MANITOWOC COUNTY
- Two Rivers/Shoto: Very few anglers were fishing this week due to windy weather. Fewer rainbow trout have been reported upriver and that is adding to the declining number of anglers. Successful anglers were recorded in the East Twin River where a few small brown trout were caught using worms. Additionally, one small rainbow trout was caught using minnows and one sucker was reported being caught using imitation spawn sacks.
- Manitowoc/Branch: Most anglers were fishing in the Manitowoc River with a majority located at Mill Road. At Mill Road several smallmouth bass were caught using jerk baits, minnow baits, nightcrawlers, a green pumpkin tube and a black/blue soft tail plastic. At the Michigan Avenue bridge near Whitewater Drive, one northern pike was reported being caught using a green/grey chatterbait. At the Manitowoc ramp, two lake trout weighing 9 and 6 pounds were caught using orange and green/red spoons. No interviews were conducted for the Branch River due to no anglers being recorded.
KEWAUNEE COUNTY
- In Algoma, very few anglers were interviewed in the early morning as there has been declining numbers of rainbow trout in Stoney Creek. Low water at Stoney Creek also led to anglers rarely fishing for rainbow trout the past week. Three northern pike were reported being caught using white/pink and yellow kastmasters with black dots at Olson Park.
- Due to extremely windy weather this week there were very few anglers fishing. The only successful angler reported was at Bruemmer Park where one rainbow trout was caught using a white yarn ball. No other successful interviews were conducted this week.
DOOR COUNTY
- Water temperature in Green Bay is steadily increasing. Temperatures were recorded between 40- and 48-degrees Fahrenheit depending on location. Sturgeon Bay canal saw the highest number of shore anglers and Sawyers Park boat launch in Sturgeon Bay was the most popular for boaters. May 1 was the fishing opener and many anglers were targeting smallmouth bass.
- On inland waterways and tributaries no fishing activity was recorded. A couple anglers were found fishing at Heins creek, however no steelhead were caught or sighted. Brown trout activity also decreased this week and led to many anglers returning empty-handed. However, one boat angler was successful catching two 2.7-pound, 17.5-inch brown trout just north of Bailey’s Harbor. They were caught by trolling with silver and blue/green spoons in 30 feet of water.
- In accordance with the increasing water temperatures, smallmouth and largemouth bass are becoming more prevalent. Several boating groups reported catching a variety of sizes of small mouth bass around Sawyers Harbor, Sturgeon Bay and Rowley’s Bay. Boaters were having success trolling with spoons and swim baits. Shore anglers were successful using crawfish imitations at Ephraim Pier and were able to bag two 3-pound bass early in the morning.
MARINETTE COUNTY
- Peshtigo River: Walleyes were being caught in the Peshtigo River by boat anglers using the Municipal Garage launch. Jigs with crawlers or leeches were working best. Most walleyes were around the 16 to 18-inch range.
- Menominee River: Most activity this week was seen on the Menominee River by walleye anglers. Jigs with crawlers or minnows were producing good catches of walleyes around the Menekaunee Bridge. Most fish were running 15 to 18 inches with the occasional larger fish caught. A few walleyes were still present below the dam. Fishing off the Hattie St. Bridge was working best using stick baits. Fishing in low light conditions was reported better than daytime fishing.
OCONTO COUNTY
- Angler effort was high for the general fishing opener despite strong winds. Walleyes were being caught from Oconto Park II south to Pensaukee. Most anglers were trolling in depths of 8 to 12 feet. Popular baits included flicker shads and crawler harnesses with harnesses being a bit more productive. The average size was between 16 to 20 inches with the occasional larger fish caught. A few walleyes were still present in the Oconto River and were being caught on jig and crawlers.
BROWN COUNTY
- No reports for Brown County this week.