Lake Michigan fishing report (5-21)

Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: May 17, 2011

Kenosha Co.
  In Kenosha anglers were getting a few coho in 20-50 feet of water, dodgers and flies were the best, a few fish were also taken on bright spoons as well fished with leadcore off of planer boards and downriggers.
Racine Co.
  In Racine coho were being caught in 50-75 feet of water on dodgers and flies fished off of planer boards, some calmer more stable weather will be needed to improve fishing conditions.
Milwaukee Co.
Ozaukee Co.
  In Port Washington anglers prior to the bad weather last week, were doing well catching coho east and south of town on a mix of spoons and dodgers and flies fished off of boards or downriggers.
Sheboygan Co.

Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report: May 16, 2011

Manitowoc Co.
  Scattered rain and thunderstorms hit the area throughout the week followed by colder temperatures in the mid-40s and strong NNE winds at 15-25 mph over the weekend. Wind gusts reached as high as 40 mph Friday through Sunday. Water levels rose nearly 6 inches, but water flow and clarity remain good throughout the tributaries. Water temperatures dropped to 52 degrees throughout the tributaries and harbors, with near shore lake temperatures 45-47 degrees. Anglers continue to land a few steelheads in the 4-6 pound range on the West Twin River by Shoto and Silver Creek. The fish appear to be done spawning, but still remain up the tributaries. Anglers have had luck floating spawn or orange yarn balls. Several northern pike 20-25 inches continue to be caught upstream on the Manitowoc River near Cato Falls. Crank baits and spinners have worked best, but different colors work every time anglers go out. The West Twin River and both harbors continue to be the hot spots for catfish this week. Anglers continue to use sucker guts or creek chubs on the bottom. All the tributaries continue to show large amounts of suckers caught this week using night crawlers on the bottom. Pier fishermen and boaters this week showed little activity with the heavy rain and wind.
Door Co. (Lake and Bay sides)
  The weather started out beautifully on Mother’s Day and generally the weather began to decline from there. The wind for the majority of the week was out of the east and limited the number of boats that launched for some fishing action. The Sturgeon Bay Bass Open concluded this weekend with some large smallmouth bass being caught.The fishing pressure remained relatively low for the week throughout the peninsula due to the high eastern winds. Both boating and shore fishing anglers did report a lot of success with smallmouth in the Ephraim region with some of the bass approaching the 6.5 pound mark. A few fishermen did manage to land some walleyes in the canal that launched from Sawyer Park. The majority of the walleye were caught on crawler harnesses and the average sizes of the fish were about 23 inches. The Sturgeon Bay Bass Open concluded this weekend with some large smallmouth bass being caught. The winds limited the fishing to the canal and in the little sturgeon areas. As of Saturday’s weigh in the largest fish was just above the 6.5 pound mark. The stream fishing in Door County was extremely slow this week as most anglers having given up for the spring. The water levels have dropped a little during the week but remain crystal clear but a few fish are still visible in the streams.

Green Bay Fishing Report: May 18, 2011

Oconto Co.
  Fishing pressure was light to moderate this past week. High winds, swollen rivers, and cold temperatures has made fishing a bit more difficult. Those who did make it out onto the bay for walleye were justly rewarded. Water temperatures at the landings are in the low 50’s and water clarity is poor. Water flows at the Stiles Dam have begun to subside, as a result some smallies are being caught in the area of the Iron Bridge using spinners and crank baits. Bass fishing has been good on the Pensaukee River with plastics and spinners working well. Walleye fishermen have been having some success using crawler/harness and bottom bouncers in 7 to 10 feet of water. Some pike and carp are being caught from the break wall at Oconto Breakwater Park, smelt fished on bottom for pike and a gob of crawler for carp. Oconto Park II walleye fishermen have been having great success fishing 5 to 7 feet of water straight out from the landing. Shore fishermen at OPII have been catching a variety of fish including some very nice bullheads, the occasional walleye, bass, and assorted panfish using slip bobbers with crawlers or minnows or fishing on bottom.
Marinette Co.
  With the prevailing winds this past week launching from the Peshtigo Harbor has been good. Those who ventured out in the bay reported limits of walleye in 3 to 7 feet of water using crawler\harness and trolling very small stick baits. Fishermen in the river are catching some smallmouth, pike, and the occasional musky. The Menominee River walleye bite has slowed some and with the winds going out in the bay was not an option. Some nice musky are being caught in and around the area of Boom Landing casting big jerk baits and spinners.