LAKE MICHIGAN OUTDOOR FISHING REPORT

LAKE MICHIGAN OUTDOOR FISHING REPORT – JANUARY 11, 2021

FISHING WISCONSIN

In general, fishing reports will be updated once per week, usually on Tuesdays.  This may change based on availability of reports and work schedules of field staff.  This fishing report information comes from our creel survey clerks, who work in the lakeshore areas from March through October, and in the tributary rivers seasonally in spring and fall.  Creel clerk schedules are random and vary in the days and times they are scheduled to be in a specific location, which allows us to generate statistically valid fishing effort and harvest information.  Information for these reports are only based on days and times of the week that creel clerks are present. Additional fishing information can be found by contacting local bait shops, charter captains, marinas, etc.

DNR does not verify or guarantee the reported ice conditions, and anglers should proceed at their own risk. Please use extreme caution as conditions can change rapidly.

ICE SAFETY

  • There is no such thing as safe ice. You cannot judge the strength of ice by one factor like its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether the ice is covered with snow. Ice seldom freezes uniformly and can vary greatly in different areas of the same waterbody. It is important to know before you go. The DNR does not monitor local ice conditions or the thickness of the ice. Local bait shops, fishing clubs, and resorts serve winter anglers every day and often have the most up to date information. If you’re heading out onto a frozen lake for the first time, check the ice yourself and check it often.
  • Ice Safety Tips:
    • Carry some basic safety gear: ice claws or picks, a cellphone in a waterproof case, a life jacket, and a length of rope.
    • Dress warm in layers
    • Don’t go alone. Head out with friends or family. Carry a cell phone with you and make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return.
    • Know before you go. Don’t travel in areas you are not familiar with and don’t travel at night during reduced visibility.
    • Avoid inlets, outlets, or narrows that may have current that can cause thin ice.

REMINDER – Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license/stamps while fishing on the waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the WI/MI, WI/MN and WI/IA boundary waters.

 

JANUARY 11, 2021: WEST SHORE GREEN BAY ICE CREEL REPORT

MARINETTE COUNTY

  • Menominee River:  Activity was high on the Menominee River at Six Street and behind Mystery Ship boat launch.  A few walleyes were caught off Six Street and a few panfish were caught by Mystery Ship landing.  Overall anglers were having a tough time finding fish.  There was still some open water opportunities below Hattie St dam and off the bridge but activity was low here.
  • Red Arrow:  Red Arrow had low numbers of anglers this week with the perch bite being slow.  Only a few small perch were reported caught.
  • Peshtigo River:  Peshtigo River mouth and bay area was mostly open water this week with piles of ice seen by shore.  No activity seen here.

OCONTO COUNTY

  • Oconto Parks:  Oconto Park II was a bit lower on numbers of anglers this week.  Most reports were of lots of perch seen under the ice but nothing biting.  There was only a little ice out in the bay outside the rock piers with open water present still further out.
  • Oconto Harbor:  Oconto Harbor area lost some ice this week on both sides of the river in the bay.  Lots of open water could be seen with ice being piled up at the mouth of the river.  Most activity was seen off the boat launch and by the city docks fishing for perch and northern pike.  Anglers reported marking fish but not catching any.  A few anglers were trying for northern along the pier on the bay side with a few fish caught in the mid 20 inch range along with one large walleye.
  • Geano’s Beach:  Geano’s Beach had a hand full of anglers out fishing for northern pike and whitefish.  No luck with northerns but the whitefish were providing action.  Anglers were out not far from shore as the ice only goes out about 200 yards with open water out from there.

BROWN COUNTY

  • Hook Rd:  Hook Rd. was busy all week with perch and northern pike anglers.  A few atv’s were seen out this week but most are still walking out.  Tip downs with minnows were popular for the perch with the occasional northern caught also.
  • Suamico:  Suamico area had no activity during the week with numbers greatly increasing over the weekend.  Anglers reported they did very well on perch there with 8 to 10 inch perch being common on Saturday.
  • Long Tail Point:  Longtail Point was high in numbers of anglers especially over the weekend.  Most were fishing off Lineville Rd. and north.  A few atv’s and snowmobiles were seen out along with a few permanent shacks.  Perch were the main fish caught with fairly steady action reported by most anglers.  Most perch caught were keeper size with very few small ones.
  • Duck Creek:  Duck Creek had lower activity than last week with no reports of fish caught.
  • Fox River:  Fox River had higher numbers of ice anglers this week with Voyageur Park seeing most of the activity.  Fox Point boat launch and across the river at the fairgrounds was being used over the weekend also.  Most anglers were after walleyes with small fish being caught in the 9 to 12 inch range with the occasional larger fish caught around 15 to 18 inches.

JANUARY 11, 2021: EAST SHORE GREEN BAY ICE CREEL REPORT

***Beware of shifting/changing ice conditions.  Lots of open water on the Bay can move things around.  Accesses with decent ice have been seeing heavy pressure.

LITTLE STURGEON BAY AREA (JAN. 5TH, 2021)

  • Carmody Park:  Soft Spots of ice by the landing and open water near shore. A few shacks farther inside the bay.
  • Clafins and Big Rock Place:  Open water farther out rough/soft ice near shore. No anglers
  • Lime Kiln:  Open water farther out, 3 anglers fishing close to the landing. No fish seen caught.
  • Sand Bay and Rileys Bay:  Soft ice near shore, open water farther out.
  • Wood Lane:  A few anglers out far inside the bays

SHERWOOD AREA (JAN 8TH, 2020)

  • Pot Park:  Soft ice with open water cracks no anglers, 2-3ft of open water along shoreline
  • Bullhead Point:  Soft ice, open water spots, Far side of canal completely open
  • Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club:  It looks like anglers were getting out here earlier in the week with some holes drilled close to the docks.
  • Cabots Point:  Open Water at access
  • Oak Ave:  Completely Open water, Zero Ice
  • High Cliff:  Open Water

BAYSHORE AREA (JAN 9TH, 2020)

  • Sugar Creek:  Heavy fishing pressure south of the landing, open water and ice shoves to the north. Anglers report 4”-5” of ice south of the landing. Anglers report catching an average of 2 whitefish for a half days effort. Standard whitefish rigs tipped with waxworms or minnow heads were getting a few fish.
  • Rites Cove:  One angler fishing close to access, Ice looked unstable farther out.
  • Volks Landing:  Ice was broken up but refreezing, no anglers out and no recent activity noted
  • Bayshore Park:  Heavy fishing pressure, a few whitefish were reported caught in  15’-18’ of water. Anglers report 5”-6” of ice.
  • Dyckesville:  A few anglers were venturing out from Dyckesville to the north. Soft ice south of the landing near the springs
  • Red River:  Red River was extremely busy with cars parked all along the county hwy. Anglers report 5”-6” of ice. Catches of 1-3 whitefish per angler for an all-day effort seemed to be the consensus. Fish were averaging around 17” in  length. Jigs and Jigging Raps tipped with minnow heads and wax worms were getting the majority of fish.
  • Chaudoirs:  A large ice shove is at the entrance of the harbor area making access to the bay almost impossible. No anglers seen.