Northern Door County Lakeside: Anglers fishing out of Bailey’s Harbor earlier in the week averaged two salmon or trout per boat. As the week progressed the success rate started to increase. On Friday boats were coming in on average with 4 fish per boat. Majority of the fish caught were chinook salmon and occasionally a rainbow trout were caught. The anglers that went North from Bailey’s Harbor had surface temps that ranged from 67 to 69 degrees. While 60 feet down the water temp was 54 degrees. Anglers that were south of Bailey’s Harbor had the same surface temps, while 60 feet down the water temp was 48 degrees. Majority of the anglers were targeting the 120 to 150 feet of water range. The anglers that went south had slightly better success than the anglers that went north. Majority of the salmon were caught on spoons. The best set ups were 10 colors of leadcore and also downriggers set at 50 to 55 feet of water. UV coated spoons seemed to boat more fish compared to regular spoons. The flasher fly bite was mainly on green flasher with blue fly behind a dipsy. Anglers fishing around Rowley’s Bay for salmon and trout had limited success with a few fish being picked up going north trolling spoons. Gills Rock anglers managed to get a few salmon and rainbows this week. However, there were multiple reports of freshwater drum being caught while trolling for salmon. Shore fisherman in Bailey’s Harbor managed to catch a few smallmouth bass using worms. These fish were caught at the marina in Bailey’s Harbor. Rowley’s Bay smallmouth fisherman managed to catch bass around the 4 foot shoal over the weekend on tubes. The average size was 2.5 lbs with the biggest fish being 5.5lbs. Shore fisherman in Rowley’s Bay had success catching rock bass from the fishing pier using worms.
Northern Door County Bayside: Shore fishing was really good throughout the week all along the bay in Door Co. Murphy Park anglers managed to catch freshwater drum, yellow perch, rock bass, and smallmouth bass all using worms. A few bass were caught using dropshots. Egg Harbor produced large numbers of rock bass on the outside of the marina using a jig and twister tail. Smallmouth bass were caught using worms and bobbers on the outside of the marina. While anglers fishing for perch inside the marina had limited success with most perch being caught under 6 inches. Fish Creek had smallmouth bass caught at the public pier in town, at Weborgs Point, and at the boat launch in Peninsula Park. Majority of the smallmouth were caught using a worm with most of the fish being 10 to 14 inches. A 17 inch smallmouth was caught at the pier near the boat launch. Ephraim was the hottest spot for shore fishing with majority of the fish being caught at Anderson’s Pier. The best method was using worms under a bobber that is suspended 3 to 4 feet of the bottom. The size of the fish caught there ranged from 12 to 15 inches with the largest fish being 21 inches. Some fish were caught using ned rigs when there was little wave action. It seemed that from 11am to 3pm was the most active time for fishing. Sister Bay anglers were catching rock bass and smallmouth bass using jigs and a green twister tail on the outside of the marina. A few yellow perch were caught inside the marina using a small rapala. Walleye fisherman in Ellison Bay managed to get one walleye using a shiver minnow. That one walleye was over 28 inches.
Sturgeon Bay: Fishing pressure was moderate during the week and increased toward the weekend. Salmon fishing on the bank has been good for those who are able to find active fish; the majority being chinooks. Both flasher/flies and spoons have been producing a decent number of fish in the top 40-50 feet of water. The smallmouth fishing was good for several days during the week on the flats as well as the shoreline by the Stone Quarry launch. Tubes and dropshots were producing a good number of quality fish. Perch and walleye fishing slowed down as the week progressed with many reports of low catch numbers.
Chaudoir’s Dock: Numbers at this location rose, with weekend traffic significantly increasing pleasure boaters and anglers alike. Anglers mainly targeted Walleye with success harvesting fish in the 17-28inch range. A Muskellunge angler was successful catching and releasing two fish (one of which was 48inches), along with a few Northern Pike in the effort. Anglers were reporting congestion out on the water due to high numbers of boaters (especially Saturday).
Sawyer Harbor: Use was steady with angler numbers increased in the mornings. Weekend usage showed a marked increase in overall traffic and recreational use. Anglers were focused on Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. Bass anglers were often not keeping fish and Walleye fishermen keeping on average 3 fish often selecting for size. Anglers were finding success using shad rapalas. Recreational traffic was high with kayaks and canoes utilizing the access. Boaters coming off the water in the afternoon were mainly recreational. A handful of shore anglers could be observed but with low catch success.
Little Sturgeon Bay: Weekend traffic was very high with overflow lot utilized. Walleye anglers were out in large numbers favoring the morning with many pleasure boaters also utilizing the access. Anglers reporting using crawler harnesses along reefs and submerged vegetation. Some anglers reported a returned catch of Freshwater Drum.
Sugar Creek, Fish Haven: Kayaks and other small recreational vessels were the only ones observed at this launch during survey times.
Kewaunee County
Kewaunee: Due to the high lake levels this spring and summer the City of Kewaunee has decided to close its public boat launch on Monday, July 1 at 8:00 am due to infrastructure and safety concerns, although the public will be able to use Salmon Harbor Marina to launch boats for the time being. The city of Algoma will honor Kewaunee seasonal passes through the end of July, and possibly longer. For questions, please contact the Kewaunee City Marina. Fishing pressure was low during the week, increasing toward the weekend. Anglers landed a few chinooks using spoons 40-60 feet down in 180-220 feet of water. Surface water temperatures are continuing to go back to normal, which has increased to the mid-50s for most areas.
Algoma: Fishing pressure was moderate throughout the week. Successful anglers were targeting the top 50 feet in the 150-200 FOW range. Spoons seemed to be the choice bait this week. Reports of large debris out in the lake are still coming in so use caution and keep an eye out when running in and out.
Fox River and Green Bay Creel Report: August 5, 2019
Fox River
Fox River: The Fairgrounds and Fox Point had moderate usage, but most of them were pleasure boaters. The few boats that were fishing were targeting walleye and smallmouth bass. The boats that were targeting smallmouth bass had more luck than the boats targeting walleye. On average 2 to 3 smallmouth bass were caught while 0 to 1 walleye were caught. Some white perch, gar, freshwater drum, and catfish were being accidently caught by the anglers. The shore anglers were low with only 3 to 5 shore anglers. Most of them were trying for smallmouth bass or walleyes, but when I interviewed them most of them weren’t having luck besides white perch and freshwater drum.
Metro Boat Launch: The usage of this launch was steady all week with at least 10 trailers. During the weekend the usage was higher since the pleasure boaters came out, so they bumped the average up to 20 trailers in the parking lot. The anglers that were targeting walleyes were having some success with bring in at least 3 walleyes on average. The average size of the walleyes that were being caught were between 16 and 23 inches. Trolling with shad raps had better success than with night crawler harnesses. I talked with 4 musky angling boats, and 2 of the 4 caught one musky. A few of the boats I interviewed tried for smallmouth bass and had some success. A few shore anglers were trying their luck for some freshwater drum, but when I talked to them they weren’t having luck yet.
Oconto County
Good fishing continues for walleyes and perch in the bay from Oconto Park II south to Pensaukee. Anglers were using crawler harnesses and shiver minnows for walleyes in water 8 to 30 feet deep. The shoals off Pensaukee and Oconto were popular places as well as Youngs Reef off Oconto Park II. Perch anglers were catching good numbers of fish while sorting through many smaller ones to get keeper size. Crawler pieces were the bait of choice while fishing in and around weeds.
Geano Beach: The usage of this site was moderate during my shifts. On Saturday we had a batch of rain come through before I was scheduled to do these sites, so it chased a lot of boaters off the bay. On Sunday I didn’t get no interviews due to no boats coming in. During the week on average there were 15 to 20 trailers in the parking areas. Most of them were targeting walleyes and they were having success. On average 4 to 8 walleyes were being caught with the size varying from 17 to 23 inches. Both shad raps and night crawler harnesses were having success catching walleyes.
Brown County
Duck Creek, Longtail Point: The launch by the VFW on Duck Creek had 1 to 3 trailers in the parking lot and there were a lot of kayaks launching from this site. I didn’t get a chance to interview any of the boats that launched out of this site. The launch by the highway is being over taken by aquatic vegetation and nobodys using it. I only saw a few kayaks launch off the Longtail Point access.
Bayshore Park: Weekend traffic at this location was extremely high. Anglers targeting Walleye turned out in very large numbers in the mornings and the overflow field above the launch was utilized. Anglers were often successful, keeping on average five fish often selecting for size. Shore angling effort was low to moderate with low success. Weekend traffic also included a significant amount of pleasure boaters with more pressure in the evenings including jetskis.
Suamico: The usage of this site was moderate during my shifts this week. On Saturday we had a batch of rain come through that chased a lot of boaters off the bay. During the week the average amount of trailers were between 18 and 24. Most of the anglers were targeting walleyes. The average walleye size was 16 to 21 inches. Trolling with shad raps were more effective than with night crawler harnesses. There was no shore angling during my scheduled times and days.
Marinette County
High activity at Menekaunee Harbor this weekend with many pleasure boats and jet skis out. A few anglers were seen in the bay with one report of slow fishing for brown trout in WI waters. The few brown trout that were caught this week were a couple miles north of the Menominee River in water 40 to 50 feet deep.
