The cool and wet weather has limited fishing activity in the last week. Success for musky has been very inconsistent on northern lakes and most anglers reported active musky were hard to find. There was a surge in crappie action in 4 to 8 feet of water along and near the mid-depth cover, such as emergent weed lines and brush. Walleye success continues to be generally slow.
The salmon run is slowing down along Door County and northern Lake Michigan tributaries, but some fish were still being reported in the Peshtigo, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Twin rivers, but the numbers are dropping. Fair numbers of chinooks and a few browns and steelhead are still being reported in southeastern tributaries, including the Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Root and Pike rivers.
Walleyes and crappies are biting on minnows in the Wolf River. And a reminder that all Winnebago System sturgeon spearing licenses for Lake Winnebago and for those successful for the Upriver lakes drawing must be purchased by this Saturday, Oct 31.
The Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers have risen in the last week as a result of all the rain and the Kickapoo River crested late last week near the 10 foot stage, but is now dropping rapidly. The Mississippi had reached 8.3 feet at Prairie du Chien earlier this week and was expected to crest at about 8.7 feet later this week. Walleye and sauger action was good this week below dams.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
Cool and wet weather seemed to limit the fishing activity in the Northwoods in the last week. Water temperatures have been holding in the mid-40s and musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure on our local lakes. Success for musky has been very inconsistent and most anglers have reported slow fishing conditions with active musky being tough to come by. Some anglers are still tossing artificials and their slow action is being echoed by many of the sucker anglers. But there have been a few positive reports with some upper 40-inch fish being sighted in the last few days. There has been a recent surge in crappie action with a couple reports of some decent catches. The crappie have been found along and near the mid-depth cover, such as emergent weed lines and brush in 4 to 8 feet of water. Walleye success continues to be generally slow with only a few reports of catches being made.
Marinette County -
Fishing the dam at Peshtigo has been slow with a few chinook being caught, mostly on flies. Walleye and brown trout were being caught on the Menominee River from the dam at Hattie Street down to Stephenson Island. Evenings were the most productive time, with stick baits topping the list of lures.
Oconto County -
Rain winds and cold weather kept many anglers home, but with the change in weather the anglers have returned with a vengeance. Water temperatures at the landings are in the mid 40s with good water clarity despite the rain. Shore anglers were having success with perch at both Oconto Breakwater Harbor and Oconto Park II. Lots of small fish but angler who put the time found larger fish. Crawlers and minnows were both working fished with bobbers or crappie rigs. There has been an influx of trout (browns) anglers in the Oconto River fishing the shallow riffles using flies and small to medium sized stick baits. Suzie's Rapids North or South has been a place to start.
Green Bay
Brown County ?
Fox River anglers have been targeting walleyes and musky in the last few weeks. Fishing has been on the slower side for musky, but fishing pressure has been high. Most anglers were trolling for musky. Walleye fishing has been fair over the last week with most anglers jigging for them up by the dam. Walleye fishing has been fair over the last week at Bay Shore Park, with most anglers trolling for them. The wind and the bad weather over the last week has made it tough for most anglers to get out.
Manitowoc County -
Anglers in the Two Rivers and Manitowoc area despite conditions that were not favorable for most of the period had a fair week of fishing. Although at times higher water, sediment, and floating debris made area rivers hard to fish, some nice trout and salmon were caught. On the West Twin River, chinook salmon anglers had success fishing near the larger Shoto dam. Friday afternoon was especially good for a handful of anglers fishing in the late afternoon. In the Manitowoc harbor, trout and salmon anglers had some success fishing in the unpleasant weather. Some chinook were still being caught inside the harbor near the Manitowoc River mouth. Sunday afternoon was productive for trout anglers with several Arlee rainbow trout landed. Another angler fishing near the car ferry dock at sundown on Sunday landed a large male spawning brown trout that weighed in at 13 pounds. Farther upstream on the Manitowoc River, chinook salmon anglers were picking up a few fish near Rapids (Highway R) and at Manitou Park but fishing was slow.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County -
In Sheboygan shore anglers have been catching rainbows, coho, and chinooks on both spawn and crank baits in the marina. In the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching fair numbers of chinooks and a few browns and steelhead between Taylor Avenue and the Kohler dam. Most fish have been taken on flies and spawn.
Ozaukee County -
Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching good numbers of browns, coho, rainbows, and chinooks near the power plant and in the north slip. Both skein and spawn sacs produced fish. Anglers fishing Sauk Creek have taken a few chinooks, browns, and steelhead on spawn near the mouth and steelhead and coho on flies further upstream.
Milwaukee County -
In Milwaukee shore anglers have been catching browns on spawn in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park and in McKinley Marina near the Sailing Center. Anglers fishing near the Milwaukee Yacht Club have been catching good numbers of chinooks. Fishing has been slow in the Menomonee River, but some chinooks and coho have been caught in the Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park. Black flies and spawn have both been productive. In Oak Creek, anglers have been catching a few chinooks and coho on yarn in orange, green, or red.
Racine County -
Shore anglers fishing in the Racine launch basin near Pershing Park have been catching a few browns. Fire tiger colored crank baits have produced the most fish. Flows on the Root River came up over the weekend, but water levels are starting to drop back down. The Root is still holding good numbers of chinooks, along with increasing numbers of coho and a few steelhead and browns below the Root River Steelhead Facility. Large black or olive colored flies have been productive throughout the river, and spawn sacs have been effective in the bends in Island Park. Over 600 fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, Oct. 26. So far this season, a total of 1,655 chinooks, 584 coho, 31 steelhead, and 26 browns have been passed upstream. Fish were scheduled to be processed Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Monday, Nov. 2.
Kenosha County -
In Kenosha a few browns have been taken in the harbor on skein under a slip bobber, but fishing has been slow overall. The Pike River is high, but as water levels drop chinooks and coho should be present in upstream stretches.
La Crosse
Fishers have been having success catching small saugers and walleyes below area dams on the Mississippi River.
Crawford County -
The Mississippi River rose steadily all week. It rained for almost two straight days last week. Last week, before the rain the river was holding around the 7.6 foot. The river is at 8.3 feet and on the rise as of Oct. 26. The river?s forecast is for an 8.7 foot crest later this week. Water clarity continues to be very good but floating weeds are continuing to come down the river causing some difficulties for anglers and congestion at some boat ramps. The Wisconsin River also rose this week also but not as rapidly as the Kickapoo River. The Kickapoo River crested late last week near the action stage level of 10 feet. The Kickapoo River is dropping rapidly. Water temperatures are starting to drop in area waterways. Bluegill activity was very spotty this week because of the increasing water and floating weeds. Some nice sized gills were being caught in back water sloughs that have little to no flow. Fishing at Cold Spring was spotty this week. There were some days of decent bluegill and crappie action. Perch fishing was slow again this week. Walleye and sauger action was decent, although a lot of little fish were being caught. Anglers using live bait have switched over to minnows. A few days last week the sauger really bit well at the Lynxville dam, below Deer Island (upstream from the Lynxville boat landing), and outside Prairie du Chien on the East Channel. Smallmouth and largemouth bass action was fair. Smallmouth activity on local wing dams and rocky shore lines has been good. Largemouth bass can be found in a variety of habitats to include the ?slop?, weed edges, wing dams, and in the timber. Plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits have worked well.
