by Capt. Dan Manyen

"NATURE AND INSTINCTS ON SAGINAW BAY "

Not knowing all the preferred prey species on varied bodies of water or how they interact given certain times and seasonal movement patterns, I'll stick to the body of water I'm more in tune with.

With Saginaw Bay being my home waters, I've had years to study its ever changing ecosystem. Of course, this has been and will continue to be an ongoing study, given the ever changing long list of foreign aquatic invaders introduced in recent years.

And each one either finds its way into the food chain or adds another variable to balance or unbalance the existing one.

This can force the Nature and instincts of the predators to change if this means either feast or famine in the course of this change.

The Bays most abundant baitfish is the Shad and Alewife. Both are closely related and grow at different rates and will mature to be different sizes at adulthood.

Right now and for years, this specie seems to have been the prey of choice for our walleye. Their movements and schooling activity determine greatly where you find the most walleye feeding activity.

Other prey of course makes up the diet of a regular foraging walleye on the Bay. But it seems to be these little guys who will often make a walleye act out of character in their pursuit.

A good example would be that I've caught walleyes in hot water discharges approaching 90 degrees. Where alewife's had been attracted to feed on plankton growths during the summer.

I've caught them in rivers, in open sunlight and crystal clear water 3 feet deep or less, while chasing alewife and shad.

Now, the sunlight and the reportedly sensitive eye's theory of the walleye, has never been true as far as I'm concerned.

But, I've seen too many (out of character) stunts pulled by walleye when chasing their favorite food to think it's a fluke.

Shad and alewife are actually tropical fish species. They can tolerate cold water, are killed in droves by extreme cold water and will always seek out warmer waters when available.

This favored baitfish instinct fact, along with the spawning instinct, drives the seasonal movement of the walleyes during their migration.

both into and out of the rivers that empty into the Saginaw Bay. Along with their movements in the innner Bay after the spawn and into the summer months.

Often, a warm, heavy rain in September will key the baitfish to enter the rivers and the walleyes will fallow, and stay in the river system until early spring when they spawn.

I could write a book on everything I've learned about
the Nature and Instincts of both the predators and prey of all the species I pursue.

Knowing the Nature, Instincts and seasonal habits can only help when formulating a fish catching game plan during anytime of the year on any body of water.

Its not rocket science, just pay close attention. And if you have the passion for fishing like I do, you'll get an A on your next fishing Test.

Capt: Dan Manyen, Walleye Express

[ Previous page | Return ]