more aggressively after spawning. There is some evidence that once the walleye spawn they
quickly scatter into the bay. This age sampling program will help show how long the larger walleye
are in the river when they are feeding.
Frank: Frank acknowledged that Natural Resources Commissioners David Cozad and Carol Rose
were present. Frank thanked them for working with the Committee and the DNR to extend the Lower
Saginaw River walleye opening until 2023 so there was an additional year to educate the public and
prepare for the anticipated increase in visitors to the area.
Response: Commissioner Cozad commended Jeff Jolley and staff for the outreach program and it
is encouraging to learn that overall there is much support in the area for the new walleye fishing
opportunity. He will be following closely how the season progresses and how many anglers utilize this
new early season shore and small boat fishery.
Response: Commissioner Rose agreed with Commissioner Cozad’s comments and stressed this
was worth waiting for. Being married to someone that grew up in the Saginaw Bay area, he is
convinced this will be a very popular fishery. It is exceptional where someone can just walk up to the
edge of the water and participate in a quality fishery. Thank you for all the work that has gone into this
project.
Question: From the previous meeting it was noted that an access site inventory along the banks of
the Lower Saginaw River was being compiled, so will this information be available to assist others in
applying for grants and making improvements?
Response: Jeff Jolley mentioned that the Walleye and Yellow Perch Workgroup will make their
inventory of access sites available as part of the final report. The inventory reviewed and noted many
aspects of the existing and potential sites including the condition of the following, parking space, boat
launch capabilities, fishing docks, picnic tables, maintenance and amenities along with other items.
This information can be used by others to apply for grants and over time make improvements.
Comment: The newly updated DNR boat launch at the mouth of Saginaw River has many
improvements and will be much appreciated by anglers. Possibly, installing a YouTube camera at this
site would be very useful for anglers to determine if the fish are biting. Upstream along the river at
Smith Park, a very popular camera is installed that shows the boat launch and the conditions on the
river. This link will take you to the camera, lick on the watch on YouTube.
Comment: It was mentioned by several persons when the weather was decent there were people
fishing the river regularly and catching fish all winter. There were lots of smaller fish but some good
ones were taken. The river never was safe enough for ice fishing so only shore and boat fishing took
place. One key factor that will determine the success of the additional fishing opportunity will be the
condition of the river. For example, if the water is muddy and high it will not be fishable