Living on the Saginaw Bay shore

Arenac County’s whole eastern edge is Lake Huron — specifically Saginaw Bay — and the shoreline is one of the big reasons people move here. The coast is mostly wooded and lined with year-round homes and cottages, many with their own beach access and docks. A couple of public boat launches and a handful of small parks fill in the gaps, and the city of Au Gres has a marina with a channel into town.

The draw is the water itself. Saginaw Bay is a world-class walleye fishery, and it’s also known for perch — the public launches here open onto some of the best fishing in the state, which is why Au Gres is such a popular fishing port. The bay is shallow and warm, so it’s friendly for boating and swimming too.

A few things for buyers to keep in mind on the shore: Great Lakes water levels rise and fall over the years, which affects beaches, docks, and erosion, so it’s smart to ask about a property’s shoreline history. Most shore homes are on a private well and septic (see the township note). And if you’ll be eating what you catch, it’s worth checking the state’s Saginaw Bay fish-eating guidelines — the bay has long-standing advisories for certain fish.