THE WATER IS FINALLY STARTING TO COOL DOWN AS IT SHOULD THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT JUST HAS BEEN TAKING A LOT LONGER WITH THE WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES WE HAD LATE SEPTEMBER AND THE START OF OCTOBER. WITH THAT SAID, WHEN THE WATER COOLS MOST FISH GENERALLY START TO PUT ON THE FEED BAG. WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE IF THAT HOLDS TRUE THIS YEAR. WE'RE SURE IT WILL. HERE IS WHAT WE'VE GOT.
PERCH -THE PERCH FISHING HAS BEEN PRETTY DECENT. THE FISHING WILL ONLY GET BETTER AND BETTER AS THE WATER CONTINUES TO COOL. A FEW OF THE MOST POPULAR SPOT’S INCLUDE SAWYER HARBOR, THE STURGEON BAY FLATS, RILEY’S BAY, AND LITTLE STURGEON. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME VERY NICE CATCHES REPORTED OUT IN SOME OF THOSE DEEPER WATER SPOTS FROM THE HENDERSON'S POINT AREA SOUTH PAST CHAUDOIR'S DOCK WHEN THE WINDS ALLOW YOU TO GET OUT THERE. FAT HEAD MINNOWS, CRAWLERS, AND LEAF WORMS CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST LIVE BAITS. ALSO, CASTING WITH SMALL PLASTICS IS ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO CATCH A BUNCH OF PERCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WATER FINALLY COOLS DOWN.
WALLEYE - THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRETTY DECENT WALLEYE REPORTS COMING IN FROM BOTH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE BAY AS WELL AS AREAS ALONG THE NORTHERN DOOR COUNTY PENINSULA. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE EATER SIZED FISH TO THE SOUTH WHERE MOST OF THE REPORTS ARE COMING IN FROM VIA FISHERMEN THAT HAVE BEEN TROLLING. TO THE NORTH, THE REPORTS HAVE BEEN ABOUT HALF AND HALF. HALF HAVE BEEN TROLLING IN THE EVENING WITH SUSPENDING CRANK BAITS AND HALF CASTING DURING THE DAY WITH JIG AND CRAWLER SET UPS, SOME HAIR JIGS ALONG WITH JIGGING SPOONS LIKE BINKS OR MOONSHINE.
KINGS/COHOS/RAINBOWS - THE 4 YEAR OLD KINGS ARE TAKING THEIR FINAL SWIM THROUGHOUT THE AREA SO THERE IS DEFINITELY AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN ON THAT ACTION. AREAS TO TRY INCLUDE THE STURGEON BAY SHIP CANAL, SOME OF THE HARBORS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN DOOR COUNTY PENINSULA, AND SOME OF THE LAKE MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES NOW THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME RAIN. CASTING AND TROLLING CRANK BAITS AND SPOONS ALONG WITH SOAKING SPAWN SACS OR FRESH SKEIN IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THAT. THOUGH VERY LIMITED, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXCELLENT REPORTS COMING IN FROM OUT ON THE BIG LAKE ON A NICE MIX OF MOSTLY 2 AND 3 YEAR OLD KINGS, SOME COHOS, AND SOME RAINBOWS. SO WHEN THE WEATHER ALLOWS, HEAD OUT TO THE BIG LAKE FOR SOME OF THOSE GREAT EATING SILVER FISH.
PIKE - THE PIKE FISHING IS REALLY STARTING TO GET ROLLING AS IT TYPICALLY DOES THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE STURGEON BAY SHIPPING CHANNEL, POTAWATOMI STATE PARK, SHERWOOD POINT, LITTLE STURGEON; INCLUDING HENDERSON'S POINT ARE ALL GOOD AREAS TO TRY FOR PIKE. TROLLING AND CASTING SUSPENDING JERK BAITS, SPOONS, PLASTICS, AND SPINNERS ALL WORK WELL ALONG WITH DRAGGING AROUND MEDIUM AND LARGE SUCKER MINNOWS.
BASS - THE BASS FISHING REPORTS WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AS THE WATER COOLS. SHORTY TUBES, NED RIGS, PADDLE TAILS, DARK SLEEPER STYLE BAITS, AN ASSORTMENT OF DROP SHOT PLASTICS ALL WORK WELL. WITH SPINNER BAITS, CHATTER BAITS, A-RIGS, AND JERK BAITS FOR THOSE WINDIER DAYS. MEDIUM SUCKER MINNOWS ARE ALSO QUITE SOUGHT AFTER FOR FALL BASS FISHING. IF YOU DO USE LIVE BAIT, PLEASE TRY TO USE A CIRCLE HOOK FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FISH.
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE LOCAL GUIDES AND FISHERMEN AS WELL AS VISITING FISHERMEN THAT SHARE INFORMATION WITH US SO WE CAN PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE AND INFORMATIVE REPORT POSSIBLE. DON’T FORGET, WE HAVE WLBA TICKETS FOR SALE AS DOES HUSBY’S IN SISTER BAY AND THE GREYSTONE CASTLE IN STURGEON BAY. MAKE SURE TO STOP IN AND GRAB A TICKET OR TWO SO WE CAN KEEP FISHING GREAT OUT ON LAKE MICHIGAN FOR YEARS TO COME.
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