SPORT FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 17, 2018 FOR THE BAY OF GREEN BAY AND LAKE MICHIGAN

Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: April 17, 2018

Manitowoc Co.

• Two Rivers Ramp – The docks were put in at Veterans Park this week, so if anyone is wanting to go out and try their luck for Brown Trout on Lake Michigan will now be able to. I have not heard of anyone going out on the Lake yet and trying for Browns out of Two Rivers, but people that have gone out of Manitowoc have had good success.
• East Twin River – Anglers who were fishing the East Twin River had good luck this week. Anglers were having success using fresh spawn and shrimp. Most of the fish were caught early in the week before the rain and snow came. The river is higher than what it has been most of the spring and flows have increased dramatically. The water temp before last weekend’s snow storm was 42°F, while during the snow storm it dropped down to 32°F. Anglers that braved the snow storm caught a few fish but nothing like earlier in the week. Also, some suckers have been caught as well.
• West Twin River – The West Twin River by the Shoto Dam produced fish all week long. Most fish were caught using fresh spawn, shrimp, and even spinners. The water levels have increase as well as the flow. Water clarity has decreased due to the runoff. Water temps before the snow was 44°F, while during the storm on Saturday the temp was 34°F. Anglers fishing during the snow caught a few steelhead. Just like in the East Twin there were some suckers being caught as well.
• Two Rivers Pier – Pier fishing was good to start the week, but as the week progressed the fishing declined.
• Manitowoc Ramp – The anglers that have gone out on Lake Michigan and tried their hand at Brown Trout have had great success. For the most part anglers were catching fish from 6-15 feet of water. It did not matter if they went to the north or south as both locations were producing fish.
• Manitowoc Piers – The anglers that were fishing on the Piers had mixed success. Some anglers fished for hours without anything while some anglers had fish within an hour. The only fish that were caught off the piers were Brown Trout. Hopefully within the next few weeks more fish will be caught and provide more opportunity for anglers.
• Manitowoc River – Manitowoc River wasn’t as productive as the East or West Twin Rivers in Mishicot. Very few fish were caught this week, but with this rain and runoff that occurred this week hopefully fresh fish will come up the river. Water Temps were not recorded due to the snow storm and difficult travel.
• Branch River – The water level and flow in the Branch River was low before the rain. Hopefully with the rain and runoff the flow and water levels should increase and provide more fish coming up.

Kewaunee Co.

• Kewaunee Ramp – Monday through Wednesday folk who ventured out early morning came back with brown trout. The snow storm the remainder of the weekend produced heavy wind and lots of snow.
• Kewaunee Pier – Ice on the pier has been an issue, and with last weekend’s winds a new layer was added.
• Kewaunee River – Early in the week brought great weather and catches for steelhead trout during a small run. Easy sight fishing was had just east of the Besadny fish hatchery. Heavy snowfall prevented fishing later in the week.
• Algoma Ramp, Shore and Piers – Unsafe conditions prevented anglers from making it out this week.
• Stoney Creek – Water levels are still low preventing anglers from fishing.
• Ahnapee River – The water was muddy with slush and ice bordering the sides early in the week. Little luck was had fishing for brown trout or rainbow trout.

Door County (L. Michigan)

• No creel routes have been run since Friday (4/13). At this point it can be assumed most ramps and access points are blocked with the massive amount of snow we received this weekend and have yet to be plowed as they are of low priority.
• Early week before the storm, fishing was fairly productive. Boats launching at Sawyer park in Sturgeon Bay were trolling for browns. Those going out to the lake and fishing 20fow or less were catching good numbers of browns. A few browns have been caught casting from shore in the harbor. No fisherman seen fishing the lake north of Sturgeon Bay.
• Steelhead fishing was good early week before the storm with numbers of fish showing up in local creeks. Spawn sack has been the hot bite for fish coming in fresh from the lake. The snow should bring increased flow in our streams. The run may not last long once the streams start flowing.

Green Bay Fishing Report: April 17, 2018

Fox River

• Although the water temperatures have been varying throughout the week, approximately 37-42°F, more walleyes have been caught and spotted in the shallows. The walleyes have been continuing to be active with the average number being caught by boat anglers to be around 20 walleye per angler. They have been biting on just about anything according to anglers, from jigs with plastics to live bait. There has still been hundreds of shore anglers and boaters out trying to catch a trophy walleye. Fairgrounds and Fox Point saw high numbers of boaters on the warmest days, along with shore anglers at Voyager. Numerous Whitefish have also been caught while shore angling at Voyager. Due to the high size limit the few walleyes that were caught were then released.

Green Bay East Shore – Door County

• No creel routes have been run since Friday (4/13). At this point it can be assumed most ramps and access points are blocked with the massive amount of snow we received this weekend and have yet to be plowed as they are of low priority. Last weekend’s storm should have broken up a lot of ice on Green Bay but there’s no word on the current conditions of the ramps.

Green Bay West Shore – Brown, Oconto, Marinette Counties

• Duck Creek up to Geano’s Beach Road – Locations from Suamico up to Geano’s Beach are still mostly ice covered with patchy open water. No anglers were observed at either of these locations on the days that were surveyed. Locations from Longtail to Duck Creek are mostly open water with only a few anglers observed but no interviews were taken.