Fishing success was moderate this week with many different species being caught. At the Manitowoc Ramp there was a brown trout caught using a green and silver plug with black dots. There were also several rainbow trout caught using a black spoon with blue and green speckles and a chrome/green flasher fly. A lake trout was reported being caught on the chrome/green flasher fly as well. There were also several chinook salmon caught using spoons and flasher flies. The spoon colorations used include green/silver, orange/blue, white, and blue/green. The flasher fly coloration reported this week was only green. According to boat anglers in Manitowoc the surface temperature of Lake Michigan ranged from 68 degrees to 72 degrees. At the Manitowoc piers there were several smallmouth bass reported being caught on plastic worms. Additionally, there were a few freshwater drums reported being caught in total with the majority of the drums being caught on a pink and blue spoon. There was also a coho salmon caught using a green and blue glow spoon. One angler reported catching a smallmouth, a freshwater drum and a brown trout earlier in the morning using a spoon. At the Two Rivers ramps there were several chinook salmon caught using spoons. Lastly there were a few rainbow trout reported being caught on a blue/green spoon and a green/white flasher fly. The surface temperature for Two Rivers boat anglers ranged from 68 degrees to 74 degrees.
DOOR COUNTY
Northern Door County Bayside:
Murphy Park: There was a lot of activity at that ramp throughout the week with most of the boats pleasure boating. One group of anglers were targeting walleyes with no luck. There were trolling crankbaits around the reefs. The only thing they managed to catch were gobies. Two different parties were interviewed who were fishing from shore. One group managed to catch one rock bass while throwing spoons for northern pike. The other anglers were fishing for smallmouth bass with no luck. The only fish they caught were gobies.
Egg Harbor: There was a lot of fishing pressure this week both from shore and in boats. The anglers fishing in boats had mixed results. Fishing success was low to start the week and it increased as the week progressed. Two boats early in the week reported catching less than 5 smallmouth bass each with almost 4 hours of fishing each. One boat was targeting walleyes and had no success. As the week progressed anglers in boats reported catching upwards of 20 smallmouth bass with best success in 13 to 20 feet of water. One angler was targeting walleye and they were able to catch 6 walleyes and kept 5 of them. One of the walleyes was 31 inches. They reported that 20 feet of water was were they caught most of the fish using crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers attached to them. Shore angling early in the week was slower with rock bass dominating the catch. One angler targeting yellow perch in the marina was able to catch one perch. As the week progressed shore anglers were able to catch both smallmouth bass and a large number of rock bass. The smallmouth bass that were caught were all on plastic baits, while the rock bass were caught on worms.
Fish Creek/Peninsula State Park: Anglers fishing out of Peninsula State Park boat ramp reported catching a mixed bag of smallmouth bass and walleyes. Two boats were targeting smallmouth bass with one boat landing 6 and the other boat landing 3. The 6 smallmouth bass were caught out by the islands near Peninsula park trolling crankbaits. While the other angler reported catching the three smallmouth on a combination of trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses. They also reported catching northern pike, yellow perch, and rock bass all while trolling for bass. One angler targeting walleyes caught 5 while trolling on structure in 12-15 feet of water. Over 10 anglers were interviewed throughout the week fishing at Weborgs Dock in Peninsula State Park and they reported that fishing was slow. Only a couple of smallmouth bass were caught. There were no anglers fishing in fish creek along the marina while on creel this week.
Ephraim: Fishing pressure was fairly low this week for boaters, while shore fishing was fairly steady throughout the week at Anderson’s Dock. The anglers in boats were mainly targeting smallmouth bass. One group of anglers reported catching 12 fish, however they were on the water for nearly 10 hours. They finally found the fish out in 20-32 feet of water. They did manage to catch one walleye around 6 pounds while fishing for bass. Anglers from shore were catching rock bass during the middle of the day and then early mornings they were catching a few smallmouth off the end of the pier using worms.
Sister Bay: The boat activity was mainly dominated by pleasure boating with only a few anglers going out. Two anglers were interviewed who were targeting smallmouth bass. Both boats reported that it was fairly slow, with less than 5 fish being caught between the two boats. One boat did report that before the storms rolled in on Sun Aug 9 they were doing really well for smallmouth out by Sister Island. The best shore fishing of the week occurred in Sister Bay. Anglers targeting rock bass as the sun went down were able to land around 50 fish. Some of the rock bass ranged between 8-10 inches. The most effective method for rock bass were using just a worm and let it sink to the bottom. By the time the worm was to the bottom a rock bass would already have the hook engulfed in their mouth. Fishing was great for rock bass at both Sister Bay Marina and down by JJ’s Dock.
Ellison Bay: Overall there wasn’t much fishing pressure here throughout the week. Two groups of shore anglers were interviewed on Aug 15 and reported catching one smallmouth bass, one rock bass and around 10 gobies. The fish they did catch all came on pink jigs.
Northern Door County Lakeside:
Gills Rock: This week there was very little activity at the boat launch. Only two interviews occurred and both interviews resulted in pleasure boating. One group of anglers fishing from shore reported catching a couple of gobies while fishing for smallmouth bass. They were fishing near the boat launch using worms and a bobber.
Rowley’s Bay: There was a couple of anglers fishing from the pier throughout the week with mixed results. On Sunday Aug 9 fishing was slower compared to Thursday August 13. On Sunday one angler reported catching one smallmouth bass, one northern pike, that was 24 inches, and then roughly 10 gobies. He was using an assortment of artificial baits and then worms. While Thursday anglers reported catching upwards of 10 smallmouth bass off the end of the pier using worms. Most of the smallmouth bass that were caught on Thursday ranged between 10-12 inches with one fish being over 14 inches. There were also reports of a few rock bass being caught on Thursday. No interviews were taken from anglers in boats.
Bues Point: No interviews were taken from anglers in boats. While at the landing on Thursday there were large schools of smallmouth bass hanging out around the dock.
Bailey’s Harbor: The only interview that took place at Bailey’s Harbor was on Thursday as well and it resulted in two small chinook salmon being caught. The anglers did not report on any depths, baits, or speed what worked best for the chinook. While talking to the harbor master at Bailey’s Harbor he reported that boats were doing really well for rainbows ranging in depths of 250 to 330, while targeting the top 40 feet of water. Orange or green color spoons have been the most effective.
Sawyer Harbor: Potawatomi Park was busy as usual with Kayakers. There were also a lot of boaters out. Perch were a common catch among anglers.
Little Sturgeon Bay: Carmody Park hosted the Milwaukee Bass Anglers LTD crew on Saturday. Anglers not fishing the event were looking for perch and walleye. Perch catches were the most successful.
Chaudoirs Dock & Sugar Creek: Both these locations had boaters out this week but nothing significant to report. Sugar Creek ramp has made improvements to their launch. It is cleared up and repaved.
KEWAUNEE COUNTY
Kewaunee, Algoma, Sturgeon Bay: Fishing success in Kewaunee was very low this week with only a single fish being reported. In Sturgeon Bay and Algoma there was moderate success of catching fish. Out of the six angling groups interviewed in Kewaunee only one chinook salmon was caught using a spoon at the Kewaunee ramp. No other fish were reported being caught this week in Kewaunee. In Sturgeon Bay there was a report of a northern pike being caught at the Sturgeon Bay city shore using a nightcrawler. Additionally, at Stone Quarry park shore we saw many different fish being caught. There were several smallmouth bass and a few rock bass reported being caught. There were also a few freshwater drums being caught at the same location. All of these species of fish were reported being caught using nightcrawlers. At the Algoma shore there were a few burbot and several bullheads reported being caught using nightcrawlers. While at the Algoma ramps there was a smallmouth bass and a bullhead caught using worms and minnows.
FOX RIVER AND GREEN BAY CREEL REPORT: AUGUST 19, 2020
FOX RIVER AND METRO BOAT LAUNCH
The abundant sunshine and warmth brought out a lot of pleasure boaters on the Fox River system. There were few anglers out, and the ones who were out had nothing to show for it.
OCONTO COUNTY
Activity was high overall at the boat launches this week during fair weather periods. Walleye were being caught out of Oconto Park II, Oconto Breakwater, and Pensaukee. This week’s catches seemed to be from deeper water with the Oconto Schoal being popular. Most anglers were trolling crawler harnesses in waters 20 feet plus. Various sizes were being caught with larger fish in the upper 20 inch range being caught and released. Perch anglers had mixed results with a few limit catches and others with just a few. Perch were being caught in the weeds around 10 feet of water and in shallow emergent weeds just south of the Oconto River on crawlers and minnows. A few larger perch were seen around 13 to 14 inches with most being around 8 inches. Perch, bass, and sheepshead were being caught by shore anglers on the Oconto River pier.
Geano Beach: There were quite a few boats fishing out of Geanos. One boat came in with their limit of perch while the rest were targeting walleye but only caught a few. There were a few musky anglers out with no luck.
BROWN COUNTY
Bayshore: Bayshore park was busy as usual. Anglers were fishing for perch and walleyes. Not many walleye were being caught, but the perch were biting.
Red River: Red River Park has cleared some space for easier launch of small boats but the park is mostly used for swimming and recreating.
Suamico: Suamico was split between walleye and perch fishermen. It was common to see anglers returning with 4-5 walleye being kept. The perch fishing was good, with higher numbers being caught later in the week. Sheepshead were also a common catch among anglers.
MARINETTE COUNTY
A few boats were out this week on the Peshtigo River targeting perch. Anglers were getting around 4 to 8 keeper perch per person with around the same amount thrown back.
Many boats were seen at the Menominee River launches with walleye anglers being most popular. Fishing was taking place at Green Island, Chambers Island, and towards Door County. Walleyes were being caught at most spots with Green Island being the best this week. Trolling crawler harnesses and crankbaits were both catching walleyes along with the occasional catfish and sheepshead. Brown trout fishing at the beginning of the week was good with multiple catches reported around the Trout Bar. A variety of sizes were present from 3 pounds up to 23 pounds. Activity slowed by the weekend however with only the occasional fish caught. A few small chinook salmon were also caught along with sheepshead.
