About Fishing Lake Michigan by the Michigan DNR report

About Fishing Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is the most frequently visited water in Wisconsin. It’s easy to see why – whether by boat or onshore, a fishing pole will bring you some of the state’s best and most diverse fishing, not to mention picturesque views.

With millions of fish stocked annually to keep populations healthy, there’s a good chance there will be a bite on your line.

As a 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.

MANITOWOC COUNTY

• Two Rivers: In Two Rivers, most interviews were conducted in the harbor due to the Wisconsin Carp Championship wrapping up. In Two Rivers harbor, several carp ranging from 5 to 20.8 lbs. were caught on boilies. Additionally, rock bass and bluegills were caught using worms in the harbor as well. At the Two Rivers ramps some groups had success catching a variety of trout and salmon species. The most common lures were green/blue flasher flies and spoons. Groups also used blue, blue/silver and orange/yellow dipsy divers as well as green/yellow spoons. Fish were biting from 15 to 60 feet below surface. One group was successful fishing in 70 to 200 feet of water. Water temperature ranged from 44 degrees to 61 degrees depending on location and depth. At Two Rivers piers one angler had success catching one rainbow trout and one brown trout using a worm and bobber setup. Additionally, another angler hooked a brown trout on a silver cleo spoon, but ultimately lost it when reeling in. Both anglers reported seeing large groups of baitfish near the piers.
• Manitowoc: Manitowoc ramp this week had the most fishing pressure overall with many boat trailers being parked at the Manitowoc Marina. Several species were caught this week including an 18.7 lb chinook salmon along with two coho salmon weighing 6.6 lbs and 11 lbs. Two rainbow trout weighing 3.5 lbs and 4.4 lbs were caught as well. Many anglers were successful using flies and spoons of varying colors. However, the most common colors this week were blue, green, orange and silver. Fish were biting anywhere from 20 ft to 80 ft down in 100+ feet of water. Water temperature ranged from 44 degrees to 67 degrees depending on location and depth. At the Manitowoc pier an angler reported that there was still a significant number of baitfish spotted this week. Water levels remain low relative to last year.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY

• With the exception of a strong front that moved through late Sunday, Lake Michigan anglers enjoyed very calm conditions most of the weekend. Charter and private boaters reported the best action for salmon from 4-6 a.m. and again from 8-10 p.m. in 80-180 feet of water, 40-80 feet down. There were some salmon caught in between those times, including a 26-pounder that hammered a spoon off a downrigger.
• In between the early and late-day salmon flurry, rainbow trout and a few lake trout provided most of the activity. The best action seemed to be about three to six miles offshore, but some trollers had success inside of 100 feet of water or outside of 200 as well, mainly working the top 30 feet for steelhead and 30-110 feet down for mixed bags of trout and salmon. Bright spoons and flasher and fly combos off leadcore or behind Dipsy Divers or downriggers are working best. Baitfish colors — a mix of greens, blues, silvers, blacks and whites, mainly — are always good, but try bright colors for steelhead too: think orange, chartreuse, pink and purple, in addition to all the mainstays. Getting baits well away from the boat with planer boards, wide-set divers or long leads on downriggers produces more action in the clear water after the sun is up.
• Shore-bound anglers have been finding mixed bags of bass, bowfin, catfish, panfish and pike in the Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers. Only a few Lake Michigan pier anglers have been trying their luck at Algoma and Kewaunee. There have been a lot of alewives in the shallows, which could be attracting trout and a few salmon before sunrise. Try casting heavier spoons or stickbaits, or soak spawn, nightcrawlers or shiners off slip-sinker rigs or under bobbers.

DOOR COUNTY

• Sturgeon Bay: In Sturgeon Bay, there were a variety of species being caught this week. At Sunset park ramp, there were two smallmouth bass caught using green pumpkin-colored worms. While at Stone Quarry Park ramp, several smallmouth bass were caught using plastic swimbaits and shad-colored plastics. Water clarity ranged from 3 to 6 feet below the surface and most fish were caught at a 6 to 15 ft. depth. At Stone Quarry Park shore, several smallmouth bass ranging from 2 to 4 lbs were caught using nightcrawlers and green pumpkin tubes. At the Sturgeon Bay ramp, trout and salmon were caught using green flasher flies and spoons. Lake trout were caught at 47 and 60 ft. depths. A rainbow trout was caught at a 20 ft. depth while a chinook salmon was caught at a 60 ft. depth. One 53.5-inch muskie was also reported being caught in 2 to 3 feet of water using dark green plastic. Additionally, a smallmouth and lake whitefish were reported being caught at a 12 to 18 ft. depth on a flicker shad. Water clarity was between 3 to 12 feet with water temperatures ranging from 40 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on location. On Lake Michigan, waves were around 3 feet for boat anglers.

NORTHERN DOOR COUNTY

• Water visibility in Lake Michigan was between 5 to 10 feet with medium to high wave action. Water temperatures were recorded between 67 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit depending on location. Smallmouth bass were caught from Rowley’s Bay by boat and shore anglers. Bass caught by boaters were reported to average between 3 to 4 pounds. Shore anglers reported catching smaller bass. Anglers are primarily using soft natural crawfish imitation jigs to target bass. Most baits used were natural coloration, but some were yellow or orange. Several bass were caught using live nightcrawlers as well.  A variety of panfish were caught in Baileys Harbor and Rowley’s Bay. Shore and pier anglers caught perch using live worms in both locations. Rock bass were caught with live worms from Rowley’s Bay pier. Both rainbow trout and Chinook salmon were caught outside of Baileys Harbor using silver and green or silver and blue spoons. Several rainbow trout averaging 10 pounds were caught between 30 and 50 feet deep. A Chinook measuring 33 inches was caught at about 70 feet in about 120 feet deep of water.
• Temperatures along Green Bay were recorded around 67 to 62, however Gills Rock measured significantly cooler at around 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Little wave action occurred leaving the water visibility relatively high, ranging between 5 to 15 feet. High numbers of smallmouth bass were caught out of Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Ellison Bay and Gills Rock. Sister Bay reported good numbers of bass being caught with each trip resulting between 10 to 15 bass. Several bass from Egg Harbor measured between 15 to 19 inches and 2.2 to 3.3 pounds. Anglers are using soft, natural-colored imitation bait and casting around the harbors. Yellow perch and rock bass were caught in Egg Harbor marina. One angler caught 12 perch using minnows and a bobber. Other shore anglers caught between 1 to 4 perch using live nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers were the preferred bait for rock bass and anglers reported sizes between 4 to 8 inches.

FOX RIVER & METRO BOAT LAUNCH

• Shore anglers have reported catching yellow perch, white bass, sheepshead, catfish, smallmouth bass, white perch and carp using mostly nightcrawlers. Boat anglers have reported catching walleyes, white bass, white perch, catfish, bullheads and sheepshead on a mixture of crankbaits, crawler harnesses, minnows and hair jigs. Water temperatures of the river were between 80- and 84-degrees Fahrenheit, and the fish did not seem to have a color preference.

GREEN BAY

EAST SHORELINE OF GREEN BAY:

• It was a hot, sunny week with daytime temperatures in the 80s. Water temperatures ranged from 65-75 degrees depending on location.
• Some success on walleye was reported by a couple of boaters at Bayshore County Park Boat Launch. The average length of walleye caught was 16 inches. Anglers found success in areas where the water depth was 10-12 feet using flicker shads and crankbaits. Success for yellow perch was also reported by some boaters at Bayshore using nightcrawlers and minnows. Most boaters reported catching sheepshead, white bass and white perch from this site using a variety of baits and lures.
• Success on bluegill, sunfish and yellow perch was reported by boaters at Robert M. Carmody County Park Boat Launch. Anglers found success using leeches, nightcrawlers and minnows. Success for smallmouth bass was also reported using tubes.
• Success on smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and rock bass were reported by boaters out of Sawyer Harbor from the Potawatomi State Park boat launch. On Sunday the 13th there was a small bass tournament taking place, and anglers reported having success fishing smallmouth bass using tubes, dropshots and hair jigs in water about 4-8 feet deep. Anglers reported success using minnows and nightcrawlers in waters about 17-23 feet deep for yellow perch. Anglers also had success on bluegill and rock bass using minnows and worms as well.

WEST SHORELINE OF GREEN BAY:

• Duck Creek: Boat anglers have reported success catching yellow perch, catfish, black crappies and sheepsheads using nightcrawlers. These launches are also commonly used by recreational paddlers.
• Long Tail Point: Boat anglers have reported catching sheepshead and white bass on crankbaits. These boat launches were not very busy. Most of the vehicles using these locations are there for recreational purposes.
• Suamico River: Boat anglers have reported catching yellow perch, walleyes, white perch and sheepshead on mostly crawler harnesses. There was also some success catching walleyes on crankbaits.
• Geano Beach: Boat anglers have had success catching walleye, yellow perch, white bass, white perch and sheepshead on crawler harnesses and crankbaits.

MARINETTE COUNTY

• Peshtigo River was a popular perch spot this week with many anglers fishing from the launch at County Hwy BB out to the mouth. Fishing the river channel edges and backwater areas was yielding perch as well as many other species such as catfish, sheepshead, bowfin and carp. A few walleyes were also caught this week primarily towards the mouth of the river. Most were just under the legal size limit with about 1 out of 3 being of legal size. Fishing with crawler harnesses and jigs with crawlers were both working for the walleyes.
• Menominee River boat launches had high activity from pleasure boaters and jet skis this week. Most of the fishing pressure seen was happening around sunset with anglers going out for the night bite on walleyes. Small crankbaits and stick baits were producing for the walleyes.

OCONTO COUNTY

• Fishing activity was higher this week with most anglers chasing perch. Areas between Oconto County Park II and the Oconto Breakwater were popular with anglers, fishing anywhere from 2 feet out to 12 feet of water. Emergent weeds, submergent weeds and rocks were all holding perch. Size varied from day to day with lots of small perch being caught regularly. The few walleye anglers that were out were having best luck casting or jigging baits such as shiver minnows, blade baits, rip n raps or jigs with live bait. Several small walleyes were being caught along with the occasional keeper.

BROWN COUNTY

• A report from the Brown County area is unavailable this week.