Lake Michigan fisheries team report 7.7.09
Near-shore waters were relatively warm until Sunday, when strong west winds caused the water temperature to drop from the 60s into the upper 40s and low 50s. Perch fishing had been good before the water cooled off, but cooler temperatures may bring trout and salmon in closer to shore.
Sheboygan County -
In Sheboygan shore fishing has been generally slow, but an occasional brown trout has been caught off the south pier on spoons. Sheboygan trollers have been struggling to find fish, with most boats only catching a couple. A mixed bag of chinooks, coho, rainbows, and lake trout has been taken from the surface to 50 feet down in 230 to 300 feet of water.
Ozaukee County -
Shore fishing has picked up somewhat in Port Washington, with perch taken near the power plant on minnows and off the pier on jigs. Trollers out of Port have reported chinooks, coho, lake trout, and rainbows taken anywhere from 200 to 350 feet of water. Most fish have been caught from the surface to 70 feet down, and both spoons and flasher and fly combinations have been productive.
Milwaukee County -
In Milwaukee perch anglers have caught fish early in the morning off both McKinley pier and South Metro pier on minnows or soft plastics. Boaters have also been catching perch at the boils. Shore anglers have also caught a few browns off McKinley pier, but fishing has been inconsistent. Trollers out of Milwaukee have been catching a few coho, but fish have been quite scattered.
Racine County -
Shore anglers in Racine have been catching decent numbers of perch off the north pier and from the rocks near the DeKoven Center. Fathead minnows and plastics have produced the most fish. Trolling out of Racine has been relatively slow, although a few coho, chinooks, and lake trout have been taken in as close as 65 feet of water or out as far as 275 feet of water.
Kenosha County -
In Kenosha perch have been hitting off the north pier and in Southport Marina, and boaters have been catching perch at the bubbler. Fatheads, small golden shiners, and plastics have all produced fish. Trolling has been relatively slow out of Kenosha, with reports of occasional chinooks, coho, lake trout, and rainbows taken out past 200 feet of water. The Kenosha harbor is being dredged over the next couple of weeks, and water in the harbor has been somewhat turbid at times.
