DNR SPORT FISHING REPORTS FOR 7-12-18 LAKE MICHIGAN AND BAY OF GREEN BAY

Manitowoc Co.

• Manitowoc Ramp – Chinook salmon were caught steadily throughout the week leading up to the Manitowoc Salmon Derby which ran from July 6th through the 9th. Unfortunately for the derby anglers it seemed like toward the later part of the week and through the weekend the fish developed lock jaw and the number of fish brought into cleaning stations were down. There was a 32-pound chinook caught on the Fourth of July, however the largest fish caught in the derby was a 29.8-pound chinook. Most of the chinooks were caught using dodger flies on either downriggers or dipsy divers. Glow spoons were also effective at catching chinooks. Rainbows were caught in the top 30 feet of the water column on orange spoons. Anglers were fishing between 50 and 160 feet of water with fish coming in all depths. Surface temps were mid 60’s, while 40 feet down water temps were in the mid 50’s.
• Manitowoc Harbor & Piers – Anglers fishing the piers are still searching for fish. It seems like water temps have cooled down along the piers based on a few boats fishing outside of the pier heads and saying water temps are in the low to mid 50’s.
• Two Rivers Ramp – Fishing was good to start the week with boats coming in with three to five fish on average. The fish that were caught were a mixed bag of chinooks and rainbows. As Saturday came the number of fish caught took a big hit with boats brining in only one or two fish. Multiple boats didn’t catch any fish either, while few boats were lucky enough to catch up to eight fish. Depths ranging from 180 – 230 feet of water was producing rainbows to start the week but as the week went on the fish were found in closer ranging from 60-160 feet. Most fish are being caught on dodger flies with some glow spoons mixed in here and there.
• Two Rivers Harbor & Piers – Pier fishing is still slow with no trout or salmon to show for. Northern pike are being caught occasionally on the north pier along the fence by the coast guard station. The only species caught in the harbor this week that we are aware of was carp and bullheads.

Kewaunee Co.

• Kewaunee Ramp – Reports were good for chinook and steelhead this week. Lake trout and brown trout catches are small and inconsistent. Anglers are fishing the 100-200 FOW range. Anglers reported a surface temperature of 62 degrees out over 150 FOW and down 50 feet the temperature was closer to 46 degrees. Anglers are doing well using spoons and flasher/fly combos for chinook with blue and green doing best.
• Kewaunee Shore & Piers – Very little fishing pressure this week. There were no reports of trout or salmon being caught off the piers.
• Algoma Ramp – Summer is here and fishing pressure is heating up at the Algoma Ramp. Folks are coming in with mostly steelhead and kings with very few lake trout and brown trout coming in. Rainbows were hitting orange, gold, and blue spoons on planer boards. Some of the fishermen we’ve talked to have been fishing way out in the 250-300 FOW range. Surface temperatures out there are hovering in the low 60’s and 40-feet down the water temperature is 44 degrees.
• Algoma Shoreline and Pier – It was a bit foggy mid-week but cleared up to sunny and cool days with very little wind. A small amount of fishing pressure was observed by anglers along the pier. Olson Park fishermen were catching a mix of drum and bullheads.

Northern Door County (Lake Michigan Shore)

• Boats in Gills Rock have been out in search of salmon with very little luck. A few fish have been caught but most anglers are getting skunked. Baileys Harbor has been more productive. Although catches have been inconsistent, most anglers are finding 1-4 fish in any combination of kings and rainbows. All action has come from 120 FOW or more. Fish seem to be scattered since the wind turned the lake over last week. Rowley’s Bay is producing some post spawn bass action along with some pan fish for those drowning worms.

Northern Door County (Green Bay Shore)

• The pleasure boaters are out in full force across the Door Peninsula but fishermen are still finding some post spawn smallmouth. Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister Bay have been the most popular areas for bass fishermen targeting post spawn bass around the islands. Bass fishing from the piers has slowed since the spawning bass have left the shallows but anglers have been catching a mixture of smallmouth, northern pike, rock bass and yellow perch. Worms, leeches, minnows and plastics have all been productive.

Green Bay Fishing Report: July 2, 2018

Brown County

• Duck Creek – A high number of boaters and kayakers were out this week with little fishing success. Most were out after yellow perch and caught several but due to their small size only a few were harvested. The average trip was only a few hours of being out on the water.
• Suamico/Geanos Beach – High numbers of boaters were out this week causing lines at the launch, even filling the extra boat launch parking area. Many fishermen hit the water early to avoid the rush, the walleye bite was consistent all week with 2-4 being harvested per person. Most anglers reported catching numerous freshwater drum, a few white perch and an occasional northern pike. No muskie anglers were interviewed but one walleye fisherman reported catching 3 muskies in one trip; all were under 30”.

Oconto County

• Oconto River – It was a great weekend to get out and fish. Anglers have been reporting increased catches of walleye and perch over the last couple weeks. While the Oconto River rose by almost 2 feet over the past week, the river has started go back down. Over the past weekend, the water temperature for the Oconto river ranged from 72 – 81°F.
• Oconto Breakwater/Harbor Area – Anglers on the pier were having some success catching catfish, northern pike, perch, and smallmouth bass this week. Anglers using the boat launch were reporting success catching channel catfish, northern pike, perch, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Walleye were being caught this week using purple and pink plastic worms.
• Geano’s Beach/Suamico – High numbers of boaters filled the launch this week with most after walleyes. Similar to Suamico anglers experienced the same catch rates of walleyes (2-4 fish per angler) and reported catching numerous freshwater drum, a few white perch and the occasional northern pike.
• Pensaukee River Ramp – A good number of anglers used the Pensaukee river boat ramp this week. Increased numbers of walleye were being caught this past week. Anglers were reporting success catching catfish, northern pike, perch, and walleye as well.
• Oconto Park II – Fishing pressure has remained good at the Oconto Park II area this week. Anglers were reporting success catching some perch, smallmouth bass, and walleye over the weekend. Anglers were having success catching perch using nightcrawlers at water depths between 5 and 10ft. Anglers were having success catching walleye using crankbaits in water depths between 5 and 15ft.
• Stiles Dam and Iron Bridge Area – While fishing pressure was relatively low this week, a lot of folks were using the iron bridge area to launch kayaks this past weekend. Anglers were reporting success catching crappie, northern pike, rock bass, and smallmouth bass.

Marinette County – Menomonee River

• Boom Landing Ramp – Fishing pressure was steady throughout this past week. Some anglers were having success catching crappie, northern pike, rock bass, and smallmouth bass.
• Mystery Ship Ramp (Menominee, MI) – Fishing pressure was good over the past week. Anglers were having some success catching catfish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Smallmouth bass were being caught using plastic tubes at various water depths between 5 and 12 ft.
• Ann Arbor Ramp – Fewer anglers were out over the past week. Anglers were having success catching northern pike, smallmouth bass and walleye.
• Little River Ramp – Good fishing pressure was observed at the Little River Ramp this week. Some perch were being caught along the shore using nightcrawlers and minnows. A handful of anglers were targeting brown trout with limited success this past week. Brown trout were being caught trolling using spoon rigs at water depths between 50 – 60 ft.

Marinette County – Peshtigo River

• Fishing pressure on the Peshtigo river was more concentrated on the river mouth area over the past week. The water temperatures ranged from 75 – 79°F over the weekend.
• Peshtigo River Mouth (at the end of Harbor Rd in Peshtigo Harbor Wildlife area) – low fishing pressure was observed at the Peshtigo river mouth ramp over the last week. Anglers were having success catching catfish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye this week.
• Klingsborn’s Ramp (5 mi down CTY RD BB outside Peshtigo) – Fishing pressure remained steady over the past week. Anglers were having success catching northern pike and walleye this week.

Green Bay/Fox River

• Metro Boat Launch – Due to the elevated temperatures and the holiday, the launch was full but the majority of users were pleasure boaters out catching some rays. Those that were fishing said it was rather slow with only half a dozen walleyes being caught per boat and only a couple of those being harvested. Fishermen are still reporting high numbers of freshwater drum and catfish being caught. No interviews were taken of muskie anglers. Shore anglers reported fishing was slow with only freshwater drum being caught.
• Fox Point/Fairgrounds – Very few trailers this week and no interviews were taken of anglers.
• Voyager Park – Low numbers of anglers were out this week and those who were interviewed did not catch any fish.

Brown County

• Bayshore – At the beginning of the week walleye fishing was consistent with the average boat catching 1-6 fish and harvesting a couple. As the days progressed catch rates varied greatly from boat to boat. Many people out trolling were unable to catch any fish, while others netted their limit. Anglers were using a variety of techniques including, flicker shad/minnow, crawler harness, bottom bouncers, and jigging. While out anglers also caught freshwater drum, white bass, white perch, catfish, musky, and round goby. Shore anglers caught a few white perch. Throughout the week the parking lot averaged 20 or more trailers in it.

Door County

• Chaudior’s Dock – Similar results to Bayshore Park, some anglers found success and kept 10 or more 15-21-inch walleyes while others struggled to net any fish. The only thing that was caught with any consistency was freshwater drum. Yellow perch fishing was hard with almost all the boats not catching any fish after half a day out on the water. While out anglers caught white perch, white bass, catfish, and round goby. The parking lot averaged 7-15 trailers in it throughout the week. Shore anglers caught catfish and freshwater drum.
• Little Sturgeon – Only a few interviews were taken over the past week with effort being split between smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Bass anglers found moderate success and netted a few fish while out for half a day. Perch anglers struggled to catch consistent numbers with most catching a couple fish for a few hours on the water. By lunch time the parking lot had more than 15 trailers in it during the days surveyed.
• Sawyer Harbor – Most of the fishing effort was placed towards yellow perch with only a few fish being caught. Anglers reported that many of the fish that were netted were small and were thrown back. Smallmouth bass fishing was moderate to slow with a few boats catching half a dozen fish. There was a decent amount of pleasure boaters out over the past week. The parking averaged 6-12 trailers in it on the days surveyed.

Sturgeon Bay

• Sturgeon Bay City Shore – Anglers were out with a few reports of perch, rockbass, and bullheads. There was low fishing pressure overall this week.
• Sturgeon Bay Ramp – Folks were coming back from 100-120 FOW with chinook. It was reported to be 62F on the surface and 46F when 40ft down. Many anglers are coming back after having caught both smallmouth bass and walleye in the canal. The canal is also offering consistent perch fishing lately.
• Bay View Park – Anglers were catching smallmouth bass all week. Along the bank toward Sonny’s the numbers of perch being caught were not as strong as the numbers of rockbass being caught.
• Sunset Park Ramp – Many folks were coming in with decent size yellow perch. Good luck was had with live minnows more so than nightcrawlers. Water temperature increased from last week to the mid-70s.
• Stone Quarry Ramp – Many smallmouth bass were being caught this week. Water was reported to be at 74 degrees near the surface. Sheepshead were reported in high numbers this week as well. Good luck was had using tube jigs and live minnows.
• Stone Quarry Shore – Smallmouth bass were being caught frequently from shore this week. A light northeast wind created a natural jigging action.