2023 Bass Pro Tour Stage Seven Exploring New Waters with Saginaw Bay, Saginaw River

BAY CITY, Mich. – Saginaw Bay is a massive 1,143 square-mile body of water within Lake Huron. While it’s well known for excellent walleye fishing, the outstanding bass fishing has flown under the radar at the national level. Michigan pro Jonathon VanDam knows just how good it is and believes that Stage Seven of the 2023 Bass Pro Tour (Aug. 1-6) will open the eyes of fishing fans everywhere.

“No joke, Saginaw Bay is the best fishery in Michigan right now,” VanDam said. “Having the Bass Pro Tour there will expose just how good it is, and what makes it so great is that you have options. Most people automatically associate the Great Lakes with smallmouth, but someone could easily win this event with largemouth or smallmouth.”

Both species are plentiful in the bay, as well as the Saginaw River, and VanDam believes anglers will have their pick of cover, techniques, and species to target as the 2023 season wraps up.

“You’ll see the typical smallmouth drop-shot stuff, but you can also catch them shallower with vibrating jigs, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits,” VanDam said. “Largemouth up shallow will be a froggin’ and swim jig deal. It’s hard to predict which strategy will be the way to go because they all could lead to a win.”