KINGS - THE VERY FEW FISHING REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN FROM OUT ON THE BIG LAKE HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT. MOSTLY 2 AND 3 YEAR OLD KINGS WHEN FOLKS CAN ACTUALLY GET OUT THERE WITH THE LATEST WINDS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING. THIS TIME OF YEAR 90 TO 150 FEET OF WATER IS ALWAYS A GOOD STARTING POINT. A MIX OF FLIES AND SPOONS HAVE BEEN THE BAITS OF CHOICE, MAYBE LEANING A LITTLE HEAVIER ON THE SPOONS IN THE FALL. THERE ARE A BUNCH OF FISH IN THE STURGEON BAY SHIPPING CANAL ALONG WITH 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 THEM ARE BY CASTING OR TROLLING SPOONS OR PLUGS. CASTING JIGGING SPOONS LIKE P-LINES, BINKS, AND/OR MOONSHINES WILL WORK WELL AND OF COURSE SOAKING SPAWN SACS OR SKEIN IF YOU CAN GET SOME.
PERCH - THE PERCH FISHING REPORTS HAVE BEEN GOOD OVERALL AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AS IT ALWAYS DOES THIS TIME OF YEAR. 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 DPENDING ON WIND. THE KEY IS TO KEEP MOVING UNTIL YOU FIND ACTIVE FISH. FATHEAD MINNOWS, CRAWLER PIECES, AND RED WORMS ARE GOOD LIVE BAITS TO HAVE IN THE BOAT. ONCE THE WATER REALLY COOLS OFF, THE MAIN BAIT TURNS TO PRIMARILY FAT HEAD MINNOWS. OF COURSE CASTING WITH SMALL PLASTICS IS A GREAT WAY TO CATCH A BUNCH OF PERCH AS WELL.
WALLEYE - THE WALLEYE FISHING REPORTS HAVE BEEN UP AND DOWN JUST LIKE THE DOOR COUNTY WINDS. WE HAVE HAD A FEW REALLY GOOD REPORTS FROM FOLKS FINDING ACTIVE FISH DURING THE DAY OUT ON SOME OF THE REEFS IN RELATIVELY DEEPER WATER, BOTH CASTING AND TROLLING. THE NIGHT BITE IS JUST STARTING TO GET ROLLING ACCORDING TO A FEW REPORTS. 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. SUSPENDING JERK BAITS IS GENERALLY THE TICKET THERE FOR BOTH THE TROLLERS AND CASTERS, BUT THEY WILL ALSO EAT A PADDLE TAIL AND SHORTY TUBE LIKE OUR NEW “GLOWBIE” HOWIE TUBE FOR EXAMPLE.
BASS - THE BASS FISHING REPORTS HAVE BEEN JUST OK OVERALL UP AN DOWN THE DOOR PENINSULA, INCLUDING WASHINGTON ISLAND. THIS BITE WILL GET MUCH BETTER ONCE AGAIN AS THE WATER COOLS AND THE BASS GROUP UP AND BECOME MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE. TUBES, PADDLE TAILS, NED RIGS, SENKOS, DARK SLEEPER STYLE BAITS, AND AN ASSORTMENT OF DROP-SHOT PLASTICS ARE MUST-HAVES. SPY BAITS, JERK BAITS, CHATTER BAITS, AND SPINNER BAITS WILL ALSO WORK WELL AT TIMES NOW THROUGH THE FALL. AS FAR AS BEST DEPTHS, YOU JUST REALLY NEED TO BE MOBILE AND FISH IT ALL DEPENDING ON THE WIND. BASS CAN BE OUT IN THAT 25 FOOT PLUS RANGE OR AS SHALLOW AS 3 FEET OF WATER DEPENDING ON THE WIND.
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 SOME OF THOSE DEEPER WEED EDGES OR STEEPER SHORELINE DROPS WITH SOME WEEDS MIXED IN. THE STURGEON BAY SHIP 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, SPOONS, SPINNERS, AND LARGE PLASTICS ALWAYS A GOOD BET. DRAGGING AROUND SUCKER MINNOWS CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE AT TIMES, 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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