In the Peshtigo DNR, state and federal fisheries staff released 36,000 brown trout Green Bay this week. The fish were stocked at a larger size and in deeper water than normal. Biologists hope this will boost the fishes’ survival by decreasing the chance that natural predators such as birds did not prey on the fish during their release into the water and afterward.
The fish were raised at the DNR Brule River State Fish Hatchery in northern Wisconsin and transported by DNR crews to Marinette. There they were loaded onto a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service research vessel and stocked in water 50 to 100 feet deep at three off-shore locations between Marinette and Sturgeon Bay. About 12,000 fish were stocked at each of the sites.
Water temperatures at the landings in the low to mid 70s. The weather has turned hot and so has the fishing for some species. Fishing pressure has been light to moderate during the week and heavy on the weekends.
In Marinette County, the DNR reports that Peshtigo harbor anglers have been bagging some real nice nice catfish along with some huge carp and the occasional sheepshead fishing on bottom with crawlers. Smallmouth bass were also active, being drawn to stick and crank baits. The Menominee River walleye bite is alive and well with most of the best action taking place in the evening. Some musky were being caught on top water baits and large spinners.
In Oconto County, brown trout were still being caught in the Stiles Dam area on bead head nymphs and caddis, smallmouth bass were being caught on small Rap’s and crank baits, and the bluegills were biting on slip bobbers and worms/crawlers. Pensaukee landing anglers were catching their share of walleye trolling crawler/harness in 8 to 12 feet of water; sheepshead were also part of this bite.
Panfish and bass were being caught in the river proper. Bass were being caught in the Oconto River on crank baits and twister tails, while walleye are being caught in 18 to 22 feet of water off shore. Oconto Park II anglers were catching pike, bullheads, and panfish from shore using slip bobbers and fishing crappies rigs. The walleye bite is also in the deeper water.
From the Green Bay DNR Service Center area, the light winds out of the southeast and temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s throughout the week created excellent fishing conditions. Water temperatures ranged between 50-52 degrees along the lakeshore, with temps reaching the low 60s in the harbors. Fog limited some boaters from fishing over the weekend, and those who made it out had to earn their catch.
Anglers put in long hours with limited visibility, with average catch resulting in four to six fish per boat. Boaters who ventured south of Manitowoc had more success landing rainbow trout ranging anywhere from 160 to 250 feet using orange and green spoons on high lines and downriggers. Downriggers were down deep, usually 100-140 feet.
A few 12 to 14 pound chinook salmon were mixed in with the rainbows also coming down deep on the downriggers using green flasher/green fly combos. Ranging just north of Manitowoc to the north Two Rivers water tower, chinook salmon were dominant in anglers’ coolers along with a few coho salmon.
Anglers had success starting outside the trap nets out to 180 feet using green and pearl dodgers with green and white flies down deep on the down riggers. If you aren’t having any luck on down riggers, try different colored dodgers and troll out deeper.
The salmon appear to still be scattered due to the cold water temperatures. A few whitefish, up to 5 pounds, have been caught off of the north pier in Manitowoc on shad and smelt gulp on the bottom. If you don’t know the location of the trap nets off of Manitowoc and Two Rivers, Seagull Marina has maps of their location at the boat launch. For those fishing shallow south of Manitowoc, the Manitowoc Marina has forms with GPS coordinates of the large submerged rocks located at their fish cleaning station.
In Door County, the nice weather during the Sturgeon Bay Bass Tournament last weekend stuck around for the week allowing anglers to hit the water. Calmer conditions provided for good fishing conditions on the Lake, something that had not been seen for quite a while. Next week looks to continue the trend with some very warm days predicted.
Perch fishing opened on Green Bay Thursday. Not much success was had in Sturgeon Bay, however more action was had South towards Chaudoir’s Dock using minnows in about 25 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are on their beds and fishing has been very good. Fish can be found in many of the bays moving North on the West side of the county, and north of Baileys Harbor on the east side in spots like Rowleys Bay. Tube jigs and other plastics have been very productive, along with working crank baits and live bait in anywhere from 3-10 feet of water.
Many lunkers have been reported, some fish venturing into the 7-pound range. Walleye have been active during the day throughout Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay around Fish Creek and the Strawberry Islands. Most anglers have had their success on crawlers harnesses; however, stick baits and crank baits have still landed some fish.
Northern Pike fishing has slowed somewhat in Sturgeon Bay. Working the weed edges and marinas with spoons, stick baits and spinners have proven to be most productive. Exciting reports of Salmon and Trout have been the talk this week. Although a little early, Salmon and lake trout have been reported off the bank reef in 100-200 feet of water using flies and flashers, and working the 60 foot and above region has produced some nice Steelhead too.
In Kewaunee County, the weather in the last week has been variable. A large number of rainbow trout and chinook salmon were being brought in off the lake from boats launching from Kewaunee’s city ramp.
The fish being caught in the area have been found in depths of 180-260 feet of water. A few anglers were reporting large schools of baitfish at those depths. A few fish have been caught in the 100-140 feet of water but have been much less sporadic.
The Kewaunee pier has seen a few anglers trying their luck with little success. The majority of the fish being caught off the pier have been carp with an occasion rainbow trout. The Algoma Pier has seen little to no fishing pressure as of late due to high winds and lack of fish being caught in the shallow waters.
The Algoma ramp has seen an increase in use and fishing pressure due to the increasing amount of reports of rainbow trout and chinook salmon are being caught. Some of the boats are returning to the ramp with full limits or close to full limits of fish. The anglers have caught the salmon on fly and flashers combinations. There hasn’t been one specific color working the best but many fish are being caught silver flashers with green flies. Many of the fish being caught are reported in depths ranging from 180-240 feet.
