Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report
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In general, fishing reports will be updated once per week, usually on Tuesdays. This may change based on availability of reports and work schedules of field staff.

Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report
Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report
Green Bay Fishing Report


Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: October 17, 2011

Kenosha Co.
Shore fishing in Kenosha has been generally slow, but occasional Chinooks and browns have been taken in the harbor and off the south pier. Most fish were caught on fresh skein. Flows on the Pike River are low, and although Chinooks can be seen in the river near the mouth, fishing remains slow.
Racine Co.
Racine trollers have been catching good numbers of fish in 150 to 200 feet of water. Spoons and flashers and flies have taken coho and immature Chinooks, and blues, greens, and whites continue to produce. Shore anglers have been able to catch a few Chinooks on fresh skein, and the area inside the harbor near the Root River has had the most action. Water levels on the Root are low, but Chinooks and a few coho have been caught. Most fish have been taken on flies. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Thursday, October 13. So far this season DNR crews passed upstream a total of 607 Chinooks, 40 coho, and 18 brown trout. Fish will be processed again on Thursday, October 20.
Milwaukee Co.
In Milwaukee, the majority of fishing pressure remains in the rivers, however, shore anglers in the harbor have taken some Chinooks near McKinley Marina and the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Fresh skein has taken the most fish in that area. Water levels are dropping on all Milwaukee area tributaries. In the Milwaukee River, fly anglers have been catching decent numbers of salmon in Kletzsch Park and in the vicinity of Capitol Drive. Egg sucking leeches have produced. Good numbers of fish have also moved into the Menomonee River near Miller Park. When trollers can get offshore from Milwaukee, limits of immature Chinooks have been taken on flashers and flies fished about 60 feet down in 150 feet of water.
Ozaukee Co.
Port Washington Ramps: Fishing pressure has been light, but trollers have had very good success fishing 50 feet down in 100-180 feet of water. Flasher/fly combinations have been the most productive, with green or purple flies taking fish. Chinooks have been the main catch, with a few lake trout and coho also being taken. Port Washington Harbor/Shore: Fishing near the power plant has slowed somewhat, but anglers using spawn continue to catch Chinooks, with a few coho and rainbows mixed in. Port Washington Pier: Most anglers have been casting spoons with limited success. The water temperature has been around 66 degrees F. Sauk Creek: The water level remains low. Fish are still in the creek but are stuck in some of the deeper pools, and anglers have been catching Chinooks, coho, and a few rainbows on flies and spawn.
Sheboygan Co.
Sheboygan Ramps: Fishing pressure has been light due to rough conditions, but when trollers can get out on the lake they have had good success targeting fish in 120-200 feet of water. Spoons and flasher/fly combinations have produced a mix bag of Chinooks, rainbows, and lake trout. Sheboygan Piers/Shore: Fishing pressure has been light, but at times a few coho and brown trout have been taken off the piers. Both green and silver spoons and spawn sacs have produced. The water temperature was around 60 F. Sheboygan River: Anglers have been catching Chinooks, coho, and a few rainbows. Most have been taken on spoons or by fly fishing. The river water is clear and the temperature was around 54 degrees F. Pigeon River: The water temperature was at 52F, and fishing pressure remains light. Water levels on the Pigeon are low.

Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: October 17, 2011

Manitowoc Co.
Early week temperatures in the mid-60s dropped to the mid-50s for the remainder of the week. Southeast winds at 5-10 mph switched Friday (10/14) out of the west at 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. These strong winds continued through Sunday night. Water levels in the tributaries remain very low with very little rain this week. Surface temperatures in the lake are currently around 50 degrees and increases to 54 degrees in 60+ feet of water. With the strong west winds, these temperatures continue to drop. The piers this week, both Two Rivers and Manitowoc, remain very slow. The Manitowoc marina saw little angler success early in the week and the strong winds over the weekend contributed to very little angler activity. But this area will continue to be a hot spot through November for trout and coho salmon. Angler activity and success slowed downriver from the dams in the county. A majority of the fish appear to have made it up and near the dams, with many chinook very dark. The Shoto dam on the West Twin River and the Mishicot dam on the East Twin River continue to be the best locations in the county to land large chinook salmon. The fishing action has slowed slightly though, with anglers finding it more and more difficult to hook fish in the mouth. A few anglers still leave with their limits, but this usually takes a full day of fishing to achieve. Very few steelhead, brown trout, and coho salmon have shown up as of October 16th. Anglers have been using large sinkers/bell sinkers with spawn, ear plugs, cookie dough, yarn/yarn flies, etc. to legally hook into these salmon. Those casting spoons and champs into these areas rarely hook a fish legally. The chinook salmon have ranged from 5-30 pounds and several chinook appear to be very dark and nearing their final days. Before the wind picked up late Thursday night, a few boats ventured out along the lakeshore to that 120-200 foot range for 2-3 year old salmon with great success. Downriggers set at 100-120 feet using green and white flashers with green and aqua flies worked best. Catches included several one or two person limits consisting of chinook salmon 6-12 pounds and an occasional rainbow trout.
Kewaunee Co.
(As of October 12) Algoma: Boat anglers were doing very well, with many limits of Chinook brought in. Anglers concentrated in 150-250' of water, 50-100 feet down. Spoons were most effective. Very low water resulted in a lack of anglers in the Anhapee River. Pier anglers also seemed to be non-existent. Kewaunee: Boat anglers were doing remarkably well for this late in the season. Many limits of Chinook were in the coolers. Trollers concentrated in 150-250' of water, 50-100 feet down. Spoons, especially pearl, were most effective. One angler brought in a near limit of browns fishing in 65' of water on purple spoons. Kewaunee River anglers were plentiful in Bruemmer Park. Low water levels greatly reduced the numbers of fish being caught. Spawn sacs, imitation eggs, and even mister twisters were lures of choice. Pier anglers seemed to be non-existent.
Door Co. (Lake and Bay sides)
(As of October 12) Northern Door Co: For as busy the Peninsula was, boaters and anglers were in short supply. Peninsula State Park reopened Wednesday after last week's wind storm. Sturgeon Bay: Perch fishermen are finding some small perch along weed lines and rock bars. Most anglers have been targeting water in the 5-10 foot range to have the best success. Anglers had been targeting perch with live minnows under a float or on a bottom rig with the best results. Bass fishing has been slow; most anglers are finding smallmouth starting to move off into deeper water as we move later into autumn. Northern pike action has been slow but improving some every day. Most anglers are trolling crank baits along the shorelines.

Green Bay Fishing Report: October 17, 2011

Brown Co.
Fox River: Walleyes are being caught by anglers who are vertical jigging. A jig tipped with a minnow has been the most popular presentation, but anglers using Zip lures have had good success as well. Walleye fishermen are also reporting catching catfish, drum, and a few white bass as well.
East Shore
Little Sturgeon Bay: Perch fishing has been good with anglers catching limits of perch. These anglers ,however, have to work for them because there are so many small perch being caught. Some anglers report having to sort through 50-60 perch to achieve a limit. Pike are being caught as well by anglers willing to troll for them. Bayshore Park: The boat landing is currently being repaved, and caution should be used when launching from this location. Perch fishing has been hit or miss with anglers reporting catching a few fish earlier in the week. Walleye fishing has been slow with very few anglers targeting them. The anglers that are, however, have caught a few fish off Volk’s Reef.
Oconto Co.
Fishing pressure has been light due to adverse weather conditions. Water temperatures at the landings are in the low 50's. Pan fishing at the Stiles Dam remains good with bluegill and crappie actively feeding; worms and slip bobbers for gills, and minnows for crappies. Some browns, salmon, and bass are also being caught using Cleo's and Rap's. Susie's Rapids has been producing some nice browns in the 8 to 10 pound range, along with the occasional pink salmon; casting lures and dead drifting flys are working well. Some perch are being caught in the Pensaukee River downstream from the landing using bobbers and minnows. Perch fishing is picking up at Oconto Breakwater Park in and around the boat slips; minnows have worked best, but bring some crawlers as back up. A few fishermen report catching perch out of Oconto Park II in 7 feet of water; minnows fished on bottom are working the best.
Marinette Co.
Fishing pressure has been light due to adverse weather conditions. Water temperatures at the landings are in the low 50's. The panfish bite remains good at the Dam on the Peshtigo river, with red worms fished with a bobber working well. Some salmon are being caught below the power house on the Peshtigo using spawn sacks. Those fishing below the Silver Bridge in Peshtigo have had success with pike and bass using spoons and Rapala's. Little River continues to produce salmon using spawn sacks, with the best fishing times in the mornings. Salmon and brown trout are being caught in the area of the Hattie Street Dam on the Menominee River using spawn or casting spoons and stick baits.