Stil have the urge to fish? Here’s what’s biting and where, courtesy of the DNR.
In Marinette County, fishing pressure on the Peshtigo River was extremely light this past week. Anglers do report catching a few king salmon, pinks, walleye and smallmouth, from below the dam in Peshtigo to the Peshtigo municipal landing. Spawn, spinners, spoons, and stick baits are taking a few fish. The results of a DNR shock survey shows a few kings in the Menominee River along with some pink salmon, brown trout, rainbow, walleye, and smallmouth are present in the river, success rates have been low. – Kevin King, fisheries technician, Peshtigo
In Oconto County, aanglers report catching some panfish and the occasional small mouth below the dam at Stiles using crawler chunks and minnows in conjunction with slip bobbers. Most fish are being caught around structure. Pink salmon were being caught by the Iron Walking Bridge in Stiles using spinner baits and flies. The perch bite is starting to get better for shore anglers at Oconto breakwater Park and Oconto Park II. Slip bobbers or crappie rigs tipped with minnows or crawler chunks has been working well. Walleye anglers report limited success jigging around the reefs and rock piles from the Pensaukee Landing to Oconto Park II.
In Brown County, the metro launch at Fox River continues to produce great numbers of catfish along with the occasional crappie and smallmouth. Wave action and rain reduced clarity throughout the area and with the air temperatures dropping, water temperatures have dipped into the 50s.Reports of musky within the river have begun to increase and multiple fish in the mid to upper 40s were boated early in the week. Late week winds and changing temps have brought a slow down to the action. Clarity in the area continues to be poor and water temps are hovering in the high 50s. Musky anglers in the Suamico River area continue to boat fish. Multiple reports of mid 40-inch fish continue to come in, with all a hookups happening while trolling just outside the river mouth. Shore anglers continue to cast worms and minnows for yellow perch and reports of high numbers of northern pike in the river also continue to come in. Water temps in the area are in the high 50s and clarity was moderate to poor. The road leading to the Bayshore Park boat launch is closed. A sign there indicates dredging is being done through Oct. 31.
In Door County, fishing pressure was low. Water temperatures were about 57 degrees and water clarity was 1-2 feet. Yellow perch anglers launching from Chaudoir’s Dock had to work for the fish they caught. Most were found in over 20 feet of water. Fishing minnows near the bottom of the water was the most common method. Boaters trolling crank baits for walleye reported low catch rates. At Sawyer Harbor, yellow perch were being caught at higher rates in 20-28 feet of water. Minnows and night crawlers were the most popular baits. Perch kept this week ranged from 6 to 11 inches. Smallmouth bass catch rates were lower than a few weeks ago. Most were caught in 12-15 feet of water. Plastic tubes and plugs landed the most fish. Fishing pressure was low this week. Water clarity moderate. Near Little Sturgeon Bay, decent numbers of yellow perch were caught this week launching from Carmody. Minnows and night crawlers were both effective. Fishing in over twenty feet of water was the preferred depth. Perch kept ranged from 7 to 9 inches. Goby side-catches were low. Northern pike anglers caught good numbers of fish. Most fish were in the twenty to twenty-five inch range, but a few thirty to forty inch pike were also landed. Spinner baits and plugs were the most used lures. Fishing pressure was light. Water clarity was around eight feet.
