Fishing Report

FISHING REPORT - OCTOBER 20, 2026

THE REPORTS WERE QUITE LIMITED THIS PAST WEEK DUE TO THE WINDY AND COOL WEATHER BUT WE ANTICIPATE THOSE TO PICK UP WITH THE UNSEASONABLY WARM AND CALMER CONDITIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED. WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES OUT. HERE IS WHAT WE’VE GOT FOR YOU.

PERCH - WE ANTICIPATE THE PERCH FISHING REPORTS WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER LIKE IT USUALLY DOES AS WE QUICKLY PUSH THROUGH OCTOBER AND THE WATER CONTINUE TO COOL. THE STURGEON BAY SHIPPING CANAL, SAWYER HARBOR, THE FLATS, RILEY'S BAY, LITTLE STURGEON, ALONG WITH THE WHOLE MID TO DEEP MUD AREA FROM HENDERSON'S POINT DOWN PAST CHAUDOIR'S DOCK ARE ALL SPOTS TO TRY DEPENDING ON WIND. FATHEAD MINNOWS, CRAWLER PIECES, AND RED WORMS STILL THE BEST LIVE BAIT AS OF NOW. ONCE THE WATER REALLY COOLS OFF, THE MAIN BAIT TURNS TO PRIMARILY FAT HEAD MINNOWS. REMEMBER CASTING WITH SMALL PLASTICS IS ALSO A GREAT WAY TO CATCH A BUNCH OF PERCH.

KINGS - THERE ARE STILL KINGS IN THE STURGEON BAY SHIPPING CANAL, AS WELL AS THE HARBORS TO THE NORTH OF STURGEON BAY; BOTH BAY AND LAKE SIDE. THEY ARE ALSO IN SOME OF THE FLOWING LAKE MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES, LIKE THE AHNAPEE RIVER FOR EXAMPLE. A FEW GOOD WAYS TO HOOK INTO SOME OF THOSE BIG FALL RUN KINGS ARE BY CASTING OR TROLLING SPOONS OR PLUGS, CASTING WITH JIGGING SPOONS, AND SOAKING SPAWN SACS OR SKEIN IF YOU CAN GET SOME.

WALLEYE - THE WALLEYE FISHING REPORTS HAVE BEEN QUITE SLIM FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE WIND JUST WASN’T ALLOWING FISHERMEN TO GET OUT THERE COMFORTABLY OR SAFELY FOR THAT MATTER. THE FEW DAYS THAT THEY WERE ABLE GET OUT FOR A COUPLE HOURS, THEY CAUGHT SOME FISH. ONCE FISHERMEN CAN GET BACK OUT, THERE WILL BE FISH CAUGHT. TROLLING AND CASTING ALONG SOME OF THOSE STEEPER SHORELINE DROP OFFS LIKE NORTH OF THE STONE QUARRY, SHERWOOD POINT, AND HENDERSON’S POINT FOR EXAMPLE ALL GOOD SPOTS TO TRY. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A FEW CAUGHT OUT ON THE OFFSHORE REEFS, LIKE LARSON'S REEF AND MONUMENT SHOALS.

BASS - THE BASS FISHING REPORTS ARE ON THE UP AND UP, WHICH IS PAR FOR THE COURSE THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE BASS REALLY START TO GROUP UP AND PUT ON THEIR FALL FEED BAG, GETTING READY FOR WINTER AS THE WATER COOLS DOWN. TUBES, PADDLE TAILS, NED RIGS, DARK SLEEPER STYLE BAITS, AND AN ASSORTMENT OF DROP-SHOT PLASTICS WILL ALL WORK WELL AT TIMES. FISHING WITH SUCKER MINNOWS IS ALSO VERY POPULAR AND EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. IF YOU DO USE SUCKERS JUST BE CAREFUL WITH THE BASS AND TRY TO USE CIRCLE HOOKS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FISH.

NORTHERN PIKE- THE NORTHERN PIKE ACTION IS ALSO PICKING UP AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AS IT USUALLY DOES THIS TIME OF YEAR. CONCENTRATE YOUR EFFORTS ALONG THOSE DEEPER WEED EDGES OR STEEPER SHORELINE DROPS WITH SOME WEEDS MIXED IN. THE STURGEON BAY SHIPPING CANAL, POTAWATOMI STATE PARK, THE DEEPER FLATS, AND SOME DEEPER SHORELINES LIKE SHERWOOD POINT AND HENDERSON'S POINT ARE ALL VERY GOOD OPTIONS. TROLLING OR CASTING WITH LARGE CRANK BAITS, SPOON, SPINNERS, AND LARGE PLASTICS ALWAYS A GOOD BET. ALSO, DRAGGING AROUND SUCKER MINNOWS CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE WATER STARTS TO COOL.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THE LOCAL GUIDES AND ANGLERS AND VISITING ANGLERS THAT SHARE INFORMATION WITH US SO WE CAN PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE AND IMFORMATIVE REPORT POSSIBLE.


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