UTERWalleye fishing in Lake Huron
In Lake Huron, walleye peak January–August and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Saginaw Bay ice walleye — possession now open year-round there.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Walleye in Lake Huron, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSaginaw Bay ice walleye — possession now open year-round there.
- FebruaryPeakPeak ice walleye on the bay. Walleye possession is open year-round on Saginaw Bay now; Les Cheneaux whitefish and pike through the ice.
- MarchSpawningSaginaw River run.
- AprilSpawningSpring run peaks on the rivers; St. Clair smallmouth pre-spawn. River walleye and steelhead; catch-and-release smallmouth on Lake St. Clair.
- MayPeakBay walleye trolling begins; lake trout shallow off Alpena. Crawler harnesses on the Saginaw Bay flats; lakers on the Thunder Bay reefs.
- JunePeakSmallmouth beds on Drummond and Les Cheneaux; St. Clair muskie opens. Tubes on the gravel for smallmouth; big bucktails on the St. Clair weed edges.
- JulyPeakTrolling the Saginaw Bay reefs.
- AugustPeakWalleye on the bay, lake trout deep, kings stage. Downriggers off Harrisville and Oscoda for kings and lakers.
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish walleye near Saginaw Bay, Bay City, Port Austin
Saginaw Bay — one of the great walleye and perch fisheries in the country — the rocky Thunder Bay and Drummond Island shoals for lake trout and smallmouth, the Au Sable and Rifle river runs, and Lake St. Clair, the shallow weedy world-class water for muskie and smallmouth between Huron and Erie.
Fish Scouter charts 324 lake, 86 reservoir spots in the Lake Huron & Lake St. Clair map area — the kinds walleye hold on.
What to use for walleye
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- LeechesHooked once through the sucker end on a #8 to #4 hook under a slip bobber or on a live-bait rig — walleye and smallmouth can't leave them alone.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 34–78°F water, best at 55–70°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch walleye in Lake Huron?
Peak season is January–August, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Walleye are here year-round. January: Saginaw Bay ice walleye — possession now open year-round there.
Where do walleye hold in Lake Huron?
Look on lake, river, bridge, fishing pier, dock / pilings — around Saginaw Bay, Bay City, Port Austin, Oscoda, Alpena, Rogers City.
What is the best bait for walleye in Lake Huron?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), leeches, nightcrawlers. Minnows (fatheads, shiners): Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
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