OUTDOOR NEWS FISHING REPORT THIS WEEK

Manitowoc Co.

• Many boaters took advantage of the generally nice whether during the holiday week. A large majority of boats using ramps in Manitowoc and Two Rivers were pleasure boating and enjoying the water with their family and friends.
• Fishing pressure continues to be very low. Mostly King Salmon and Rainbow Trout are being caught, however, many boating parties returned with zero fish in their cooler. Many boaters during the weekend of the 8th and 9th returned to shore within half an hour to an hour of leaving the docks because the water was too rough as it was windy

Kewaunee Co.

• Salmon fishing in Kewaunee and Algoma this week has been slow, but fish have been caught consistently. Fewer boats than weeks past are coming in with zero fish, but many boats are coming in with only one or two. Anglers who have caught more than that say that there has been no pattern. Fish have been reported from 80 feet out to 350 feet-of-water, with no depth producing more fish. Also, no specific lure or presentation has taken more fish than any other. Spoons and flasher/fly combos, most in green or blue colors, are both taking fish. The most consistent report has been of fish coming in the top 50 or so feet of the water column, no matter what depth you fish. Some anglers have also reported that trolling at speeds above 2.5 miles per hour, and even over 3 miles per hour, has been effective for catching fish on slower days. Anglers on the piers in both ports have not caught any fish during my shifts, and the only reports are word-of-mouth of a random fish or two over the course of a day. Warmer weather has increased water temperatures at the pier heads, so a couple days of strong west winds might be needed to get some action started for pier anglers.

Sturgeon Bay

• Salmon fishing out of Sturgeon Bay has been inconsistent, like ports to the south. Only a handful of anglers were interviewed, and none had any resounding success. Only a fish or two have come in if at all, and no pattern for water depth or lure choice seems to make a difference, but hopefully a couple days of nicer weather will pick things up.
• Many anglers have set out in the pursuit of perch in the canal out of Sawyer Park, and many of the boats have reported catching a decent number. Anglers that have done well have reported that the most important step is to find the bigger schools of perch. Putting time in to find the numbers of fish will lead to more consistent results. Anglers have been using both worms and minnows to catch perch, but worms produce more fish that are under desirable size. Most report fish being in a little deeper water or near weed/shade breaks, so using structure may be critical to good catches.
• Smallmouth anglers are having good success fishing in water around 10 feet deep for post-spawn smallmouth. Many report that the fish are still in the shallower post-spawn areas and haven’t moved out to deeper summer habitat yet. Tube-jigs and other plastics have been the go-to for many anglers.
• Shore fishing around Sturgeon Bay has remained consistent as well. Fourth of July weekend brought increased boat traffic and made some shore spots more difficult to fish, but those able to avoid it, particularly at the Stone Quarry Landing, were able to catch smallmouth pretty regularly. Fish-catching presentations included a bobber with nightcrawler, jerkbaits in brighter colors, and smaller (3-inch or so) swimbaits fished slowly.