The open-water fishing season is quickly winding down. Fishing pressure has really dropped off with the colder weather and falling water temperatures. For the first time in weeks, musky fishing could only be termed fair in the north, and walleye success has generally continued to be slow. Anglers have been having success catching small saugers and walleyes below area dams on the Mississippi River.
Along Lake Michigan, unfavorable weather made for a poor fishing week, with few anglers out in boats or fishing harbors and piers this because of rain and wind. Some activity ius still being found in tributaries, with chinook still being reported in some rivers, however, the quality of the salmon has been declining rapidly. Some success continued to be reported on the West Twin, Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers. Chinook, brown trout and steelhead were reported on the Sheboygan, Milwaukee, and Root rivers and Oak Creek.\
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
The open-water fishing season is quickly winding down in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Fishing pressure has really dropped off with the colder weather and falling water temperatures. Seems like only the die-hard musky and walleye anglers have been out on the water, and success has also tapered off. For the first time in weeks, musky fishing could only be termed fair. Most musky anglers have been using suckers and action has been generally slow. But this is trophy time and most anglers are just hoping for that one bite from that monster trophy musky. However, no reports of any exceptionally large musky for this week. Walleye success has been generally slow. A few anglers were catching fish on minnows along the deep break lines and any green weed edges, but action was erratic. Water temperatures are in the mid to low 40s and ice-up is still several weeks away (though low-teen and single-digit temperatures can change that in a hurry).
Marinette County -
. Fisheries crews have been in the Lower Menominee River conducting fish sampling for brown trout and seeing no surge at this time in spawning numbers. Brown trout numbers are expected to increase. Whitefish are again showing up in large numbers as in previous years. Anglers will find that using a small size jig tipped with a wax worm or an egg works well for whitefish if you can get it out into the current. There was little boat activity on the Menominee with most anglers shore fishing for walleye and brown trout.
Oconto County -
Oconto Park II and the mouth of the Oconto River have both been active with perch anglers. Brown trout also are increasing but low numbers spawning.
Brown County -
Fox River anglers have been targeting walleyes and musky the last few weeks. Fishing has been on the slower side for musky, but fishing pressure has been high. Most anglers have been 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 have made it tough for most anglers to get out. Little Sturgeon Bay angles have been trolling for walleye with some success over the last week, but the weather here to has also played a big role in how many boats are getting out. Anglers have also been fishing musky in Little Sturgeon with some success. Most anglers have been casting for them inside of the bay.
Manitowoc County -
Unfavorable fishing weather and the changing of the seasons made for a poor fishing week in the Manitowoc and Two Rivers area. Few, if any anglers were out in boats or fishing the harbor and piers this week because of the rain and wind last week. A little more activity was found in local rivers this week. On the West Twin River, chinook salmon anglers were still having some success at the Shoto dam where high water and fast current pulled a good number of fish back up to the dam. Chinooks were active in the river and many anglers were landing some large salmon ranging in weight from 15 to 19 pounds; however, the quality of the chinook salmon has been declining rapidly. On the East Twin River, fishing pressure was low on Saturday. The section of river just below the dam was very turbid making the river appear much more brown than normal and this may have discouraged anglers from trying their luck. NOTE: This is the last weekly creel report for the year for the Manitowoc/Two River area. Creel reports will resume next March when the creel survey starts again.
Door County -
Cool temperatures and rainy days continued to make for less than ideal weather this week. A few anglers reported taking some kings trolling spoons and crank baits in the canal. No report of salmon action on Lake Michigan this week. Action off the piers at the Coast Guard Station remained poor. Farther north, anglers reported taking a few fish out of Baileys Harbor, Gills Rock and the waters around Washington Island. A few chinook salmon can still be seen swimming in most of the northern Door harbors. Although there were few anglers on the water this week, smallmouth bass action was reported to be fair to good on Green Bay from Little Sturgeon all the way north to Washington Island, with the reefs and points are all producing some smallmouth. Walleye action continues to be fairly good throughout the county, especially at night and under low light conditions.
Kewaunee County -
Weather over this last week has been cool, windy, and rainy throughout the week making for some foul fishing weather this past week. Some kings continue to move up the rivers this week, but the numbers continue to drop off. Fish are still being caught in the Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers from the mouths all the way up to the fish refuges below the dams. Success this week has been sporadic at best. Anglers that have been fishing in the harbors have been able to pick up a few browns and rainbows and maybe a coho this week.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County -
In Sheboygan shore anglers have been catching rainbow and brown trout and coho salmon on both spawn and crank baits in the marina. In the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching fair numbers of chinooks, browns, and steelhead between Esslingen Park 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 brown and rainbow trout and coho salmon near the power plant and in the north slip. Both skein and spawn sacs produced fish. Anglers fishing Sauk Creek have taken a few chinook, browns, and steelhead on spawn near the mouth and steelhead and coho on flies farther upstream.
Milwaukee County -
In Milwaukee shore anglers have been catching brown trout on spawn in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park and in McKinley Marina near the Sailing Center. Fishing has been slow in the Menomonee River, but some chinook and coho salmon 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 brown trout. 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, coho, steelhead, and browns. Large black or olive colored flies have been productive throughout the river, and spawn sacs have been effective in the bends in Island Park. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, November 2. So far this season, a total of 1,681 chinooks, 904 coho, 79 steelhead, and 36 browns have been passed upstream. The next processing day will be Thursday, November 5.
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. Fishing on the Pike River has been slow.
Baldwin
Recent rains have raised water levels on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers, making getting around the back water areas easier. Waterfowl hunting has been slow, but more geese and divingr ducks seem to be around in the last week. Walleye and sauger are hitting on the Mississippi River at Redwing, Minn. and Prescott, Wisc. with jigs and minnows and three-way rigs being used.
Chippewa Flowage fishing report 10.28.09
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=2919.0Minocqua area fishing report 11.2.09
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=2905.0information compiled from the WDNR outdoor report and private sources
