Saginaw River Fishing
Bay County and Saginaw County, MDNR trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Saginaw Future Inc, CC BY 2.0
Meet the Saginaw River
Across Bay County and Saginaw County, the Saginaw River winds along as a river. Its mapped length comes to roughly 22.3 miles. Zilwaukee is the closest Census place, about 3 miles from its MDNR point.
Roughly 22.3 miles fall under Type 3. There are 2 active gauges on the stream. Launch points on file: 7 public launches.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Trout stream Types on the Saginaw River
| Type | Miles | Fishing season | Daily possession | Tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 3 | 22.3 | January 1st to December 31st | 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15" or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. | Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used. |
MDNR Types on the Saginaw River range from seasonal Type 1 water to year-round Types 3 and 4.
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Stream Regulation Types and gear-restricted layers; 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Michigan trout streams.
Fish the MDNR lists for the Saginaw River
These chips reflect MDNR records tied to the Saginaw River.
MDNR trout stream layer, fishing sites, stocking table and state records.
Flow at the Saginaw River gauges
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Saginaw River At Holland Avenue At Saginaw, Mi | -97 cfs, 13.18 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:00 am |
| Saginaw River At Midland Street At Bay City, Mi | -38 cfs, 579.18 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 7:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Public launches on the Saginaw River
- Saginaw River Mouth Boat Access8 lanes, 123 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport, Bay County
- Smith Park2 lanes, 10 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Bay County
- Independence County Parkboat ramp, 159 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport, Bay County
- Veterans Memorial Park8 lanes, 99 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Bay County
- Veterans Park2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Bay County
- Wickes Parkboat ramp, Saginaw County
- Rust Avenue Boat Access6 lanes, 60 trailer spaces, courtesy pier, toilet, Recreation Passport, Saginaw County
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
Limits and seasons for the Saginaw River
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout and salmon (stream Type 3) | 5 fish, but no more than 3 trout 15 inches or greater; minimum brook 15", brown 15", salmon/lake trout/rainbow (steelhead)/splake 10" | Fishing: Open all year; possession: Open all year |
For the Saginaw River, the table shows statewide inland limits for the Lower Peninsula, with the trout row for stream Type 3.
County rules that mention the Saginaw River
- Saginaw CountyBad R., Cass R., Flint R., Saginaw R. from upstream of the West Center St. (Douglas G. Schenk) Bridge, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers and all their tribs the following regulations apply from March 16 – Fri. before the last Sat. in April: Anglers are limited to using unweighted single-pointed ho
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
A short drive from the Saginaw River
Shops to stop at on the way to the Saginaw River
- Skipper Budsmarina, Bay City, 4 miles
- Stor & Lokmarina, Saginaw, 4 miles
- T R Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bay City, 4 miles
- Liberty Harbor Marinamarina, Bay City, 5 miles
- Bass Pro Shops, 5202 Bay Rdsporting goods store, Saginaw, 5 miles
Guides that list the Saginaw River
- Reel Pleasure Charterscharter, Midland, (989) 687-2700
- Termar Charter Servicecharter, Au Gres, (989) 876-8318
- Thumbs Up Charter Servicescharter, Sebewaing, (810) 513-6073
- Reel Fish'nfishing guide, Bay City, (989) 529-4097
Base camps for the Saginaw River
- Zilwaukee3 miles
- Bay City5 miles
- Robin Glen-Indiantown5 miles
- Essexville7 miles
Other rivers a short drive from the Saginaw River
- Kawkawlin River8 miles
- Quanicassee River10 miles
- Swan Creek, Saginaw County13 miles
- North Branch Kawkawlin River17 miles
Counties that the Saginaw River spans
- Bay County
- Saginaw County
Piscifun gear picked for the Saginaw River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Water around Saginaw River as the camera saw it
Photo: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Guettarda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
_August_2021.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
,_MI.jpg){kind=link}
What to know ahead of a day on the Saginaw River
Which part of Michigan holds the Saginaw River?
It flows across Bay County and Saginaw County.
Is the Saginaw River regulated trout water?
Trout Types cover about 22.3 miles: Type 3.
Does USGS report live data for the Saginaw River?
USGS runs 2 USGS gauges; readings are above.
Where do anglers get onto the Saginaw River?
7 public launches; Independence County Park is one.
Which rules cover the Saginaw River?
Type 3: 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15" or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season: January 1st to December 31st.
Can visitors fish the Saginaw River on a Michigan license?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
Who has minnows on the drive to the Saginaw River?
Drive 4 miles to reach Skipper Buds.
What bites in the Saginaw River?
Expect trout.
Which Michigan town is closest to the Saginaw River?
Use Zilwaukee as a base, roughly 3 miles away.
Pencil the Saginaw River into this season
Check the flow and regulations before the trip.