Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report

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Fall Fishing

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Trap Nets

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

Kenosha Co.

No report.

Racine Co.

Anglers in the Racine harbor have been catching browns along with some rainbows, and fish have been caught on spawn, shiners, and Gulp. Ice conditions in the harbor vary, so use caution.

Milwaukee Co.

In Milwaukee, boaters continue to have consistent brown trout action in the harbor, and they are catching some rainbows as well. Trolling has produced fish, as has jigging or soaking spawn. Open water anglers fishing behind the Summerfest grounds have also been catching some brown trout and occasional rainbows, and spawn has produced most fish for them. There is little ice currently in the inner harbor, but conditions can change quickly.

Ozaukee Co.

In Port Washington, open water fishing near the power plant has been hit-or-miss for brown trout. Days that fish are not biting in the harbor, some anglers have had success casting crank baits from the pier.

Sheboygan Co.

In Sheboygan anglers in the harbor have taken a few northerns, rainbows and browns on minnows, but fishing has been generally slow. There are pockets of open water in the marina, but anglers have been fishing from the docks. Some anglers have also been fishing off the north and south piers, with a few brown trout taken. The Sheboygan River has stretches of open water upstream near Esslingen Park, but ice along the shore hampers angling activity in that area.

Manitowoc Co.

Reports will return in spring when the Lake Michigan creel survey season begins.

Kewaunee Co.

Reports will return in spring when the Lake Michigan creel survey season begins.

Door Co. (Lake and Bay sides)

Sturgeon Bay: Anglers have been fishing the Stone Quarry landing for whitefish. Anglers have been fishing for perch in Sawyer Harbor with some success. However, most of the perch that have been caught have been small. A few walleyes are being caught as well but most have been under sized; low light conditions have been best.

Brown Co.

With the continuation of warm weather ice conditions on the Bay of Green Bay remain dangerous. Most fishermen have been walking or driving 4 wheelers to their fishing destinations. Use caution when venturing out on the ice. Fishermen at Voyageur Park are casting twister tails in the open water for walleye with limited success. Tip ups and shiner minnows have been producing a few pike in the Long Tail area. Sunset Beach fishermen have been catching perch in 6 to 9 feet of water using jigging spoons and tip ups with Rosie Reds. Many of the perch are running small.

East Shore

Little Sturgeon Bay: Whitefish have been biting well the last week with anglers catching limits. Gold Swedish pimples have been the key to catching numbers of fish. Most have been fishing 10-25 feet of water for best results. Sugar Creek: Anglers have been fishing for whitefish. Action has been spotty with anglers catching a few. Also, a few walleyes have been caught in the last week. Rites Cove: Anglers have been fishing for whitefish. Limit catches have been reported by anglers fishing early or late in the day. Bayshore Park: Fishing pressure has been up the last few weeks which in turn slowed things down. The whitefish action has slowed some over the weekend. A few perch have been caught as well. Minnows in 20-25 feet of water have been producing the best.

Oconto Co.

With the continuation of warm weather ice conditions on the Bay of Green Bay remain dangerous. Most fishermen have been walking or driving 4 wheelers to their fishing destinations. Use caution when venturing out on the ice. Oconto Breakwater fishermen are still catching some whitefish in the mouth of the Oconto River jigging with small spoons tipped with minnow heads. Some perch are being caught, but they are running small. Pike fishermen have been having some luck fishing the north side of the causeway using large shiners or dead smelt in the round.

Marinette Co.

With the continuation of warm weather ice conditions on the Bay of Green Bay remain dangerous. Most fishermen have been walking or driving 4 wheelers to their fishing destinations. Use caution when venturing out on the ice. The landscape at the Peshtigo Harbor has been dominated by pike fishermen with some very nice fish being caught north of the Peshtigo River mouth. Activity at the Menominee River has been slow with most of the action for walleye taking place from the Fishermen's walkway on the Hattie Street Bridge. Rapala's and Twister tails cast into the current will produce fish. There is some activity at 6th Street slip with fishermen jigging for walleye and panfish.