Consider a minnow-tipped jig for spring river walleye
A minnow-tipped jig is a practical starting point when planning spring Saginaw River walleye fishing. Decide how you will fish it before buying bait: a boat trip built around vertical jigging has different preparation needs from casting at legal shore access.
The Michigan DNR report from March 25, 2026 described some walleye caught in downtown Saginaw by anglers vertically jigging twister tails tipped with minnows. It also described fast current and difficult fishing. That supports a bait option without promising that the same technique will produce fish on your trip.
Let the river conditions shape the plan
Spring fishing can change after rain. In its April 9, 2025 report, the DNR described the Saginaw River as high, muddy, and fast, with limited fishing activity. Treat March through May as a planning window that still requires a current weather and water check.
Before leaving Essexville, decide which stretch you intend to fish, whether you will launch or stay on shore, and when you will return. Do not let having already bought bait determine whether you proceed in unsuitable conditions.
Bring an artificial option as well
You do not have to build every presentation around live bait. The Indiana DNR’s general walleye guide identifies crankbaits and twister-tail jigs as river options and discusses current edges. That is general technique guidance, not a Michigan regulation or a local catch report.
Check your existing tackle before buying more. Choose a main presentation, pack replacement components, and have an artificial option ready if it fits your plan. Ask about bait size in relation to that tackle rather than requesting the largest minnows available.
Check the rules for the exact river stretch
Do not apply a general inland-lake opening date to every part of the Saginaw River or its tributaries. Look up the exact water and boundaries in the current Michigan fishing regulations before fishing or keeping walleye. Check permitted gear and bait as well as possession rules.
Use the DNR weekly fishing report for recent observations. An article about spring fishing is not a substitute for a current rule or a launch-condition check.
Arrange your Essexville bait pickup
King’s Liquor is at 536 W Center Rd, Essexville, MI 48732. Call (989) 895-5333 and explain that you are planning a spring river walleye trip. Ask whether suitable minnows are available, how they are sold, and what container and storage arrangements you need. King’s carries minnows, crawlers, waxworms, and leaf worms; call for the sizes and quantities available for pickup.
The store opens at 7:00 AM. For an earlier departure, ask about pickup the evening before. Review bait and fishing license access and add ice, water, and snacks to the same list. When your plan moves to open-bay trolling, use the summer Saginaw Bay walleye guide.