Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County
In Sheboygan most trollers were having success fishing in 100-200 feet of water. The bait of choice has been orange or silver dodgers with flies, although some fish have also been taken on spoons. Coho continue to dominate the catch, but better numbers of chinook and rainbow trout have been showing up, along with a few lake trout. Fishing pressure on the Sheboygan piers was high over the weekend, but the catch rate has remained low. Most anglers were using spoons or alewives with very little success.
Ozaukee County
Most Port Washington trollers continue to catch good numbers of fish using dodgers and flies in 150-250 feet of water. The main catch remains coho salmon, but higher numbers of chinook and rainbow trout were being caught, along with a few lake trout as well. Shore fishing in Port Washington has been slow for both trout and salmon and for perch.
Milwaukee County
The fishing off Milwaukee remains good for boat anglers. Coho are still active, but they are scattered and can be found in a variety of depths from 40 feet of water out to 180 feet of water. Flashers and flies in blue or green continue to produce good numbers of coho. A few chinook were also showing up in the creel but with no frequency or pattern. South shore ramp has had some perch action on the rocks or the center break wall north of the landing, and minnows have been the best perch bait. A few perch have also been taken off the end of McKinley pier, but shore fishing remains slow elsewhere in the Milwaukee area. Boaters in Milwaukee should use extra caution on the water, as a significant amount of floating woody debris remains in the area after last week?s heavy rains.
Racine County
Coho action remains very good off of Racine, and most trollers have been doing well around 100 feet of water. A few chinook have been taken as well, but coho still outnumber the chinook. Dodger and fly combinations as well as white spoons have taken fish. Racine shore anglers have been taking a few perch off the south pier and from other shoreline areas. Renovation continues on the south pier and is expected to last two to three months. The area from the fishing access near the cleaning station east to the newer flat section is closed.
Kenosha County
Good coho action continues off Kenosha, and some chinook have been taken also. The most popular bait continues to be orange or red flashers coupled with flies in blues, greens and reds, although spoons have also produced. Most fish have been taken around 100 feet of water. Perch fishing on the Kenosha shore and piers has been slow, but few boat anglers have been getting their limit of five fish just off of the rock breakwall east of the north pier. Plastics and minnows have been the best baits. The near shore temperature in Kenosha is 58 degrees.
