Fishing_Content Page_Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report

Lake Michigan Outdoor Fishing Report - Jan. 20, 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.

 

The DNR does not verify or guarantee the reported ice conditions, and anglers should proceed at their own risk. Please use extreme caution as conditions can change rapidly.

Ice Safety

  • There is no such thing as safe ice. You cannot judge the strength of ice by one factor such as its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether the ice is covered with snow. Ice seldom freezes uniformly and can vary greatly in different areas of the same water body. It is important to know before you go. The DNR does not monitor local ice conditions or the thickness of the ice. Local bait shops, fishing clubs, and resorts serve winter anglers every day and often have the most up-to-date information. If you’re heading out onto a frozen lake for the first time, check the ice yourself and check it often.
  • Ice Safety Tips:
    • Carry some basic safety gear: ice claws or picks, a cellphone in a waterproof case, a life jacket, and a length of rope.
    • Dress warm in layers.
    • Don’t go alone. Head out with friends or family. Carry a cell phone with you and make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return.
    • Know before you go. Don’t travel in areas you are not familiar with and don’t travel at night during reduced visibility. 
    • Avoid inlets, outlets, or narrows that may have current that can cause thin ice.

 

Jan. 20, 2025: West Shore Green Bay Ice Creel Report

Oconto Route

Oconto Parks: A few anglers were out near Oconto Park 2 and along the shoreline. No interviews were taken.

Oconto Harbor: No activity observed here. Small areas of open water were still visible out from the river mouth both north and south.

Oconto City Park: A handful of anglers were out on ATV’s and UTV’s. They were fishing out to a visible crack offshore. Ice outside of the crack was reported as being chunk ice frozen together.

Suamico Route

Geano Beach: A couple of permanent shacks were placed out on the reef this week. Pressure cracks were visible in many areas leading out to the reef. US Coast Guard ice-breaking activities occurred in Green Bay through the weekend. 

Hook Road: Moderate fishing pressure was observed this week.  Most anglers were driving off the end of Hook Road and parking on the frozen ground of the marsh. Anglers reported fair-to-good perch fishing this week. Several reports of good action from smaller size perch with some larger size fish were seen. Minnows and jigging with waxworms were catching fish. Perch ranged in size from 5 to 16 inches.

Suamico: Angling pressure picked up this week with better ice conditions. Perch were the main targeted species with catches coming mainly on minnows on tip downs. The average size was running 8 to 10 inches.

Long Tail Point: The access at Lineville Road was busy this week. Varied reports were seen with zero fish caught to around 10 perch kept. Most anglers were getting some perch but many of the fish were not of keeper size. The occasional whitefish and northern pike were also being caught.

Fox River Route

Fox Point: A couple of open water areas were still visible with one being just downstream from the launch and the other upstream. No activity was seen here.

Perkofski Launch and Voyageur Park: Fishing was taking place from these areas. Anglers reported not seeing as many fish on their electronics as in prior weeks, resulting in minimal catches.

 

Jan. 20, 2025: East Shore Green Bay Ice Creel Report

Moderate fishing pressure was observed in Sawyer Harbor and Sturgeon Bay. A limited number of yellow perch were caught by the anglers that were interviewed.

Bayshore Route: Limited to moderate fishing pressure was observed this week. Anglers fishing around Point Comfort caught high numbers of lake whitefish using wax worms and plastic jigs fishing in 8 to 12 feet of water. 

 

Nov. 1, 2024: Southern Lake Michigan Fishing Report

The 2024 open water creel season has ended for Southern Lake Michigan including Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. Thank you to all those who participated in the survey this year. We look forward to seeing everyone again next spring!

 

Nov. 1, 2024: Northern Lake Michigan Fishing Report

The 2024 open water creel season has ended for Northern Lake Michigan including Manitowoc, Kewaunee and open waters of Door counties. Thank you to all those who participated in the survey this year. We look forward to seeing everyone again next spring!