Choose your target before buying winter bait
For a winter trip around Saginaw Bay, tell your bait retailer whether you want to target walleye or perch and what tackle you will use. A bait meant to tip a jigging lure is a different purchase from a supply for several small panfish jigs. Buy for a specific plan, then bring a manageable backup.
The Michigan DNR ice-fishing guide identifies minnows, waxworms, spikes, and wigglers among live-bait options. King’s carries minnows and waxworms, along with crawlers and leaf worms. Spikes and wigglers are examples from the DNR guide, not part of our confirmed selection.
A minnow-tipped presentation for walleye
The DNR report from February 11, 2026 described Saginaw River anglers using a jigging lure tipped with a minnow head. The same report described very slow river fishing, including in Bay City. The lesson is to match a bait to a presentation while keeping expectations realistic.
Use that as a past local example, not a current instruction to enter the river or travel to a named access point. Before shopping, check whether your lure and line are ready, and ask the retailer about bait suitable for the way you plan to fish.
Small live bait and jigs for perch trips
The DNR’s ice-fishing guidance describes pairing small lures with live bait and starting near the bottom, then checking higher in the water column. For a perch trip, discuss a small minnow or a small bait such as a waxworm with the person supplying your bait. Your tackle and the conditions should guide that conversation.
Keep the shopping list compact. One intended presentation and one alternative are easier to organize with cold hands than several containers bought without a plan. Label your tackle and prepare knots at home where possible.
Set the ice decision before the bait decision
There is no calendar date when Saginaw Bay automatically becomes safe for ice fishing. The DNR’s February 2026 ice-safety reminder says no specific thickness can be deemed safe and emphasizes checking conditions yourself. Ice strength can vary within the same area.
A fishing article, old report, or store call cannot certify a route across the ice. If conditions are uncertain, postpone the trip. Bait availability is only a shopping detail; it is not evidence that the bay or river is safe to enter.
Your Essexville winter bait checklist
Call King’s Liquor at (989) 895-5333 to confirm the bait you need and ask about storage for the time between pickup and fishing. The store is at 536 W Center Rd, Essexville, MI 48732, with a 7:00 AM opening.
- Confirm bait variety, size, quantity, price, and pickup time.
- Ask how to protect the purchased bait from freezing and temperature swings.
- Check license needs, current water-specific rules, and winter gear before departure.
- Pack out bait containers and other litter when the trip ends.
Keep your next trip up to date
Use the current fishing regulations and DNR weekly report when planning. Find store details on our bait and license page. When you switch back to open water, read the spring river walleye guide.