Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: October 27, 2009

[Woody]

Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: October 27, 2009

Kenosha Co.
In Kenosha a few browns have been taken in the harbor on skein under a slip bobber, but fishing has been slow overall. The Pike River is high, but as water levels drop chinooks and coho should be present in upstream stretches.

Racine Co.
Shore anglers fishing in the Racine launch basin near Pershing Park have been catching a few browns. Fire tiger colored crankbaits have produced the most fish. Flows on the Root River came up over the weekend, but water levels are starting to drop back down. The Root is still holding good numbers of chinooks, along with increasing numbers of coho and a few steelhead and browns below the Root River Steelhead Facility. Large black or olive colored flies have been productive throughout the river, and spawn sacs have been effective in the bends in Island Park. Over 600 fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, October 26. So far this season, a total of 1,655 chinooks, 584 coho, 31 steelhead, and 26 browns have been passed upstream. The next processing days will be Wednesday, October 28 and Monday, November 2.

Milwaukee Co.
In Milwaukee shore anglers have been catching browns on spawn in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park and in McKinley Marina near the Sailing Center. Anglers fishing near the Milwaukee Yacht Club have been catching good numbers of chinooks. Fishing has been slow in the Menomonee River, but some chinooks and coho have been caught in the Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park. Black flies and spawn have both been productive. In Oak Creek, anglers have been catching a few chinooks and coho on yarn in orange, green, or red.

Ozaukee Co.
Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching good numbers of browns, coho, rainbows, and chinooks near the power plant and in the north slip. Both skein and spawn sacs produced fish. Anglers fishing Sauk Creek have taken a few chinooks, browns, and steelhead on spawn near the mouth and steelhead and coho on flies further upstream.

Sheboygan Co.
In Sheboygan shore anglers have been catching rainbows, coho, and chinooks on both spawn and crankbaits in the marina. In the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching fair numbers of chinooks and a few browns and steelehead between Taylor Avenue and the Kohler dam. Most fish have been taken on flies and spawn.


Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: October 26, 2009

Manitowoc Co.
Anglers in the Two Rivers and Manitowoc area, despite conditions that were not favorable for most of the period, had a fair week of fishing. Although at times higher water, sediment, and floating debris made area rivers hard to fish, some nice trout and salmon were caught. On the West Twin River, Chinook salmon anglers had success fishing near the larger Shoto dam. Friday afternoon was especially good for a handful of anglers fishing in the late afternoon. In the Manitowoc harbor, trout and salmon anglers had some success fishing in the unpleasant weather. Some Chinooks were still being caught inside the harbor near the Manitowoc River mouth. Sunday afternoon was productive for trout anglers with several Arlee rainbow trout landed. Another angler fishing near the car ferry dock at sundown on Sunday landed a large male brown spawning brown trout that weighed in at 13 pounds. Further upstream on the Manitowoc River, Chinook salmon anglers were picking up a few fish near Rapids (Highway R) and at Manitou Park but fishing was slow.

Kewaunee Co.
Weather over this last week has been cool, windy, and rainy throughout the week making for some foul fishing weather. Some kings continue to move up the rivers this week, but the numbers have started to drop off. Fish are still being caught in the Ahnapee and Kewaunee Rivers from the mouths all the way up to the fish refuges below the dams. Success this week has been sporadic. Anglers that have been fishing in the harbors have been able to pick up a few browns and rainbows and maybe a coho this week, but upstream it is all kings.

Door Co. (Lake and Bay sides)
A few anglers reported taking some kings trolling spoons and crank baits in the canal. No report of salmon action on Lake Michigan this week. Action off the piers at the Coast Guard Station remained poor. A few Chinook salmon can still be seen swimming in most of the northern Door harbors. A few smallmouth bass are being taken in the Ellison Bay and Gills Rock area.
The Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report is updated once a week until October 31.