Wisconsin Statewide Fishing report 5.18.12Water levels are very high on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers after last week?s rain. The Mississippi was as much as 5 feet above normal in some locations. The Wisconsin was out of its banks in many locations, but was starting to drop. The North and South Forks of the Flambeau River were both high and offering excellent whitewater paddling conditions this week.
With the warmer weather in the last week, fishing picked up in many locations and some very good catches were being reported in a number of areas. Walleye bag limits were being reported on Northwoods lakes this week, as well as on the Upper River Lake Winnebago System and along both the west and east shores of Green Bay. Some of the best northern pike fishing in years was also being reported in the north. Crappies have finished spawning on most northern lakes and bluegills and bass were now on their beds. Anglers are reminded that bluegill and bass as they are very vulnerable while sitting on their beds and can be easily overharvested while spawning.
Despite some windy days, conditions were generally better for Lake Michigan trollers to get out on the water and catching good numbers of fish, with limits of chinook not uncommon, along with a mixed bag of coho and rainbow and brown trout. Anglers fishing at harbors and piers have also been catching a few chinook, browns, and rainbows. Along Door County, bass anglers were out in good numbers prefishing for the Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament this weekend.
Bayfield County Bluegill and crappie have moved into the shallows and those using worms and minnows are having much success. Those fishing the early catch and release bass season are also finding success fishing the shallows as well. Many trees and small shrubs are in full bloom this week and the forest floor is littered with wildflowers. Local streams are settling down but are still flowing at a higher level than normal due to the past week?s rains. Walleye activity is good and those fishing both the Namekagon Lake and Eau Claire Chain in a depth of about 12 feet are doing well. Northern pike activity is the best it?s been in in recent years, and anglers fishing crappie appeared to be catching one northern to every five crappie. Northern fishing was best on Namekagon Lake for those fishing the weedy shallows along the shorelines.
Douglas County Cool nights in the far northwest seem to have ?evened out? the apparent early and warm spring when it comes to fish activity and lake/river conditions. Smallmouth bass in most lakes in the area are still in a pre-spawn or early spawn mode. The St Louis River opened for walleye fishing with mixed results. Near perfect weather conditions brought out huge crowds of anglers but not everyone found good numbers of active fish.
Washburn County Bluegills are moving into shallow areas and anglers are reporting good catches.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) More summer-like weather has made for some improved fishing across the Northwoods and most anglers have been enjoying some pretty good success. Water temperatures have moved up into the low to mid-60s on most lakes and this has spurred on a lot of fish activity. Walleye fishing continued to attract a quite a few anglers this past week and action has been generally good. The best success has been on minnows - either on a slip bobber, a lead-head jig or on a bare hook/split shot rig. Action has been best in the early morning and late evening hours, and fish have been most active along drop-offs in the 6 to 12 foot range. Anglers seem to be catching good numbers of walleye and quite a few limits of fish in the 12 to 18-inch size have been taken. A few nicer walleye have been caught on stick baits cast in the shallows in the hour before dark. The milder weather has spurred on a lot of smallmouth and largemouth bass activity and both species have been observed spawning in area lakes. Northern pike success has also moved up a notch and a good number of fish have been found in and around the newly forming weed beds. Panfish activity has really picked up with the warm-up in water temperatures. Crappie have already finished up their spawning season on many of the smaller lakes, though some good catches of have still been made around old emergent weed lines and brushy cover up in shallow water. Bluegill are also congregating near their spawning areas and a lot of nice fish have been caught on small night crawler pieces fished below a bobber up in 1 to 3 feet of water
Taylor County Anglers are having some success with panfish in the shallow waters as the water temperatures continue to rise. Most crappie have completed their spawn and are returning to deeper water and the bluegill are beginning their spawn. Bass are in the shallows in preparation for their spawn too.
Vilas County Steady warm temperatures have brought panfish into shallow waters and anglers are reporting good catches of crappie on area waters.
Marinette County Fishing the mouth of the Peshtigo River was slow with only a few walleye and smallmouth reported. Most anglers were using crawler/harness in 6 to 10 feet of water. Some very nice smallmouth were being caught below the dam in Peshtigo on tube jigs. Fishing pressure on the Menominee River was light with few fish to report. Jigging the Wisconsin shore line below the Turn Basin produced some walleye along with a goodly number of drum. Inland trout fishers are out in full force -- most streams are low due to minimal rainfall and snowmelt but anglers are having moderate success.
Oconto County The walleye bite off of Geano Beach and Pensaukee on Green Bay has been good, with two and three person limits still very common. Walleye anglers out of Pensaukee landing did well trolling crawler/harness in 6 to 8 feet of water. The orange and black or purple blades were the hot colors. Walleyes are ranging in size from 18 to 24 inches. Some pike, walleye, and bass were being caught from Oconto Breakwater to Oconto Park II, with crawler/harness and stick baits. The purple Flicker Shad worked well when the bite slowed down. Fishing was slow at the Stiles Dam with a few panfish being caught with slip bobbers or free floating live bait.
Brown County Suamico River and Fox City metro anglers were catching their limits in walleyes on crank baits and crawler harnesses. Good numbers of sheepshead, drum and channel catfish were also being caught as well as some bass. Bayshore Park was very busy toward the end of the week with many anglers targeting walleye and starting to catch channel catfish and sheepshead. Anglers were catching large number of walleye with many keeping their limits. They were using Flicker shads for bait, in about 9-14 feet of water and the water temperature had risen a little to 61 degrees.
Manitowoc County Fishing pressure is picking up on the lake. The trolling bite has been hot with kings hitting a variety of baits. The great weather and calmer winds as of late have helped to convince many anglers to get out on the water, and the hot salmon fishing has convinced them that it was probably worth buying the boat, the gear, and? the grill. Boats are setting up in 75 to 200 feet of water and generally catching kings from 50 to 80 feet down in the water column. Flasher/flies as well as spoons have been equally effective it seems and many different colors and styles are working. Leadcore line, dipsey divers, and downriggers are all working to help catch fish. Using leadcore line has been effective for steelhead higher in the water column. Most are trolling at 2.2 to 2.7 mph. The bite has slowed down considerably from the Manitowoc and Two Rivers piers. Anglers are occasionally catching brown trout with spoons. If anglers are able to cast to the clearer lake water (if the wind is right), then they have a chance at catching a brown or possibly a salmon. The tributary steelhead run is over and catches have been rare for this species. Water levels are still very high as fast. Specific locations have been giving up smallmouth and northern. Some small brown trout are being caught on live bait. Bullhead fishing has been very successful on the West Twin River with minnows or night crawlers. With water temperatures increasing on inland lakes, bluegill, bass, and crappie should be shallow near cover. Live bait under a float or fly fishing would be effective. Bass could be taken on a variety of plastics depending on the amount of vegetation in the water being fished. Any flashy crank or spinner bait should be effective for bass or northern also.
Door County Fishing pressure continued to increase with the great weather conditions this past week. In the Sturgeon Bay area the City Dock ramp and Ole Stone Quarry ramp saw the most launch action. Boaters returning to these ramps reported a good smallmouth bass catch including in 5-10 feet of water using a wide variety of artificial lures including soft plastics and suspending stick baits; live bait in the form of crawlers has also been working. Pressure in the Sturgeon Bay area for walleye and northern pike continues with walleye biting in both the morning and evening hours and pike taking minnows or a variety of trolled artificial baits. Boaters are reporting a good catch of chinook from the lake from Sturgeon Bay north to Bailey's Harbor, fishing in 80-100 feet of water, using flasher flies and spoons. Boaters launching out of Sister Bay Marina and Ephraim Village ramp have also report a good catch on smallmouth bass and walleye. Brown trout have slowed but are still be caught around the peninsula. Shore anglers have reported success casting from the Ole Stone Quarry for smallmouth bass and walleye. There are reports of a decent smallmouth bass catch off the piers in Ephraim, casting tubes, grubs, and other soft plastics. There are no reports of anglers fishing in area creeks. The beginning of last week was slower in Sawyer Harbor. Little Sturgeon Bay was very busy. Just about all fish were released and only a few northern pike were kept. The anglers were mainly targeting smallmouth bass and walleye. The main bait was artificial, they were caught in about 6-7 feet of water and the water temperature was about 56 to 57 degrees. It was a little busy in Sawyer Harbor. Anglers were targeting smallmouth bass as well, only a few were kept and a few northern pike were caught and released. Chaudoir's Dock was moderately busy with anglers targeting walleye and hitting their limits in about 16-25 feet of water. The water temperature was about the same as up in Little Sturgeon Bay. Sheepshead and channel catfish were starting to make more of an appearance at Chaudoir's Dock as well.
Potawatomi State Park The Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament is May 18-20; many anglers have been testing their luck this week
Kewaunee County Chinook salmon fishing on Lake Michigan was very good this past week and many charter and private anglers changing their normal spring time tactics to take advantage of the good chinook fishing. Chinook have been averaging 8 to 15 pounds and up to 20-pounds. While not everyone is getting limits, some charters and a few privates have made catches of 10 to 30 fish. Chinook have made up the bulk of the catch but some rainbows and lake trout were also being caught. Best depths have ranged from 80 to 240 feet of water most days, with the 100- to 200-foot range, 40 to 100 feet down, being the most targeted for chinook. On calm, sunny days, anglers are still getting some bites outside of the dawn and dusk flurry by using leadcore, copper wire or 8 and 10-oz. weights off of magnum-size planer boards well away from the boat, or deep downriggers in the 70- to 150-foot down range. Flasher and fly combos, spoons, small J-Plugs, Cut Plugs and even flasher and preserved herring cut bait combos all are attracting strikes. Pier and nearshore brown trout fishing has slowed, but catches were still possible. Inland, smallmouth bass, catfish and a few pike are hitting on the Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers, but it?s catch-and-release only at this time for the bass north of Hwy. 29. Krohn?s Lake has been a decent bet for recently-stocked brook and rainbow trout, both from the new fishing dock and small boats, and all of the county?s inland lakes are seeing largemouth bass, bluegills, sunfish, rock bass and a few crappies cruising the warming shallows. Inland lake fishing is starting to pick up but is still spotty.
Waushara County Trout have been biting well on central Wisconsin streams, with many early Mayfly hatches observed. Stream levels are dropping and a bit a rain would help improve fishing. Bluegills are starting to move into shallows in preparation of spawning.
Fond du Lac County The walleye bite has slowed on Lake Winnebago from last week. Shore anglers were still out looking for crappies but that bite has also slowed this week. The white bass bite is starting up on the Fond du Lac River and more anglers are showing up on the shore of the river enjoying the nice weather.
Winnebago County The Lake Winnebago System is moving along with a great walleye bite occurring throughout the Upper River Lakes and Lake Winnebago itself. Individuals are catching walleyes utilizing multiple methods including slip bobbers on the reefs, trolling and jigging. Many anglers are enjoying the large number of bigger walleyes being caught, averaging between the 17 to 22 inch range. Walleyes in the Winneconne area are starting to slow down from the bridge. However they are picking up on Lake Poygan. The white bass are starting to show in large numbers. Many are also catching channel and flathead catfish as well. Panfish are beginning to make spawning beds in many of the shallow areas in the channels throughout Winneconne.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County Trollers in Sheboygan have been catching chinook near shore in 30 to 50 feet of water, and a mixed bag of chinook, rainbows, coho, and lake trout has been taken in 100 to 170 feet of water. Spoons and dodger and fly combinations have been effective. Fishing off the Sheboygan piers has been slow. The Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers have relatively high flows and temperatures in the mid to upper-50s. There has been minimal fishing effort on both rivers.
Ozaukee County In Port Washington trollers have been successful catching chinook, coho, rainbows and lake trout in 80 to 180 feet of water. Limits have been taken, and spoons as well as dodger and fly or flasher and fly combinations have been productive. Anglers fishing off the pier in Port have been catching a few chinook, browns, and rainbows, and the most fish have been taken on alewives.
Milwaukee County Milwaukee trollers have been catching good numbers of chinook, with limits not uncommon. Most trollers have been focusing in 80 to 130 feet of water. Spoons of various colors fished 40 to 60 feet down have been productive for chinook, and a few coho have also been caught on flies. Anglers on McKinley pier have picked up some chinook, along with a few brown trout and coho. Most fish have been taken on live bait, either shiners or alewives, but a few have also been caught on spoons. The shoreline along Summerfest is producing small browns with the most successful anglers using minnows, and a few additional fish have been caught on spoons.
Racine County Warmer weather and lighter winds have greatly improved fishing success in Racine. Those fishing from shore have had their best luck throwing spoons or soft plastics and soaking live bait on the bottom. Anglers were catching browns, coho, and a few chinook from the pier and in the harbor. Trollers have had some recent success with dipsey divers and flies along with trolling spoons. Anglers were catching good numbers of coho and a few chinook in 40 to 80 feet of water depending on the day.
Kenosha County Warm weather and calm wind has improved fishing conditions in Lake Michigan with anglers reporting a strong salmon catch in mid range depths while trolling. People who boat out of the Kenosha Harbor area can check out the new ?Kids Don?t Float? loaner life jacket kiosk at the main harbor boat launch. If you get to the harbor and realize you forgot a PFD, you can borrow one for the day and return it when you are done. This was a project of the DNR, Kenosha Sport Fishing and Conservation Club and many local donors.
Waukesha County Fishing pressure on lakes is increasing with warmer weather and longer days. Anglers were reporting success with bass and northern pike on School Section Lake and Lower Phantom. Many anglers were finding success targeting weed beds with surface baits. Inland Lakes stocked with trout have been showing mix results, but some anglers were reporting success in deep holes with night crawlers. Panfish action has been spotty around the county, but some anglers were finding action with bluegill and crappie on Lower Nemahbin and Lower Nashotah Lakes. With water temperatures approaching 70 degrees, fishing has picked up on the lakes in the Oconomowoc area. Walleye have been particularly active on Lac La Belle. Anglers were catching good size largemouth and smallmouth bass on Pewaukee Lake using soft plastic lures. Largemouth and smallmouth up to 20 inches were caught over the weekend. Muskie anglers on Pewaukee Lake reported seeing fish chase their lures but not many fish were caught. Anglers reported catching largemouth bass on Moose Lake as well as some northern pike. Anglers are encouraged to consider practicing catch and release as bass are vulnerable to overharvest while spawning.
Grant County Mother's Day weekend the weather was perfect, but due to recent rainfalls, the Mississippi and Wisconsin river levels are up 2 to 3 feet higher than normal. Water has covered many low lying islands and backwater sloughs on the Mississippi River affecting fishing and river access. Many boat landing docks are en-circled by water and one boater commented that the new boat docks at Wyalusing Beach boat landing, looked like they were out on the main channel! Schleicher's Landing a popular fishing resort North of Cassville, has the majority of the lowland camping areas under water, Bagley Bottoms boat landing access road is under 1 foot plus of water. There is a lot of debris in the water. Boaters and anglers use caution. Fishing has slowed for most of the area, except near O Leary Lake below Lock and Dam 1, where the striped bass are biting near the lock and dam wall. Many larger 12-14 inch fish are being caught. Many smallmouth bass are also feeding along the flooded rip rap below the dam. Bluegill fishing has slowed through both pools 10 and 11. The trumpeter swans are continuing to sit on their nest in the backwater slough adjacent to County X North of Bagley. Several Canada geese are also nesting in areas visible to the roadway - Mill Pond along Hwy 133 North of Potosi, Oak Road North of Dickeyville and Platte River between Dickeyville and Potosi. Trout fishing was excellent on the area trout streams. Morels are still able to be found out in the woods, but they are getting harder to find. Bald eagles can be seen feeding along the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.
Columbia County Wisconsin River levels are still very high. In smaller shallow lakes and ponds in Columbia and Sauk counties bluegills and sunfish can be seen moving into the shallows in preparation for spawning. Some early spawning beds are appearing in the shallows on the sandy flats.
Dane County Crappies were biting on Lake Waubesa the past few days. Crappies have been observed hanging around any wood in the water
Sauk County Crappies are biting on the Wisconsin River in the slack water below the Wisconsin Dells Dam. Bluegills are starting to be caught on Mirror Lake.
La Crosse Water levels are about five feet above normal, but are starting to go down in the Genoa area. Due to the high water conditions, fishing has been slow. Some white bass were being caught below the Genoa dam. A few bluegills were being caught in the backwaters using worms.
Marathon County Quite a few catfish were being caught along the Wisconsin River. A few crappies and walleyes were also being seen. Largemouth bass activity is starting to pick up. Fisheries teams report panfish moving into the shallows as well. With the warm weather, conditions are nice for paddling the Wisconsin River north of Wausau and the Big Rib River
Adams County Water has gone down from past storms and catfish and crappies are biting below Castle Rock Dam. Panfish are biting on area small lakes.
Minocqua area fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htmLake Michigan Fishing Report and tipshttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htm
Wausau Area fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htm
Chippewa Flowage fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htmInformation compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
