Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 9.29.11Cooler and windy weather along with hunting activity continued to suppress fishing activity, though some anglers continue to venture out. Bluegill action slowed some on the Mississippi River, but largemouth and small mouth bass fishing has been good to excellent in along with an occasional walleye being caught. Water temperatures are dropping and this transition is helping anglers catch walleyes and sturgeon on the Wisconsin River. Inland trout fishing has been good the last week of the season in both Coulee region streams and in central Wisconsin, where brown trout action has been strong. The inland season closes this Friday, Sept. 30.
Recent rains giving the trout and salmon some much needed help making their way up Lake Michigan tributaries. Chinook and brown trout were being reported up the Manitowoc, East and West Twin, Kewaunee and Sheboygan rivers, and fish were just beginning to move up the southeastern tributaries, with a few reported up Sauk Creek, and the Milwaukee and Root rivers. Strong winds have kept many trollers off the lake, but pier and shore anglers reported some good chinook and brown trout action at many harbors.
Brown County Fox River anglers have been trolling for musky with success the last few weeks; most have been trolling the river or the lower bay. Anglers have been trolling for musky with medium sized stick baits with lots of action for the best success. Trolling speeds have been varying from day to day but speeds from 3.0-4.2mph have been the best. Walleye and perch anglers were finding it to be on the slow side. At Bayshore Park, pier anglers are reporting catching a few nice perch. Most have been fishing with slip bobbers set 6 inches to a foot off the bottom. Anglers have been tipping the slip bobbers with a small jig and minnow. Anglers are also using bottom rigs but with less success because the gobies have been stealing their minnows or worms before perch can get there. Anglers perch fishing from boats have found fishing to be good when the wind allows for them to venture out onto the lake. Most days this week the waves have been in the 2 to 3 foot range. Walleye anglers are finding walleye fishing to be spotty. Most anglers have been trolling harnesses or crank baits.
Manitowoc County Early week temperatures in the mid-60s dropped to the mid-50s by the weekend. Strong southwest winds at 15-20 mph continued up until Friday when the winds were light out of the northeast. Over the weekend, winds picked up at 15-20 mph from the east. Heavy rain occurred Monday (9/19) and Sunday (9/25) in the area, giving the trout and salmon some much needed help making their way up to the dams. Surface temperatures are now near 60 degrees offshore, with water temperatures ranging from 52-55 degrees around the pier heads. Strong winds all week created 3- to 4-foot waves for boaters. The piers this week, both Two Rivers and Manitowoc, have been relatively slow. It appears three or four salmon and an occasional brown trout were being caught per day from both piers combined in both cities. Anglers have had success using a mix of casting green/silver champs and using spawn on the bottom. Very few salmon have caught in both port harbors. The only exception is the Manitowoc marina, where anglers casting champs and using salmon spawn have been catching a mix of small rainbow trout, brown trout of 5-plus pounds, and several four year old salmon. Manitou Park on the Manitowoc River, the Shoto dam on the West Twin River, and downstream from the Mishicot dam on the East Twin River have all been successful up the tributaries for large chinook salmon and an occasional brown trout. Anglers have been using large sinkers/bell sinkers with spawn, ear plugs, cookie dough, yarn, etc. to legally hook into these salmon. Those casting spoons and champs into these areas rarely hook a fish legally. The strong winds all week resulted in a small number of boats out. Fishing remains relatively slow for those trolling the pier heads. These boats continue to average zero to four chinook salmon with an occasional small brown or rainbow trout. Fishing in 150-250 feet of water will continue to be good, but with strong winds lately, very few boats have gone out further than out front fishing the gaps. The boats out front have had success using green J-Plugs and spoons. Please remember these regulations this fall. Hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in the Lake Michigan tributaries starting Sept. 15. Also starting Sept. 15, you may not use hooks that have a gape size larger than one-half inch from point to shank in the tributaries. If you observe any violations, please call 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).
Door County Little Sturgeon Bay anglers fishing for bass have found it slow with the fish being really lethargic. Bass anglers have been targeting fish in 10 or more feet of water. Most have been using subtle presentations. Perch fishing has been good with anglers catching good numbers of fish. Unfortunately, however, most have been small. Most anglers have been sorting through 50 or more fish to catch a meals worth. Perch fishing has been slow at Chaudoir?s Dock with anglers having to move multiple times to find fish. The anglers that are finding perch are running well to the north to find fish. The fish that are being caught, however, are large. Most have been averaging around 10 inches. The weather has been affecting the amount of anglers venturing out; only a few days have been fishable.
Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility The salmon are knocking on the door. Although the area has had little in the way of precipitation for much of the summer, some timely rains have been bringing some fish in lately so it won't be long. People interested in volunteering to help out on a harvest days, should contact the facility as soon as possible so we can get a rough idea of who will be available on what days. The first day targeted for harvest is next week Monday, October 3. As always, the fish will have the last say on when we harvest but it's a fairly good bet for a start date. From there on "typically" crews harvest on Mondays and Thursdays so we'd be looking at Oct. 3, 6, 10 and 13 for the first two weeks. But again, please keep in mind those dates are very subject to change depending on the run. How far we harvest beyond the second week will not be determined for some time but there is a chance we will have another 1 or 2 harvest days after the first two weeks. Those days are typically more spread out. Although we welcome volunteer help, there is only enough room and need for a limited number of volunteers at the weir on each date so please keep this in mind. Groups interested in a tour, please contact the facility soon to get a rough time scheduled. We've already got several groups scheduled at this time. As always, we welcome the visitors to the weir on harvest days and with the great "facelift" the facility got last year, the viewing is even better. For more information call Scott Hansen at (920) 746-2864.
Kewaunee County A seasonal but windy Sunday greeted the week. Unfortunately, a low pressure system moved in bringing cloudy and intermittent rain throughout the latter part of the week. Despite the weather, fishing off the Algoma pier and river has improved. Some nice catches of chinook were seen off the north pier, with a few fish being caught at Olsen Park. Green and silver spoons were predominately used. Dead chinook were being seen at Forestville dam. As of September 21, low water levels slowed fishing in the Kewaunee River and Pier. Fewer chinook were seen/caught at Bruemmer park than last week. Imitation egg and pink yarn baits are lures of choice.
Waupaca and Waushara counties Fall brown trout fishing has been good on the Waupaca River, especially in the downtown Waupaca area. The fish are hitting on wooly buggers and spinner type baits. Brown trout were biting great, but the torrential rains of the last few days have the creeks out of their banks and may put a premature end to the season which ends on Friday, Sept. 30.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County In Sheboygan most trollers have been concentrating in the harbor due to rough boating conditions. A few chinook have been caught, and spoons and crankbaits have been the most successful lures. Some chinook have been taken by shore anglers on the piers, and most have been hitting spawn fished off the bottom but a few have taken spoons. The water temperature off the piers was around 60 degrees. Fish have been spotted in the Sheboygan River as far up as the Kohler dam, although in relatively few numbers. The water level has increased with the recent rainfall, and the river is muddy. Anglers have been casting spoons, but flies have remained the most successful for catching chinook. Some brown trout have also been reported in the lower stretches of the river. The water temperature in the Sheboygan is 58 degrees. In the Pigeon River the water temperature was at 56 degrees, and the flows have risen. As of Sunday, fishing pressure has remained minimal, but that should change soon.
Ozaukee County In Port Washington trollers have had the most success fishing in 120 to 200 feet of water. Spoons have been the most productive lure, but no specific color has been best. Chinook have dominated the catch, but a few coho have also been taken. Shore fishing pressure has been high near the power plant and elsewhere in the harbor. Anglers have been catching mostly chinook along with a few browns and rainbows mixed in. Spawn has been the most productive, followed by crank baits. The harbor temperature has been between 54 and 58 degrees. Anglers fishing off the pier have been catching few smaller rainbows on spawn. Sauk Creek is about 56 degrees, and flows have been increasing. Salmon should be moving upstream now that there is enough water in the creek.
Milwaukee County Trollers fishing off Milwaukee have been catching mature chinook and coho just outside the harbor. Fishing remains generally slow in the harbor, although shore anglers have taken a few chinook behind the Summerfest grounds on crank baits. A few brown trout have been seen swimming around McKinley pier, but fishing there has been relatively slow. Water levels have increased on the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers and Oak Creek. Fishing on Oak Creek and the Menomonee remains relatively slow, but some chinook have been caught from the Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park.
Racine County Trolling near the harbor mouth in Racine has slowed, although fish can still be seen jumping near the boat launch. Shore anglers have been able to catch a few chinook on spawn and crank baits. When trollers have been able to get offshore, fishing has been good in 70 to 150 feet of water. Spoons and flashers and flies have been productive for coho and immature chinook. Blues, greens, and whites have been the best colors. Water levels on the Root River are starting to rise, and a few chinook have started to show up. Some have been taken near the Steelhead Facility and at other spots throughout the river. A variety of baits have been used. An Open House will be held at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Guided tours will be held with spawning demonstrations, and local fishing clubs will sponsor kids casting, knot tying, fly tying, fly fishing techniques, and more. Be sure to bring your family and friends to the facility on Saturday, October 8.
Kenosha County Shore fishing in Kenosha has been fair, with chinook, browns, and rainbows taken in the harbor. Most fish were caught on fresh skein. The mouth of the Pike River is open, but fishing has been slow and flows are now fairly high. Salmon fishing in the Pike should improve as the water levels begin to drop.
Grant County Bluegill fishing has slowed, but anglers continue to catch hand sized bluegills just about anywhere in Mississippi River pools 10 and 11. The 9-inch bluegills are few and far between. Largemouth and small mouth bass fishing has been good to excellent in pools 10 and 11 finding both concentrated in structure and rip rap along the railroad right of way. An occasional walleye has been caught in the same areas. Anglers fishing the wing dams continue to catch many small sauger, with very few walleyes, commenting that the walleyes seem to be scattered through out the Mississippi Pools. The water levels are below 8 feet in many areas, with resulting large shoreline areas and mud flats.
Richland County Trout fishing has been good during the last week of the season. Larger rivers like the Pine and Willow are up slightly and a little murky since the rain earlier this week. The smaller streams are running pretty clear and only a little higher than they were last week.
Columbia County The water temperatures in area lakes are dropping. This fall transition is helping anglers catch walleyes and sturgeon on the Wisconsin River. Fishing on Lake Wisconsin and up the Wisconsin River to Portage has been slow, with only reports of undersize sauger and small stripped bass being caught.
Dane County Sport fishing activity and action in south and western Dane County continued to remain generally slow from the recent cold and wet weather conditions in recent days. Several fishers contacted experienced mild to moderate activity on panfish and bass on Lake Waubesa and several fishers reported having limited musky and bass action on Lakes Waubesa and Monona. Several trout fishers reported having good action on western Dane County streams.
Rock County Walleye, white bass, and northern pike continue to bite below the dams, but success has slowed over the last couple weeks. Minnows have been the popular bait lately, but leeches are still a good bet to catch a keeper walleye. Boaters are reminded to wear a personal floatation device whenever on the water, but especially when water temperatures are falling. In addition to drowning, hypothermia is an added threat this time of year if you find yourself in the water unexpectedly.
Minocqua area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htm
Lake Michigan Fishing Report and tips
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htm
Wausau Area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htm
Chippewa Flowage fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htm
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
