SPORT FISHING REPORTS FROM THE WIS. DNR FOR WEEK OF MAY 17TH

MANITOWOC COUNTY

• Two Rivers/Shoto:  Very few anglers were reported this week in Two Rivers and Shoto due to small rainbow trout being caught in the East and West Twin River. In the East Twin River, there were several under-sized rainbow trout caught using matte brown flies, worms and a neon pink twister tails. A few suckers were also caught on the same twister tails. In the West Twin River only a few under-sized rainbow trout and round gobies were caught using worms. At the Two Rivers, north pier one 38-inch northern pike was caught using a gold/green Mepps spinner. No boat anglers or harbor anglers were interviewed this week.
• Manitowoc/Branch:  Most anglers were fishing in the Manitowoc River located at Cato Falls. At Cato Falls a few smallmouth bass were caught using green plastic crawfish. At Manitou Park a few bullheads were caught using worms. One carp was caught near the 10th street bridge using boilies, and no interviews were conducted for the Branch River and Manitowoc piers.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY

• Algoma: In Algoma, many anglers were located at Olson Park. One angler at the Algoma Ramp caught a 14 lb. lake trout using a blue chrome flasher fly at 70 feet down. When speaking with the angler he stated that charter boats had luck using spoons, spin and glow lures, as well as flasher flies when targeting lake trout. Water temperatures remained around 46 degrees for boat anglers. No anglers were interviewed on the Ahnapee River or Sugar Creek due to low numbers of rainbow trout being spotted over the past few weeks.
• Kewaunee:  In Kewaunee, most anglers were located on the pier. One boat angler caught a 9 lb. lake trout caught using a green flasher fly at 40 feet down. Water temperatures out of Kewaunee were around 46.2 degrees for boat anglers.

DOOR COUNTY

• Throughout the week fishing pressure was relatively low. However, Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15 peaked with a high amount of fishing boats around Sturgeon Bay and the Sturgeon Bay Canal due to a large bass fishing tournament. Rowleys Bay was a highly popular location for bass fishermen as well. Water temperatures continue to rise, with the Green Bay side recorded between 44 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit and Lake Michigan side recorded 50 to 56 degrees.
• With water temperatures rising, active bass were sighted from many piers and boats. Smallmouth bass were caught around Sturgeon Bay, Stone Quarry, Gills Rock and Rowleys Bay on natural-colored stickbaits, grub imitation, and live minnows. One angler even reported catching a largemouth bass just south of Sturgeon Bay. A few pike between 20 to 35 inches were also caught on jerk baits around Sunset Park boat launch.

FOX RIVER & METRO BOAT LAUNCH

• Successful walleye fishing was reported by boaters out of the Metro Boat Launch. Common successful baits used were crankbaits and flicker shads. The average walleye size reported was 16 inches and was reported to be caught in 8-12 feet of water. Almost 200 boats were reported at the launch site on Sunday, May 16 at the tournament.
• Successful white bass fishing has been reported out of the Fox River at Fox Point Boat Launch and by anglers at Voyager Park. Success was reported on using crappie minnows, spinners, and worms.

GREEN BAY

EAST SHORELINE OF GREEN BAY:

• Sawyer Harbor: Boat anglers have reported catching smallmouth bass, rock bass, largemouth bass and bluegills. Their success was on various baits and lures including swimbaits, tubes, minnows and worms. Dark green seemed to be a preferred color for the lures.
• Little Sturgeon Bay: Boat anglers have reported catching smallmouth bass, walleyes, largemouth bass, northern pikes and muskies. The anglers that had success reported using jigs with tubes, hair jigs, and swimbaits. The most popular colors were dark green and natural colors.
• Sugar Creek and Chaudoir’s Dock: The Sugar Creek boat launch remained not very busy again this week. Boat anglers who launched from Chaudoir’s Dock reported having some luck catching walleyes on flicker shads, flicker minnows, and other crankbaits. The anglers reported marking a lot of fish but had difficulties getting the walleyes to bite. The water temperatures were in the low to mid-50s.
• Red River Park and Bayshore Park: The Red River park boat launch was not very busy this week. Boat anglers from Bayshore park reported catching a variety of fish, including walleyes, white bass, white perch, catfish, muskies, sheepshead and whitefish. The boat anglers were mainly using flicker shads, flicker minnows and other crankbaits. Jigs, minnows and worms were also successfully used to catch the same variety of fish. Purple was a popular color of choice among the anglers.

WEST SHORELINE OF GREEN BAY:

• Suamico River: Shore anglers at Suamico Boat Launch reported success on catfish, bluegill and sunfish. One angler also caught a burbot.

MARINETTE COUNTY

• Peshtigo River: Peshtigo River had very little activity also. Only a few boats out from the launch by the Municipal Garage. Anglers were catching a few smallmouth bass around the train bridge and downstream to the U.S. Highway 41 bridge.
• Menominee River: Angler activity was lower than previous weeks with only a few boats out of the launches on the Menominee River and Little River. Those going out were fishing for walleyes with only limited success. Anglers reported having very little luck in the river and the bay during the day. Fishing was better at night while trolling stick baits in the Menominee River.

OCONTO COUNTY

• The boat launches at Oconto Park II, Oconto Breakwater and Pensaukee remained busy this week. Walleyes were being caught out of all three launches. Trolling crawler harnesses were the most popular method with a few boats having success casting hair jigs or rip n raps. Most anglers were targeting the 8 to 12-foot depths with some walleyes being caught in shallower water around 3 to 5 feet. The average size was around 15 to 18 inches with some undersized walleyes being caught also along with white perch and northern pike.
• The upper stretches of the Oconto River had very little activity this week. Most fishing was occurring in town around the Holtwood Campground by bass anglers. Smaller-sized bass around 14 inches were plentiful along with the occasional walleye and northern pike.