5.0(3 Reviews)7 Hour Private Saginaw Bay Inshore Fishing Charter
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Full day Saginaw Bay charter targeting walleye and perchAll fishing gear and bait provided for conveniencePrivate 7hour trip accommodating up to 4 guests
Picture yourself casting lines in one of Michigan's most productive fishing waters, where Saginaw Bay's shallow flats and drop-offs create the perfect hunting ground for walleye and yellow perch. This full-day private charter with Windrift Sport Fishing puts you right in the heart of the action for seven solid hours of fishing. You'll have the boat to yourself and up to three fishing buddies, giving you plenty of room to spread out and work the water without dealing with crowds. Captain Doug and his crew know these waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put you on fish even when conditions get tough. All your tackle, bait, and gear comes included, so you just show up ready to fish.
Your day starts early as you meet the crew at the dock, where they'll already have everything rigged and ready to go. Saginaw Bay's protected waters mean you're not dealing with the big swells you'd face on the main lake, making this trip perfect for anglers who want to focus on fishing instead of fighting seasickness. The bay's structure is what makes it special - you've got mud flats that hold massive schools of perch, deeper channels where walleye cruise, and rocky areas that attract baitfish. Captain Doug reads the water conditions and adjusts throughout the day, moving from spot to spot based on what the fish are telling him. When one area slows down, he's not afraid to pull anchor and find where the fish are feeding. The crew handles all the net work and helps with unhooking fish, so you can concentrate on keeping your line in the water.
Saginaw Bay fishing is all about adapting to what the fish want on any given day. You'll primarily use bottom rigs with live bait like crawlers and minnows, but the crew also brings jigs, spinners, and other lures depending on conditions. The key here is staying in touch with the bottom while drifting or anchoring over productive structure. Water depths typically range from 15 to 35 feet, which means you're using medium-action rods with enough backbone to handle good-sized walleye but sensitive enough to feel those light perch bites. The crew provides all the tackle, including different weight options for varying depths and current. When the bite gets finicky, they'll switch up presentations - maybe adding a spinner blade to a bottom rig or switching from worms to minnows. GPS and fish finders help locate schools and structure, but the real magic happens when the crew combines technology with years of experience reading water and weather patterns.
"Great afternoon fishing trip with Doug and the crew. Started off a bit slow at first fishing spot but Doug adjusted and took us to the sweet spot which landed us nice haul of Walleye. Perfect trip for my son and nephew to catch their first big fish...much appreciated for Doug and his crew for a great experience." - Simon
"Wow what a good time!! It started out a little slow because of fog and smoke but we moved around and finally got on the walleye and it was a blast!! These guys are so nice and we were asking a million questions and they never were anything but completely awesome!!! We already booked another trip and can't wait to go again so much fun and effortless....well for us they were busting their butts all day. Thanks a lot guys we all appreciate you so much! My sons 18th bday was incredible thanks to you yall" - Joshua
"Both the captain and the 1st mate were so accommodating and helped all of us have a great experience on a hot day when the fish were not biting. They worked their tails off to find the right spot and the right bait. We all were able to catch at least 4 fish each and even the ones we did not keep were so fun to catch. We ended up catching 18 good sized Walleye and the best part is they cleaned and bagged them for us.These are very experienced fishermen and they are so kind and patient. I will very easily book this again when I'm in the area. I highly recommend!!" - Chris
Walleye are the crown jewel of Saginaw Bay, and for good reason. These fish grow fat and healthy in the bay's nutrient-rich waters, with many fish running 16 to 24 inches and some pushing into trophy territory over 28 inches. Walleye are most active during low-light periods, which means early morning and evening bites can be absolutely electric. They're structure-oriented fish, hanging around drop-offs, rocky areas, and current breaks where they can ambush prey. What makes walleye so exciting to catch is their aggressive strike when they're feeding, followed by a strong fight that includes head shakes and runs toward structure. The meat is second to none - firm, white fillets that taste amazing whether you fry them up or bake them with some lemon and herbs. Peak season runs from late spring through fall, with some of the best action happening during the summer months when baitfish are abundant.
American Yellow Perch might be smaller than walleye, but they make up for it in numbers and fight. Saginaw Bay perch are chunky, well-fed fish that average 8 to 12 inches, with some jumbo specimens reaching 14 inches or more. These fish school up in massive numbers, especially during fall when they're feeding heavily before winter. When you find a good school of perch, you can catch them as fast as you can get your line down - it's not uncommon to have doubles and triples on multi-hook rigs. Perch have excellent eyesight and can be picky about presentation, but when they're feeding aggressively, they'll hit anything that moves. The fight is surprisingly strong for their size, with quick darts and head shakes that keep things interesting. Perch fillets are sweet and mild, perfect for
The 30-foot Sea Ray Cruiser Windrift is your ticket to serious angling on Saginaw Bay's productive waters. Built for comfort with space for up to 6 anglers, this well-equipped fishing machine features twin engines that'll get you to the walleye and perch hotspots fast. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working structure, while the GPS and fish finder help locate those schools hiding in the depths. Between fishing runs, stretch out in the onboard kitchen or catch some rest on the bed. With live wells to keep your catch fresh, outriggers for spreading lines, and all the fishing gear provided, you can focus on what matters most - putting fish in the boat during your 7-hour adventure on these legendary Michigan waters.
Perca FlavescensYellow perch are schooling fish that run 7-10 inches on average, though we've pulled some beauties up to 14 inches from Saginaw Bay. You'll recognize them by their golden color and distinctive dark vertical bars. These guys love hanging around weed beds, docks, and rocky structure in 8-25 feet of water. Spring through fall are prime time, especially when water temps hit that sweet spot above 50 degrees. What makes perch so popular? They're scrappy fighters for their size, easy to catch, and absolutely delicious - some say the best-tasting freshwater fish around. Pro tip: once you find a school, stay put and work the area thoroughly. Where there's one perch, there's usually dozens more right underneath.
Sander VitreusWalleye are the crown jewel of Saginaw Bay, running 15-25 inches with some real trophies pushing 28+ inches. These golden-olive beauties have reflective eyes that help them hunt in low light, which is exactly when they bite best - dawn, dusk, and overcast days. They cruise deeper structure during daylight, then move shallow to feed. You'll find them along break lines, rocky points, and weed edges in 12-30 feet of water. What draws anglers back? They're challenging to locate, fight hard, and their white, flaky meat is restaurant-quality. My go-to trick: slow-troll live minnows or crawlers just off bottom along the weed line right at sunset. That's when the magic happens.
5.0 out of 5.0Great afternoon fishing trip with Doug and the crew. Started off a bit slow at first fishing spot but Doug adjusted and took us ...
Wow what a good time!! It started out a little slow because of fog and smoke but we moved around and finally got on the walleye an...
Both the captain and the 1st mate were so accommodating and helped all of us have a great experience on a hot day when the fish we...
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