OPENING WEEKEND HAS COME AND GONE AND NOW WE ARE RIGHT BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS. THERE WERE SOME “UPS” AND THERE WERE SOME “DOWNS”, BUT NEVERTHELESS FOLKS WERE OUT FISHING AND ENJOYING WHAT DOOR COUNTY HAS TO OFFER. HERE IS WHAT WE'VE GOT FOR YOU.
BASS - THE BASS FISHING REPORTS HAVE BEEN GOOD OVERALL PRETTY MUCH UP AND DOWN THE PENINSULA, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WIND IS IN YOUR FAVOR. WE WOULD SAY THAT THE MOST CONSISTENT ACTION HAS BEEN FROM THE STURGEON BAY AREA NORTH AT THIS POINT. THE WATER IS STILL ON THE COOLER SIDE SO DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING WILL GENERALLY DICTATE WHERE THE BEST BITE WILL BE. ACCORDING TO ALL THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH, THERE ARE PILES OF FISH STILL HANGING TIGHT OUT IN SOME OF THAT DEEPER WATER. WE THINK THE BEST IS YET TO COME ONCE THOSE FISH DECIDE TO SLIDE IN AND PUT ON THE FEED BAG. THE KEY THIS TIME OF YEAR IS TO REALLY FISH SLOW NO MATTER WHICH BAIT YOU HAVE TIED ON AND TRY NOT TO BLOW FISH OUT OF AN AREA. PRETTY MUCH IF YOU SEE THE FISH YOU ARE TRYING TO CATCH THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU WON’T CATCH THEM. OUR WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND YOU HAVE TO STAY IN STEALTH MODE MOST OF THE TIME. THE BEST BAITS ARE ALWAYS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE SPRING. SOME MUST HAVES INCLUDE HOWIE SHORTY TUBES, SMALL KEITECH PADDLE TAILS, NED RIGS, DARK SLEEPER STYLE BAITS, HAIR JIGS, AND JERK BAITS LIKE THE EVER-POPULAR MEGABASS.
WALLEYE - THE WALLEYE FISHING HAS BEEN NOTHING LESS THAN STELLAR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT. THE DAY BITE HAS BEEN DECENT, BUT THE LOW-LIGHT AND NIGHT BITE'S CONTINUE TO STAY OUTSTANDING AS OF LATE FOR BOTH THE BOAT AND SHORE FISHERMEN. THE CASTING BITE HAS BEEN ON FIRE AND THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER BAIT FOR THAT HAVE BEEN HOWIE TUBES, LOTS OF HAIR JIGS, PADDLE TAILS, RIPPIN RAPS, AND MEGABASS JERK BAITS. THE TROLLING BITE HAS ALSO BEEN EXCELLENT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. SMITHWICK ROGUES, HUSKY JERKS, AND BERKLEY HIT STICKS HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN THE FAVORITES, ESPECIALLY IN WATER 15 FEET AND SHALLOWER. DEEP DIVING BAITS LIKE FLICKER MINNOWS, BANDITS, DEEP HUSKY JERKS, AND RIP STICKS HAVE BEEN POPULAR IN THAT 15 TO 30 FOOT RANGE. SOME FOLKS WILL ALSO DRAG SUCKER MINNOWS AROUND, WHICH IS ALSO QUITE EFFECTIVE AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THE STURGEON BAY CHANNEL.
NORTHERN PIKE - THE NORTHERN PIKE ACTION IS STARTING TO REALLY HEAT UP AS IT USUALLY DOES THIS TIME OF YEAR. POPULAR AREAS INCLUDE THE STURGEON BAY CHANNEL, POTAWATOMI PARK SHORELINE, ALONG WITH THE BAYS OF SAWYER HARBOR, RILEY'S BAY, AND LITTLE STURGEON. CASTING AND TROLLING SUSPENDING JERK BAITS IS SUPER POPULAR AND EFFECTIVE ALONG WITH DRAGGING AROUND LARGE SUCKER MINNOWS, ESPECIALLY IN THE STURGEON BAY SHIPPING CHANNEL.
BROWN TROUT - THE BROWN TROUT FISHING HAS BEEN PROVIDING SOME DECENT ACTION, MAINLY ON THE LAKE MICHIGAN SIDE OF THE PENINSULA. LOOK FOR WARMER, STAINED WATER ALONG WITH BOTTOM TRANSITIONS, ESPECIALLY OUT IN FRONT OF CREEK MOUTHS. LONG LINING FLOATING CRANK BAITS; LIKE RAPALAS AND THUNDERSTICKS, AND TROLLING SPOONS; LIKE MAULERS AND STINGERS HAVE BEEN THE BEST. YOU WILL EVEN HOOK INTO A FEW DELICIOUS LAKE TROUT ALONG WITH A BONUS KING FROM TIME TO TIME.
RAINBOWS - THERE ARE STILL A HANDFUL OF RAINBOWS IN THE LAKE MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE STURGEON BAY CANAL. DRIFTING SPAWN SACS SEEMS TO BE THE BEST METHOD AT THIS POINT BUT SPINNERS, BEADS, AND WORMS WILL ALSO WORK WELL AT TIMES.
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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