Fishing_Content Page_Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report

Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report - May 5, 2025

Fishing Wisconsin

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

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.

The information in 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 and marinas.

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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.

 

May 5, 2025: West Shore Green Bay Creel Report

Brown County

Duck Creek: Multiple shore and kayak anglers were out around Duck Creek. Most people reported catching yellow perch. The season for yellow perch on Green Bay and its tributaries doesn’t open until May 20. Water conditions were calm, with a temperature of around 50-51 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fox River Boating Anglers: Anglers took advantage of opening weekend and the warmer sunny weather. Areas around the De Pere Riverwalk and the mouth of the Fox River were popular with boaters and shore anglers. Sturgeon were seen along the shoreline and jumping near the De Pere Riverwalk throughout the weekend. Anglers reported multiple musky sightings near the Fox River piers and boat launches heading towards the Riverwalk throughout the past few days. Most shore anglers reported sheepshead, white bass and northern pike catches. Boaters fishing on Green Bay were catching more pike and sheepshead than walleye this weekend. The ones who caught the most walleye were fishing in 5-10 feet of water with hair and plastic jigs. Water temperatures ranged between 49-51 degrees Fahrenheit within those areas.

Suamico River: Many boaters took advantage of the opening weekend. Anglers casting and trolling in shallower areas (5-8 feet of water) caught an average of 6-8 walleye per boat. Hair jigs and plastic jigs seemed to be the most successful baits for catching walleye. Other fish reported were sheepshead, northern pike, a few catfish and multiple yellow perch. Water temperatures reached 50 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the weekend.

Marinette County

River conditions changed this week, with the recent rains increasing the flow on both the Peshtigo and Menominee. High and fast water kept most shore anglers from fishing near the dams. Walleye anglers were concentrating their efforts from Waupaca Foundry upstream to the turning basin on the Menominee River and at the mouth. Anglers vertical jigging minnows or plastics were catching fish. Individuals pulling flies were also successful. A few smallmouth bass started to show up in the river as well. Water temperatures were from 49 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Oconto County

Fishing pressure was high over the weekend, with full parking lots at area launches. Walleye anglers were picking up fish in a variety of ways. Anglers trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses seemed to be doing the best. Areas off Oconto Park 2 and north were popular. Water temperatures on the bay ranged from 49 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Pier anglers on the Oconto River were trying for northern pike with dead bait. A few were being caught, along with the occasional bowfin and yellow perch. The season for yellow perch on Green Bay and its tributaries doesn’t open until May 20.

Geano Beach and Longtail Point: Low activity was seen at both locations this week. Rough water conditions were seen off both Long Tail ramp locations throughout the weekend due to the windy weather. On Saturday, the Geano Beach ramp had multiple boaters who reported catches of walleye and multiple sheepshead. Water levels at both locations were quite shallow and were turbid due to high winds. Water temperatures reached around 49 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the weekend.

 

May 5, 2025: East Shore Green Bay Creel Report

Bayshore Park: Moderate to heavy fishing activity was observed this week. Walleye anglers had the best success finesse fishing by using hair jigs and plastic jigs in 7 to 16 feet of water. Anglers were able to catch walleye by trolling hard plastics, although the catch rate was better with jigging. The water temperature was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chaudoir’s Dock: Moderate to heavy fishing activity was observed this week. The launch area was recently dredged, and boating anglers reported no issues launching. Walleye anglers had the best success finesse fishing by using hair jigs and plastic jigs in 7 to 15 feet of water. Anglers were able to catch walleye by trolling hard plastics, although the catch rate was better with jigging. The water temperature was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Little Sturgeon Bay: Heavy fishing activity was observed this week. Anglers targeting smallmouth bass had some success casting ned rigs and tubes in less than 10 feet of water. A bass fishing tournament during the week resulted in heavy fishing pressure. Walleye anglers had the best success finesse fishing by using hair jigs in 7 to 12 feet of water. The water temperature was between 46 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sawyer Harbor: Moderate fishing activity was observed this week. Walleye anglers had the best success finesse fishing by using hair jigs in 7 to 12 feet of water. The water temperature was around 48 degrees Fahrenheit. 

 

May 5, 2025: Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report

Kenosha County

Poor weather and lake conditions during the week made for low angler numbers, but anglers over the weekend found success catching cohos using tube jigs with shrimp pieces.

Milwaukee County

McKinley Pier: Most anglers caught coho salmon using live alewife as bait, in addition to the occasional green/white or silver/chartreuse spoon. Anglers fishing near the midpoint of the pier reported success catching the occasional Chinook salmon using aqua spoons, with one Chinook weighing nearly 20 pounds.

Oak Creek Power Plant: Anglers had moderate success using green and white spoons to target cohos, with a few individuals catching brown trout on the same setup.

Ramps: Anglers had success reaching daily bag limits of coho salmon using a mix of coho rigs with orange dodgers and peanut flies, green/white spoons, with a few being caught on black or golden-orange spoons. A few groups caught a couple of Chinook salmon using similar lures in depths around 17-35 feet.

Ozaukee County

Port Washington Ramps: Anglers had success reaching daily bag limits of coho salmon using a mix of coho rigs with orange dodgers and peanut flies, green/white spoons, with a few being caught on black or golden-orange spoons.

Racine County

Poor weather and lake conditions during the week made for low angler numbers, but anglers over the weekend found success catching cohos using tube jigs with shrimp pieces.

Sheboygan County

Sheboygan Harbor and Piers: No report available this week.

Sheboygan Ramps: No report available this week.

 

May 5, 2025: Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report

Door County

Anglers fishing out of Rowley’s Bay saw success targeting smallmouth bass. Anglers caught fish in water depths of three to seven feet. A variety of tackle was used, including swimbaits, tubes, crankbaits, dark sleepers and jerk baits. Anglers reported catching fish on an assortment of colors, with nothing standing out or outperforming others. In addition to fishing Rowley’s Bay, anglers ventured out to North Bay from the Rowley’s Bay launch and were able to catch smallmouth bass there, too. Surface water temperatures in this area of Lake Michigan ranged from 40 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. An angling group fishing out of Ephraim was catching smallmouth bass in eight to ten feet of water, and water temperatures ranged from 41 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit on Green Bay.

Sturgeon Bay: Anglers fishing the shoreline and piers were primarily going for walleye and northern pike, with some of each being reported caught. Boaters were targeting these species along with smallmouth bass, lake whitefish and brown trout. Walleye boaters were fishing in around 20 feet of water, with darker colored stick baits being a popular lure choice. Northern pike was the most recorded species this week, with boaters mainly fishing in 7 to 14 feet of water. Smallmouth bass anglers were fishing in an average of 5 to 12 feet of water, with lighter colored soft plastics being a popular lure combo. Lake whitefish were recorded being caught in around 50 feet of water using dark colored soft plastics. Finally, brown trout were caught by boaters fishing the canal in about 15 feet of water. Surface temperatures in the canal ranged from 46 to 51 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average of around 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Near the Stone Quarry boat launch, surface temperatures varied from 42 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average of about 44 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kewaunee County

Algoma: Anglers mainly targeted northern pike using worms and minnows on the shorelines of Algoma. Water clarity was low during the week, with around one foot of visibility. A few trailers were spotted on the ramp.

Manitowoc County

Very few anglers were observed fishing. The few anglers fishing the lake had some luck catching brown trout. Shore-based anglers ended up catching a couple of bullheads and one burbot.