Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report - compiled by David
Boyarski, fisheries supervisor, Sturgeon Bay
Lake salmon and trout fishing is just starting: There was some effort
this past week but effort has still been low. Brown trout and lake trout
are being caught nearshore including from boats, piers, and shore access
areas.
Manitowoc County - The brown trout bite has been slower than expected.
Anglers are catching a few trolling from 1.5 to 2.5 mph in 12 to 40 feet
of water. A rouge lake trout or chinook is being picked up every now and
again, though few anglers have had consistent luck with these species
yet. Boats are averaging 1 to 2 fish per trip so far. Fish sizes are
ranging from 1 to 5 pounds with some larger fish also being occasionally
caught. Top lures have been flashy medium sized spoons with some chrome
and jointed stick-baits with blue or orange. Most lures are being run
behind planner boards to avoid spooking the fish in the clear near shore
waters. Boats are able to find surface water up to 54 degrees
consistently, though anglers with temperature probes are reporting water
in the mid to low 40s near the bottom in 30 feet of water. Smallmouth
bass and northern pike are still being picked up on the Manitowoc,
Branch, East Twin, and West Twin rivers consistently on live bait and
artificial lures. There has been some success with catfish on the
Manitowoc River down to the harbor on a variety of bait. Bullheads have
provided consistent action in Two Rivers harbor and on the West Twin
River throughout the week. River Temperatures are now in the low to mid
60 degree range.
Kewaunee County - There was very little fishing effort in this week. A
few small groups have been fishing inside the Kewaunee harbor and out on
the pier, and nearshore in Algoma with some limited success on both
brown trout and lake trout.
Door County - There are still brown trout to be caught in Door County
with anglers reporting success trolling in 5 to 15 feet of water with
stick baits and spoons. Shore anglers have been using cleos and spoons
at stone quarry, Murphy park, the piers in Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor and
Baileys Harbor. A 16-pound brown was caught in the canal and a
23.31-pound brown was the winner in the weekly contest at Howie?s Tackle
in Sturgeon Bay. Anglers are also catching some lake trout while out
fishing for browns. Smallmouth bass are hitting all over Door County.
This past week saw some impressive catches and the bass have just begun
moving onto the beds so there is just a little prespawn fishing left.
The Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament saw just over 1,600 fish caught
totaling almost 6,600 pounds for an average of over 4.1 pounds per fish.
A tournament record 8.45-pound smallmouth bass was caught on the first
day, which is just a few ounces short of the 60 year Wisconsin state
record of 9 pounds 1 ounce. The Saturday big bass was 7.54. There are
some big fish swimming in the waters out there. The most popular spots
for bass were the shallows (meaning 4 to 8 feet) in the flats of
Sturgeon Bay south to Little Sturgeon Bay, but some reported success in
a little deeper water as deep as 15 to 20 feet. Some bass were also
being caught in Egg Harbor, Ephraim and Stone Quarry areas. On the lake
side Rowley?s Bay has been excellent for smallmouth bass for both boat
and shore anglers. One pair of anglers reported catching and releasing
75 smallmouths in a single day. The Bailey?s Harbor area is also
producing some quality fish. A variety of baits have been working
including tubes, grubs, hair jigs soft plastic jerk baits, and stick
baits. There are also a variety of shore fishing opportunities
throughout Door County for bass including opportunities to wade out into
the water to get out a little farther. In recent years Kayakers have had
success venturing out fishing for the smallmouth bass. As far as shore
fishing goes, the pier is in at Little Sturgeon Bay, but the fishing
pier at Potawatomi State Park has not yet been put in. Anglers have also
been catching walleyes trolling crank baits down about 6 feet over 10-12
feet of water as in the lower bay. Some have been having success with a
faster trolling speed of about 2mph in 15 to 18 feet of water with deep
husky jerks and flicker shads. Perch opened this week, and it is
recommended to fish in 15 to 30 feet of water with medium minnows and
night crawlers. The northern pike are still going good in and around the
Sturgeon Bay Shipping canal with suspending jerk bait and golden shiners
both working well.
Brown County - Green Bay water temperatures reached as high as 66
degrees in the Lower West Shore, while most rivers were holding water
between 59 and 62 degrees. Both Suamico and Geano Beach have seen
walleye fishing activity increase quite a bit of over the past week.
Walleye were the main fish species being targeted out of these areas.
Anglers found success trolling a variety of crank baits in various
colors or running crawler harnesses. Most fishermen were catching
walleyes in 8-12 feet of water. Fishing pressure on the Fox River was
also high this past week. Most boat anglers were targeting walleyes by
casting stick baits or shads in a variety of colors; a few anglers chose
to troll crawler harnesses and were also having some success. Most
fishermen were fishing in about 4-15 feet of water, but some chose to
fish deeper pockets of water. Walleye numbers were low during the week,
but increased over the weekend. Other fish caught were Sheepshead,
Catfish, and a few White Bass.
Walleye fishing on the east shore of Green Bay has picked up
significantly in the past week. The majority of fishermen at Bayshore
Park and Chaudoir?s Dock have reported finding fish in 10-12 feet of
water by trolling crank baits 5-6 feet down; a few fishermen have been
targeting walleyes in 18 feet of water using crawler harnesses. Most
boats at Bayshore and Chaudoir?s have been catching between 2-5 fish
walleye per person. Shore fishermen at Bayshore Park have had success
throwing floating lures (such as floating stick baits) during dawn and
dusk hours off of the rock pier. Shore fishing success varies by night,
but some anglers have reported catching limits of walleyes. Most
walleyes have been between 16-22 inches with a few fish larger than
that.
Oconto County - Suckers, carp, and smallmouth are being caught on the
Oconto River from the Dam at Stiles to the mouth. Bass are hitting
spinners, crank baits, and soft plastics as well as live bait. The carp
and suckers are hitting live bait fished close to bottom. There has been
a good walleye bite from Pensaukee Landing to Oconto Park II. Most of
the action is coming in 6 to 12 feet of water using crawler/harness and
trolling stick baits. The color purple has been hot.
Marinette County - A few catfish are showing up at the Peshtigo Harbor,
anglers are using stink bait or crawlers fished on bottom. The walleye
bite has slowed some from the Peshtigo Harbor to the Menominee River,
boaters are reporting a water temperature of 51 to 54 degrees. Musky
fishermen were out in force on the Menominee River plying their without
a lot of success. An angler told me the water is a bit cool and the
river has quite a few suckers in it. Some northern pike and smallmouth
are also being caught trolling from Stephenson Island to the river
mouth. Anglers by the Hattie Street Dam are catching some walleye,
smallmouth, and northern pike using stick baits fished in the current or
soft plastics such as tubes and grubs.
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