Wisconsin Fishing Report 5-13-10

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Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: May 13, 2010

Kenosha Co.
In Kenosha trollers continue to catch good numbers of coho from 20-60 feet of water south of the harbor. Orange dodgers and small flies, crankbaits, and spoons fished high in the water column are all taking fish, and a few kings have also been mixed in. Early mornings have been best as the bite usually shuts down an hour or two after sunrise. Shore fishing in Kenosha remains somewhat slow.

Racine Co.
In Racine the steelhead run on the Root River is just about done, as fish have become quite scarce. Trollers fishing nearshore in Racine have been catching a few coho in water less than 20 feet deep. Those venturing out to 150 to 250 feet of water have been taking decent numbers of coho near the surface and chinooks 60 to 100 feet down. The coho have been hitting orange dodgers and flies, and the chinooks have been taking white flashers with blue flies. Racine shore anglers have been catching a few coho off the north pier, and both alewives and spoons have been productive at times.

Milwaukee Co.
In Milwaukee trollers found a few browns and lake trout off of the filtration plant before the high winds and storms moved in. Trollers working 40-70 feet of water had some action on spoons and crankbaits fished off of either downriggers or planer boards. Overall, Milwaukee shore fishing remains slow.

Ozaukee Co.
There was very light fishing effort from the utility and no effort from the pier, harbor/shore, ramps or Sauk creek. There was no action to report. On the 11th, the temperature was in the low 40’s, with rain and a moderate wind to the west. On the 12th, the temperature was in the low 40’s, skies were cloudy with a light to moderate wind to the south/southwest. Port Washington Ramp: The water at the ramp was 48° F, brownish blue green with low to moderate clarity. Port Washington Utility: The water in the area was blue green with moderate clarity. Port Washington Piers: The water outside the pier was 46-48° F, brownish blue green with low to moderate clarity and the wave action was calm. Sauk Creek: The water was 50° F, brown and muddy with low to moderate clarity; the water level was moderate and the current was moderate.
Sheboygan Co.
There was very light fishing effort from Edgewater power plant and on the Sheboygan River. There was some action to report from Edgewater power plant. There was no effort from the ramps, piers, shore or on the Pigeon River or Weeden’s creek. On the 11th, the temperature was in the low 40’s, with rain and a moderate wind to the west. On the 12th, the temperature was in the low 40’s, skies were cloudy with a light to moderate wind to the south/southwest. Sheboygan Ramps: The water at the ramp was 50-52° F, milky brown with low clarity. Sheboygan Piers: The water off the lakeside of the north pier was light brown with low clarity with moderate wave action. The water off the lakeside of the south pier was milky brown with low clarity with moderate clarity. The water in the harbor was milky brown with low clarity. Sheboygan Shore: The water in the marina was milky brown with low clarity. Pigeon River: The water in the river had moderate to good clarity with a brown tinge, the water level was moderate and the current was moderate. Sheboygan River: The water at the mouth of the river was 50-52° F, brown with moderate clarity. The water upstream was 50° F, brown and muddy with low to moderate clarity; the water level was moderate and the current was moderate. Weedens Creek: The water in the creek was 50° F, brown and muddy with low to moderate clarity; the water level was moderate and the current was moderate. Edgewater Power Plant: Carp were caught by the outflows by an angler bow fishing in the mid afternoon on the 12th.
The Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report is updated twice per week from March 1 to December 1 each year. This report is a copy of the fishing report we post on our fishing hotline at (414) 382-7920.

Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: May 10, 2010

Manitowoc Co.
Cold temperatures hovering around the freezing mark combined with strong winds and heavy rain mixed with snow left the Manitowoc/Two Rivers lakeshore quiet this past week. Strong southerly winds dominated most of the week while water temperatures dropped to the middle 50s throughout the area. Despite heavy rain during the week, water levels and clarity returned to normal by the weekend. Angling pressure for brown trout died down this past week out of both the Manitowoc and Two Rivers ports. A few boats ventured out over the weekend when winds allowed, but had little success. White and other light colored spoons on the dipsies have had the majority of hits and fish. The most success for brown trout came in the Manitowoc harbor, where anglers landed several using plain silver champs and cleos in several colors. Off the Manitowoc piers, a few 7-10 pound channel catfish have been landed using spawn slightly off the bottom. According to anglers, a few steelhead were still being caught using flies or floating spawn early in the week near the Shoto dam on the West Twin River. Several 17-18 inch smallmouth bass were also caught near the dam using crank baits and jigging large pieces of night crawler. At Cato Falls on the Manitowoc River, the excellent northern pike fishing continued this week mixed in with an occasional smallmouth bass using jointed-rapalas and other crank baits.
Kewaunee Co.
The majority of the week had high winds (20-30mph) and very limited fishing on both the lake and in the stream. The rain showers that we received also brought much needed water to the streams and helped raise the water levels. Mother’s Day brought great weather with temperatures in the 50’s and very low winds. Algoma: The Algoma ramp and pier have seen very little fishing pressure this week due to the high winds but the few boats that launched managed to return with a few rainbow trout. Stony Creek is the only stream that has seen any fishing pressure this week but there have been no reports of any fish being caught there. The clear water does reveal that smaller brown trout are now in the stream. The Forrestville dam is still providing panfish above the dam and a few rainbow trout have been caught below the dam on earthworms. Kewaunee: The Kewaunee ramp saw a few boats launch on Mother’s Day that came back with some great results. Most of the fisherman came back with some rainbow trout that were topping 11 pounds. Reports of salmon biting are starting to become more prevalent also. The fish are being caught on different colors of spoons ranging from purple to chartreuse. There have been no reports of fish being caught off the pier in Kewaunee. The area behind Brummer Park has seen low fishing pressure but the few fishermen have caught some rainbow trout close to the bridge on worms and rapalas.
Door Co. (Lake and Bay sides)
Brown trout fishing has tapered off somewhat countywide. Fish are still being caught outside of the Sturgeon Bay shipping canal and along the shorelines to the West along Potawatomi State Park and the Stone Quarry. Fish Creek and Egg Harbor on the bay side and Baileys Harbor and Rowley’s Bay on the lake side have also been producing some fish. As brown trout fishing has slowed the smallmouth bass fishing has quickly taken its place. Many anglers were seen countywide preparing for the upcoming bass tournament in Sturgeon Bay. Success has been had using jerk baits, tube jigs, and plastics further inside many of the bays around the county. Fishing in 4-10 feet of water has been most productive. Anglers are practicing catch and release tactics to allow for the smallmouth to continue their spawn. Northern pike fishing has been steady with most anglers having their success between the bridges in Sturgeon Bay. Trolling stick baits or jigging live bait along the shipping channel in the bay has produced some fish, as well as casting over weed beds and into some of the marinas in town. Walleye have pretty well completed their spawn. Some fisherman still targeting walleye have had success on husky jerks and jigging live bait along the shorelines towards Potawatomi Park and out around Sherwood Point. Musky fishing is also right around the corner and some anglers will be out targeting the majestic fish. Some fishermen have reported hooking into them while trying for Northern Pike, a good indication that the fish are around.
The Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report is updated once a week until October 31.

Green Bay Fishing Report: May 11, 2010
Temperatures at the landings are in the mid 60's with good water clarity. Fishing pressure has been light to moderate due to wind day after day.
Brown Co.
Fox River: Anglers fishing from shore have been finding good numbers of drum and catfish. A few walleyes have been caught as well; most are casting, jigging at night to get them to strike. Fishermen that have been fishing from boats have been finding some success trolling for walleyes. White bass are being caught up by the dam in the faster current. Lower Green Bay: Fishermen have been trolling deep diving crank baits and crawler harnesses with some fair success. Anglers have been trolling in 10-25 feet of water.
East Shore
Sturgeon Bay: Anglers have been trolling the ship channel for brown trout and walleye. Also many fishermen have been fishing off the State Park for smallmouth bass; anglers reported good numbers of fish on days the wind would let them get out. Little Sturgeon Bay: Anglers have been fishing for bass with some good successes. Most have been fishing in 2-6 feet of water.
Oconto Co.
Windy days, cool weather, and snow has put off the walleye in bay for the time being. Fishermen are reporting an 8 degree drop in water temperature on the bay. The few fish being caught have moved to deeper waters in the 12 to 16 foot range. Stiles Dam area is reporting some bluegill activity by the dam using slip bobbers and leaf worms or just drifting a worm with a small split shot in the current. Some nice smallmouth and brown trout are also being caught from the dam at Stiles, and below the 141 road bridge, small Rap's, spinners, and worms are the baits of choice.
Marinette Co.
The dam below Peshtigo is reporting some catches of smallmouth on fly rods using streamers and with casting rods employing small Rapala's. The walleye bite on the Menominee River remains good with fishermen using jigs and crawlers with a dead drift around transition areas and drop-offs. Smallmouth bass are being caught using stick baits. The Government and Light House piers are still producing some nice walleye during the periods of low light.