Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 9.16.11Pleasant late-summer weather in the past week made for very nice fishing conditions. In the Northwoods, water temperatures dropped into the mid-60s spurring on fall feeding activity for most species. Musky and northern pike action continues to improve and anglers have reported some very good success. The hook-and-line sturgeon season into its second week with moderate pressure and quite a few fish being caught, including a couple legal 60-inch-plus fish reported. Bass fishing continued to become more erratic, but some excellent action has been experienced on a couple of days, especially for largemouth. Walleye success continues to improve with some decent catches reported from on and around mid-depth structure on leaches and crawlers. In the south smallmouth bass are very active and feeding on the Wisconsin River and walleye fishing remains good below dams on the Rock River. Panfish action has been good on many southern lakes.
Musky and northern pike action continues to improve and anglers have reported some very good success. The hook-and-line sturgeon season into its second week with moderate pressure and quite a few fish being caught, including a couple legal 60-inch-plus fish reported. Bass fishing continued to become more erratic, but some excellent action has been experienced on a couple of days, especially for largemouth. Walleye success continues to improve with some decent catches reported from on and around mid-depth structure on leaches and crawlers. In the south smallmouth bass are very active and feeding on the Wisconsin River and walleye fishing remains good below dams on the Rock River. Panfish action has been good on many southern lakes.
On Green Bay, some very good perch fishing with some limits were being reported along Door County. Anglers were targeting musky on the lower bay and Fox River with some success this week. Lake Michigan trollers continue to work outside of harbors with success for chinook and brown trout as well as farther off shore with a mixed bag of chinook and coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout reported. Lake Michigan tributaries continue to run quite low. A few chinook were reported this week on the lower sections of the Manitowoc and Sheboygan rivers, but additional rainfall is needed to draw fish up tributaries for fall spawning.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) Pleasant late-summer weather in the past week made for some pretty good fishing success on most waters across the Northwoods. Water temperatures have dropped into the mid-60s and this has spurred on fall feeding activity for most species. And look for water temperatures to take another big drop as widespread frost is expected late in the week across most of northern Wisconsin. Musky action continues to improve and anglers have reported some very good success. Nearly all musky anglers are having follows and seeing fish, and numerous catches have been made. Most of the success continues to be on artificial baits, with jerk baits, bucktails and rubber swim baits being the favorites of late. A few anglers have started trying suckers, but the warmer water makes it hard to keep the bait alive. Look for the sucker bite to improve as water temperatures continue to cool. The sturgeon season is well into its second week and many anglers were having fair success catching these ancient fish. The local rivers have seen moderate pressure and quite a few small fish were being caught, with even a couple of 60-inch-plus legal-size fish being reported. Cut bait and gobs of night crawlers, fished in the deep holes or river bends, have shown the best success. Bass fishing has started to become erratic on northern waters, but some excellent action has been experienced on a couple of days. Largemouth have been a bit more consistent than smallmouth, with the shallow lakes and flowages providing some decent action. The best action for largemouth has been in mid-depth cover, near weed edges, woody structure, or bog edges. Jig/craw combinations and soft plastics continue to produce the most bites. Smallmouth fishing has been an on-again, off-again experience - with some good days of fishing mixed in with some poor days. Crank baits and finesse plastics have been the more successful lures. Northern pike fishing has become very good with the cooling water temperatures. Spinner baits fished in or near any weeds has provided some great action. Walleye success continues to improve with some decent catches reported from on and around mid-depth structure and gravel bars. Jigs tipped with leaches or crawlers have provided the best action. Panfish success has been fair, with some nice bluegill, perch, and crappie showing up along the deeper weed edges.
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area With cooling temperatures and school in session, camper numbers on the Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area have dropped as well. A great camping experience awaits anyone with the time to venture out to any of the 60 first-come, free camping sites. Increasing numbers of musky anglers are trying their luck on the waters of the Turtle-Flambeau flowage. Those putting in the time and effort find some limited success with only a few big fish being caught. Perhaps when the water temperatures cool the fish will get more active. Some walleye and panfish are were still being caught. The water levels on the Flowage are currently down about 2.5 feet from the full pool level of 1,572-foot; average for this time of year.
Brown County Anglers have been targeting musky in the Fox River and lower Bay with success. Anglers have been casting or trolling for them. With the calm weather this weekend perch fishing really heated up out of Bayshore Park, with limit catches being common. Most anglers were reporting some small perch mixed in but the majority of the fish being caught are good keepers. Anglers have been targeting perch in 8 to 20 feet of water. Most anglers have been heading north to Red River area or in front of the grass roof house. Anglers have been using bottom rigs or suspending the bait off the bottom with a slip bobber. Fishing pressure for walleye has been light with anglers having some trouble locating fish. Some anglers are having luck drifting across rock reefs with a jig or a live bait rig during low light periods. Also a few anglers are finding walleyes trolling deeper water. Pier anglers are reporting catching some small perch along with gobies, rock bass, drum, and a few catfish.
Manitowoc County High temperatures around 60 degrees through mid-week increased to the mid-70s by Sunday. North/northeast winds at 10-15 mph were maintained until Sunday when the winds switched out of the south at 10-15 mph. Warm weather and the northeast winds helped increase the water temperatures throughout the area. By Sunday, near shore surface temperatures rose to 67 degrees, with temperatures nearly 70 degrees out in deeper water. Reports from boaters over the weekend stated that the water first cools down once you are 100 feet down where it reaches the upper 50s. The strong northeast winds created waves 3 to 4 feet high throughout the week. Warm water moved in by the weekend thanks to a week straight of northeast winds. By Sunday afternoon (Sept. 11), the water temperatures out front rose to 67 degrees. On average, around a half dozen fish were caught off the Two Rivers and Manitowoc piers each day. Half the fish caught have been chinook salmon with a mix of small brown and rainbow trout less than 5 pounds. The chinook have ranged anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds. Green/silver champs and green/white glow cleos have been the most successful off the piers and those couple chinook caught in the harbor. Salmon are now being caught up the Manitowoc River in small numbers. Most of the salmon caught this week were still in very good condition and silver. A few rainbow trout were being caught in the Manitowoc marina on spawn, with chinook spawn having the most success this week. There is still little to no activity up the tributaries near the dams. Fishing remains relatively slow for those trolling the pier heads. Most boats have been landing zero to 3 chinook with an occasional brown trout. Green spoons have been working best and it?s worth throwing out a few J-plugs. The few boats that ventured out in the rough deeper waters this week had some luck in 150-250 feet, with green spoons once again having the most luck on riggers 100 feet down. Coolers out deep have consisted of a mix of 2- and 3-year-old chinook and rainbow trout. Please remember these regulations this fall. Hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in the Lake Michigan tributaries starting Sept. 15. Also starting Sept. 15, you may not use hooks that have a gape size larger than one-half inch from point to shank in the tributaries. If you observe any violations, please call 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).
Door County Perch fishing has been good at Little Sturgeon Bay, with anglers finding perch in 8 to 10 feet of water. Minnows or worms under slip bobbers have been working well. Anglers have been targeting musky with moderate success with a few fish being caught. Perch fishing has been hit or miss lately at Chaudoir?s Dock, with anglers having to move around some to find decent numbers of fish. Most anglers are reporting catching good numbers of small perch but struggling to catch the large ones. Walleye fishing has been good the last few days with anglers catching some limits. Most fish caught have been averaging 20 to 24 inches with a few fish being larger. Crawler harness have been the key for most anglers. Walleye anglers are also reporting catching some drum and catfish as well.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County In Sheboygan most trollers have been concentrating in 150 to 250 feet of water, but the most success has been out in 300 to 400 feet. Chinook, coho, and rainbow trout have been caught, although not in great numbers. Fishing pressure has increased on the Sheboygan piers, but the fish have been hit-or-miss. Some coho have been caught on alewives. The water temperature off the piers was around 60 degrees. The Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers are very low, but a few chinook have been taken on spawn near the mouth of the Sheboygan. The water temperature in the Sheboygan River is 64 degrees.
Ozaukee County Trollers off Port Washington have been catching a mixed bag of chinook, rainbows, coho, and lake trout in 300 to 400 feet water. Spoons have been the most consistent lure, but with no specific pattern or color. Shore anglers have taken both brown trout and chinook on spawn at the power plant, but fishing has been generally hit-or-miss. A few rainbows have been occasionally caught elsewhere along the shore, and they have been hitting spoons and spawn. The water temperature off the Port Washington pier was 64 degrees, and fishing has been slow. Most anglers have been casting spoons. In Sauk Creek the water temperature was at 60 degrees, and the water flow has been very low. No fishing pressure has been observed yet.
Milwaukee County Trollers fishing off Milwaukee have been catching mature chinook and coho just outside the harbor. Further offshore, trollers have also been catching smaller chinook, coho, and rainbow trout. The most success has been 30 to 60 feet down in water 150 to 300 feet deep, and baits in blues and greens have produced. Fishing remains generally slow in the harbor, although shore anglers have taken a few chinook behind the Summerfest grounds on crank baits. A few brown trout have also been taken off McKinley pier around daybreak. Water levels on the Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers and Oak Creek are very low, and more rain is needed in the area to draw in fish. Some anglers have been fishing the Milwaukee River in Estabrook and Kletzsch Parks, and they have reported very little action thus far.
Racine County In Racine decent numbers of mature chinook salmon have been caught by trollers working outside the harbor and up into the river. Spoons in white and orange have taken fish, as well as J-plugs in white and silver. Others trolling further offshore have been catching good numbers of immature chinook, coho, and a few rainbows in 180 to 240 feet of water. Most fish have been 70 to 140 feet down. White and aqua flies have produced out deep, as have green or cracked ice spoons. Shore anglers in Racine have been catching chinook near the mouth of the harbor and in the basin near the Pershing Park boat launch. Spawn, spoons, and crank baits have all been productive at times, and the majority of fish have been taken before sunrise or after dark. Water levels on the Root River remain very low, and fishing is slow.
Kenosha County In Kenosha trollers have had success catching coho, rainbows, and chinook offshore in 160 to 200 feet of water. Both flashers and flies as well as spoons have taken fish. A few brown trout in the five to seven pound range have been caught in the harbor, but those have been spotty. Most browns have been taken on small white tubes jigged vertically along the wall. A few chinook have also been reported taken after dark near the end of the south pier.
Rock County Water levels on the Rock River remain low with the extended dry period in Rock County. Blue-green algae bloomed all over the Rock River and Lake Koskhonong last week causing numerous calls about odor. Cooler weather in the forecast should help dissipate the algae over the next couple weeks. Fishing remains good below the dams on the Rock River with many keeper walleye and northern pike are biting.
Minocqua area fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htm
Lake Michigan Fishing Report and tipshttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htm
Wausau Area fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htm
Chippewa Flowage fishing reporthttp://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htm
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
