Wisconsin Statewide Fishing report 11.19.10Skim ice has been forming on small inland water bodies, but there have been no reports of ice on lakes or flowages and it looks like any kind of ice cover is still a couple of weeks away. Water temperatures have fallen into the low 40s and this really seems to have limited fish activity. In the north, only a few die-hard anglers have been venturing out and most of the fishing pressure continues to be for musky with a few catches up to 46 inches reported. In the south nice catches of walleye were reported on Lake Mendota and many musky were being caught on Monona. Fishing has been very good on the Mississippi, with nice bluegills and perch caught in back-water areas and walleye and sauger action has also been good below dams. Along Lake Michigan, anglers have been catching a mixed bag of coho salmon and rainbow and brown trout on the on the Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Root rivers. Shore anglers have been catching rainbows and browns at Port Washington.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
Seasonably cold weather, along with the peak of the deer rut and the upcoming gun deer season, has kept fishing pressure to a minimum on most waters across the North. Only a few die-hard anglers have been venturing out and most of the fishing pressure continues to be for musky. Nearly all of these late-season musky anglers are dragging large suckers around and success has been fair. Several anglers have said that the musky just seem to be hitting and dropping the suckers, but a few catches have been made and musky up to 46 inches have been reported. A few walleye anglers have also been sighted, but action has been generally slow. Water temperatures have fallen into the low 40s and this really seems to have limited fish activity. There have been NO reports of ice on any lakes or flowages and it looks like any kind of ice cover is still a couple of weeks away.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County -
In Sheboygan anglers on the Sheboygan River have been catching a mixed bag of coho, rainbows, and browns between Esslingen Park and the Kohler dam. A few northern pike have been taken as well. Most anglers have been fly fishing, but a few fish have also been taken on spawn sacs.
Ozaukee County -
In Port Washington, shore anglers have been catching a mix of rainbows and browns on skein in the north slip and near the power plant. Fishing on Sauk Creek has been slow, and water levels are very low.
Milwaukee County -
In Milwaukee shore fishing has been relatively slow along the lakefront. In the Milwaukee River browns and steelhead have been seen downstream of Capitol Drive, and egg sucking leeches and yarn have both been effective for fly anglers. Water levels are low and fishing has been slow on the Menomonee River and Oak Creek.
Racine County -
On the Root River in Racine fishing remains relatively decent. Water temperatures are in the mid-40s, clarity is good, but water levels are low. Most anglers have been picking up coho salmon and brown trout. Catches of steelhead have been limited, and most have been taken downstream from the weir. Fish have been caught on both spawn sacs under a bobber and on medium sized, brightly colored flies. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, November 8, and an additional 34 chinook, 262 coho, 50 rainbows, and 2 browns were passed upstream. So far this season, DNR crews have spawned 756 coho at the Root and collected over 850,000 eggs. The facility was shut down Nov. 16.
Grant County -
Water levels are returning near normal on the Mississippi River. Crappie and bluegill fishing remains slow, with a few bluegills and crappie taken near the Bertom Lake and Far Nuff Landing. Sauger are biting below the Dubuque Lock and Dam off the Eagle Point fishing barge with a few 20-plus-inch walleye in the mix.
Dane County ?
Fishing appears to have started to pick up again. Game fishing on Lakes Monona and Mendota has started to pick up with many nice catches of walleye on Mendota and many musky being caught on Monona.
Crawford County -
The Mississippi River settled down a week ago, but heavy rains up north cause the river to rise. Earlier in the week the river approached 12 feet. The river stage as of Monday was at 10.7 feet and falling. The Wisconsin River has been on a roller coaster once again. It goes up a foot or so then settles back down. Right now in Muscoda the river stage is at 2.9 feet. The Kickapoo River rose a little last week. Even though it is in good shape. The current water levels in Gays Mills and Steuben are at 8.6 feet and 8.65 feet respectively. Fishing in the area has been very good. Bluegill fishing has been spotty but on some days very good. In the Prairie du Chien area nice sized gills are being caught on the Ambro Slough complex. Many other back water areas are producing very nice fish. Look for areas with little or no current and fish in the flooded areas. Most are using worms for bait but some are switching over to ice fishing lures. Cold Spring has had some very good days followed by some very poor days. Perch have really turned on recently. Look for perch in the flooded back water areas and below the dams. Chunks of nightcrawlers and minnows have worked very well. Crappies have been caught in flooded timber and weed edges on minnows. De Soto bay was very good earlier in the week. White bass action has been very spotty. Largemouth bass action remains very good. Bass seem to be all over in the flooded area, along weed edges, in the timber and back water sloughs. Bass are biting from Prairie du Chien up to Ferryville. Smallmouth action has been good too. Check closing dams and wing dams for smallies. Walleye and sauger action has been good. Anglers are using One Eyes and live bait. Walleyes are being taken along drop offs, in deep water slough and numerous locations along the main channel of the Mississippi River. Action below the dams has been very good. Some of the best action has been early mornings and evenings. Northern pike action has been spotty. Most northerns have taken in the flooded areas normally incidentally to bass fishing. Some really nice fish have been caught in the weeds. Sheephead (freshwater drum) and catfish action has slowed. Catfish have been feeding heavily on worms on the flooded islands. The trout season is now closed.
Minocqua Area Fishing Report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htmChippewa Flowage Fishing Report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htmLake Michigan Fishing Report and tips
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htmCentral Wisconsin Fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htmInformation compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
