Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: August 16, 2010
Kenosha Co.
In Kenosha trollers have been catching some chinooks nearshore in 25 feet of water, and others have been hitting further out, around 150 feet of water. J-plugs, spoons, and some flies have all taken fish, and silvers and greens have been the most productive colors. Shore fishing in Kenosha has started to pick up, with browns and occasional rainbows hitting white tube jigs and spoons near the Holiday Inn. The best bite has been in the evenings and into the night. Perch anglers have been catching a few off the rocks by the south pier as well as in Southport Marina. Both minnows and crab tails have been producing. Kenosha boaters looking for perch have been catching a few at the bubbler and off the 75th Street jetties.
Racine Co.
In Racine some chinooks have been taken by trollers 20 to 60 feet down in 120 to 160 feet of water. Rainbows and chinooks have also been biting in 220 to 260 feet of water. Shore fishing in Racine has been generally slow, but a few perch have been caught in the basin near the boat launch. Effort from the piers has been very low.
Milwaukee Co.
In Milwaukee trollers have been catching mostly chinooks, along with a few lake trout and rainbows. Fish have been caught in 60 to 110 feet of water, and flies and J-plugs have taken the majority of fish. Shore fishing effort in Milwaukee remains low, and few fish have been reported. Perch fishing off the boils and the Oak Creek power plant has been slow, but boats working the South Shore breakwall have found some perch in the weeds along the rocks.
Ozaukee Co.
There was light fishing effort from the ramps, piers, harbor/shore and Amsterdam Road ramp. There was action to report from the ramps, piers and harbor/shore. On the 12th, the temperature was in the 70?s, skies were clear and there was a light wind to the north. On the 13th, the temperature was in the low 80?s, skies were overcast and there was a light wind to the north/northwest. On the 14th, the temperature was in the low 70?s, skies were cloudy and there was a light wind to the north. On the 15th, the temperature was in the low 70?s, skies were mostly sunny and there was a moderate wind to the east. Port Washington Ramp: The water at the ramp was blue green with moderate to good clarity and the temperature was 68-72? F. Twelve of 18 boats interviewed caught fish, with an average of 2.9 fish. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout and lake trout were caught. Fish were caught in 50 to 110 feet of water, between 25 and 70 feet down, with spoons, flies and j-plugs on dipsy divers, downriggers and leadcore. Port Washington Utility: The water in the area was blue green with moderate to good clarity. There was no action to report. Port Washington Piers: The water off the lakeside was calm, blue green with moderate to good clarity and 64-66? F. The water temperature started to come down on the 15th Yellow perch were caught on jigs and minnows. Port Washington Harbor/Shore: Rock bass were caught in the marina on the jigs and night crawlers on the 14th and 15th. Amsterdam Rd. Ramp: The water at the ramp was 66-70? F and blue green with moderate to good clarity and there was light wave action. No boats were interviewed.
Sheboygan Co.
Watch out for the orange flags and buoys that mark commercial fishing trap nets set in Lake Michigan. Steer clear and give these markers a wide berth to avoid getting tangled and capsizing. Learn where the nets are set on our Trap Net page.
There was moderate fishing effort from the ramps and piers, light fishing effort from the shore and Cleveland ramp and no effort from Edgewater power plant. There was action to report from the ramp and pier. On the 12th, 13th and 14th, the temperature was in the mid to high 70?s, skies were cloudy and there was a light wind to the north/northwest. On the 15th, the temperature was in the high 70?s, skies were mostly sunny and there was a moderate wind to the east. Sheboygan Ramps: Sheboygan ramp: The water at the ramp was 70-72? F and brown with moderate clarity. Eighteen of 23 boats caught at least one fish, with and average of 3.9 fish. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout, and lake trout were caught. Most fish were caught in 40 to 130 feet of water, from the surface to 80 feet down, with spoons and j-plugs on planer boards, dipsy divers and downriggers. Sheboygan Piers: The water off the north pier was calm, blue green with moderate to good clarity. The water in the harbor was 72-74? F, brown with low clarity. The water on the lakeside of the south pier was calm, 62-68? F, brownish blue green with moderate clarity. The water temperature started to come down on the 15th. Chinook salmon and a rainbow trout were caught with alewives throughout the day on the 14th. Yellow perch were caught off the north pier with night crawlers on the 15th. Cleveland Ramp: The water at the ramp was calm, 66-68? F, and brown with low clarity. No boats were interviewed.
