Fishing_Content Page_Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report

Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report - Sept. 19, 2022

Fishing Wisconsin

Generally, fishing reports will be updated weekly, on Tuesdays. This may change based on the availability of reports and the work schedules of field staff.

Unless otherwise indicated, this fishing report information comes from our creel survey clerks, who work in the lakeshore areas from March through October and in the tributary rivers seasonally in spring and fall. Creel clerk schedules are random and vary in the days and times they are scheduled to be in a specific location. This allows us to generate statistically valid fishing efforts and harvest information.

Information for these reports is based on the days and times of the week that creel clerks are present. You can obtain additional fishing information by contacting local bait shops, charter captains, guides, marinas, etc.

Sign up to get the latest fishing information on Lake Michigan.

REMINDER - Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license/stamps while fishing on Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Wisconsin/Michigan, Wisconsin/Minnesota and Wisconsin/Iowa boundary waters.

Sept. 19, 2022: Green Bay / Peshtigo Area Fishing Report

Fox River: 

  • Mouth: There was limited to moderate fishing activity observed this week. Boating anglers were targeting walleye and smallmouth bass. Walleye anglers had some success trolling flicker minnows and crawler harnesses. The number of walleyes caught per boat ranged from one to two fish. The smallmouth bass angler reported they did not catch any fish. The reported water temperature was around 67 degrees Fahrenheit this week.
  • Boating Anglers: There was limited fishing activity observed this week. Most of the boaters were not fishing. The boaters that were fishing were targeting walleye. An angler reported catching two walleye while casting a shad rap about nine feet deep. There was no water temperature reported this week.
  • Shore Anglers: There was moderate fishing activity observed this week. Shore anglers were targeting walleye and perch. There were no reports of walleye that were caught. The perch anglers did have success using live worms by fishing on the bottom and by using a bobber. Sheepshead/drum, white bass and white perch were caught by anglers targeting the perch and walleye.  

East Shoreline Of Green Bay:

Brown County

  • Bayshore Park: Fishing pressure was down this week mainly because of high winds. Those that were out reported only a few walleyes caught. Anglers reported putting on many miles looking for fish and having best luck further south. A few perch were caught by shore anglers at Oconto Park II and at the mouth of the Oconto River. The number of pink salmon increased by Stiles dam on the upper Oconto River this week. 

Door County

  • Chaudoir's Dock: Pier anglers reported catching 6-inch yellow perch on worms this week. Boat anglers reported catching walleyes, yellow perch, musky, white bass, sheepshead, white perch and round gobies. The walleyes and round gobies were caught on minnows, nightcrawlers and purple jigging lures. The yellow perch, sheepshead and white perch were caught on minnows and nightcrawlers. The catfish, white bass and musky were all caught on nightcrawlers. The walleyes and yellow perch were mostly caught in 20 to 30 feet of water. Anglers reported that most walleyes they caught were between 19 and 28 inches long, and the yellow perch were mostly 12 to 14 inches long. The musky was caught in about 18 feet of water and was reported to be about 30 inches long. The water temperatures were reported to be between 66 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Little Surgeon Bay: There were not many interviews conducted at this location this week, but the boat anglers who were interviewed reported catching pumpkinseeds, rock bass and northern pike. The pumpkinseeds and rock bass were caught on nightcrawlers, and the northern pike was caught on bucktails and soft plastic baits. The northern pike ranged in length from 26 to 33 inches long. The water temperature was reported to be about 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Sawyer Harbor: Boat anglers caught smallmouth bass, northern pike and a bowfin. The northern pike and bowfin were caught on shad color soft plastics, and the smallmouth bass was caught on crankbaits and ned rigs. Red and white were reported to be successful colors for smallmouth bass this week. The northern pike was all around 30 inches long, and the smallmouth bass was mostly around 15 to 16 inches long, with one being around four pounds. The water temperatures were reported to be between 64 and 67degrees Fahrenheit.

West Shoreline Of Green Bay:

Brown County

  • Suamico River: There was moderate to heavy fishing activity observed this week. Boating anglers were targeting musky, walleye and perch. Most anglers that were interviewed this week were targeting musky. There were mixed results regarding musky anglers. The anglers that did report catching musky were casting bucktails, black double cowgirl lure and trolling a firetiger supershad from around 4 to 12 feet deep. The walleye anglers had mixed results. The anglers that successfully caught walleye were trolling flicker minnows and flicker shads from around 10 to 30 feet deep. The number of reported walleyes caught per boat ranged from two to eight fish per boat with a few boats that did not catch any fish. The boating perch anglers with the best success were using live minnows fishing from around 10 to 15 feet deep. There was an increase of shore anglers this week targeting perch. The shore anglers were having mixed results. Once angler caught 24 perch with live minnows on a perch rig. The angler kept five of the perch since the rest were too small. The reported water temperature was around 68 degrees Fahrenheit this week.
  • Duck Creek and Longtail Point: There were limited boating anglers, and no shore anglers were observed this week. There were no interviews conducted this week.

Oconto County

  • Geano Beach: There was heavy fishing activity observed this week. Boating anglers were targeting walleye and musky. Boating anglers that were targeting walleye had success trolling crawler harnesses and casting shiver minnows from around 15 to 20 feet deep. The sizes of walleye kept ranged from 17 to 20.8 inches long. One boating angler that was targeting musky had success casting a black bucktail and caught one musky. The reported water temperature reported was around 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Fishing pressure was down this week mainly because of high winds. Those that were out reported only a few walleyes caught.  Anglers reported putting on many miles looking for fish and having best luck further south. A few perch were caught by shore anglers at Oconto Park II and at the mouth of the Oconto River. The number of pink salmon increased by Stiles dam on the upper Oconto River this week.

Marinette County

  • Anglers on the lower Peshtigo River were having luck catching yellow perch. Lots of small perch were reported caught with about one out of every 10 perch being a keeper. Pink salmon were also being caught in the Peshtigo River. Right below the dam and downstream to the railroad bridge were popular spots. Small spoons seemed to be working best. Fishing pressure on the Menominee River was fairly light this week because of rain and high winds.

Sept. 19, 2022: Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report

Kenosha County

  • Chinook salmon are being caught in the Kenosha Harbor area.  Anglers caught fish using various methods including spawn, spoons, crankbaits and shrimp. Water temperature ranged from 66-70 degrees Fahrenheit last week.

Racine County

  • City of Racine: Boat anglers have been catching fish by either trolling j-plugs or by fishing spawn under a bobber and casting spoons. A mixed bag of chinook, coho salmon and rainbow, lake trout are being caught. Water temps ranged from 66-69 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the week.
    • A word of caution: A construction project limits access to Racine’s north pier.
  • Root River: Chinook salmon are being caught in the Root River. Fish respond well to flies and spawn depending on the flow in the area of the river you’re fishing. Water temps in the Root River ranged from 67-69 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the week.

Milwaukee County

  • No report is available this week due to staff shortages.

Ozaukee County

  • No report is available this week due to staff shortages. 

Sheboygan County

  • No report is available this week due to staff shortages.

Sept. 19, 2022: Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report

Manitowoc County

  • Anglers have reported seeing salmon coming into the Sturgeon Bay Canal, and one group of anglers caught a 6-pound king salmon in the canal casting black and pink jigging spoons in about 18 feet of water. Another angler fishing the canal caught some perch in about 12 feet of water using minnows. The perch caught were upwards of 13 inches. In addition to the perch, a 36-inch northern pike was also caught on the minnows. Salmon are also present in Egg Harbor, and an angler caught a 15-pound king salmon on a glow spoon off the Egg Harbor pier. Anglers fishing the piers of Murphey Park, Peninsula State Park and Anderson’s Dock in Ephraim have been catching some smallmouth bass using a variety of lures including pink and yellow crankbaits, black tube jigs and green pumpkin tube jigs. One bass caught on the Murphey Park pier was 17 inches long and weighed 2.5 pounds.

Kewaunee County

  • Kewaunee/Algoma: Anglers have reported seeing salmon coming into the Sturgeon Bay Canal, and one group of anglers caught a 6-pound king salmon in the canal casting black and pink jigging spoons in about 18 feet of water. Another angler fishing the canal caught some perch in about 12 feet of water using minnows. The perch caught were upwards of 13 inches. In addition to the perch, a 36-inch northern pike was also caught on the minnows. Salmon are also present in Egg Harbor, and an angler caught a 15-pound king salmon on a glow spoon off the Egg Harbor pier. Anglers fishing the piers of Murphey Park, Peninsula State Park and Anderson’s Dock in Ephraim have been catching some smallmouth bass using a variety of lures including pink and yellow crankbaits, black tube jigs and green pumpkin tube jigs. One bass caught on the Murphey Park pier was 17 inches long and weighed 2.5 pounds.

Door County

  • Sturgeon Bay:
    • Lake Michigan: A group of anglers fishing out of Gills Rock caught two rainbow trout and one brown trout while trolling blue and green spoons at speeds of 1.8-2.4 mph. The trout were around 1 pound each in weight.
    • Bay of Green Bay: Anglers have reported seeing salmon coming into the Sturgeon Bay Canal, and one group of anglers caught a 6-pound king salmon in the canal casting black and pink jigging spoons in about 18 feet of water. Another angler fishing the canal caught some perch in about 12 feet of water using minnows. The perch caught were upwards of 13 inches. In addition to the perch, a 36-inch northern pike was also caught on the minnows. Salmon are also present in Egg Harbor, and an angler caught a 15-pound king salmon on a glow spoon off the Egg Harbor pier. Anglers fishing the piers of Murphey Park, Peninsula State Park and Anderson’s Dock in Ephraim have been catching some smallmouth bass using a variety of lures including pink and yellow crankbaits, black tube jigs and green pumpkin tube jigs. One bass caught on the Murphey Park pier was 17 inches long and weighed 2.5 pounds.