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FeedSouthern Wisconsin Fishing Report - July 13th, 2012
BIG GREEN LAKE AREA
Smallmouth bass continue to provide the best bite on Green Lake. Look for them in 10 to 15 feet of water, and leeches or tube jigs seem to be the best baits. The Fox River near Princeton has been producing good numbers of catfish, with some large flathead catfish being caught.
North Bay Sport & Liquor, (920) 294-6462.
LAKE MICHIGAN/METRO AREA LAKES
Trollers in Sheboygan have been catching decent numbers of chinooks, cohos, and rainbows. Fish have been in 60 to 70 feet of water early in the morning, and then have been moving deeper to the 100-foot range. The rainbows have come from the top 30 feet of water, but the salmon have been deeper. Spoons have taken the majority of fish, but flasher and fly combinations also have produced fish. When conditions are good near shore, anglers fishing off the piers have been catching a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout and coho and chinook salmon. A few whitefish have been caught off the piers, as well.
In Port Washington, trollers have been catching mostly chinooks, along with some cohos and rainbows in 85 to 150 feet of water. Pier anglers have been catching decent numbers of browns, rainbows, and chinooks. Alewives have taken the majority of fish.
Milwaukee trollers have been catching decent numbers of chinooks and cohos, along with a few lakers and rainbows, in 50 to 105 feet of water with baits about 30 to 60 feet down. Decent numbers of big chinooks also have been caught in 40 to 60 feet of water during low-light hours. The best baits have been spoons or Dipsey divers with flasher and fly combinations. Spoons and soft plastics fished in the gaps also have produced quite a few chinooks. Fishing on McKinley pier remains good for kings and browns on alewives. Perch anglers report they’ve been successful off of McKinley pier just after sunrise. The shoreline along Summerfest is producing a few browns, with most fish being caught on minnows and a few on spoons. Perch fishing for boaters at the boils and off of Oak Creek has yielded fish, but the bite seems to slow down about an hour and a half after sunrise.
In Racine, trollers have had great success using Dipsey divers and flies or spoons from 40 to 80 feet down in 50 to 105 feet of water. Those fishing from shore have had their best luck casting spoons during low light. Anglers have been catching a few browns from the pier and in the harbor. Perch fishing is relatively slow from shore. Those in boats who are jigging for perch along the rock wall by Meyers ramp have had much better luck.
DNR hotline, (414) 382-7920.
Smokey’s Bait Shop, (262) 691-0360.
Dick Smith’s Bait, (262) 646 2218.
MADISON AREA
Anglers are still fishing the Madison lakes despite the heat. On Lake Mendota, guys are chasing perch and are finding great action, but they’re catching mostly 7- to 9-inchers, and once in a while a 10-incher. The best action has been on the east and west ends of Governor’s Island, especially on the break toward the Four Doors in 19 to 25 feet of water. They’re also catching perch at Spring Harbor, Marshall Park, and the “hatch cover.” Mendota smallies are out on the mud flats and deeper rocks in 25 to 30 feet of water. Most guys are using plastics and leeches. On Lake Monona, the bluegills are either on the deep weed edges in about 15 feet of water, or they have moved to 35 to 40 feet of water where they’re suspended. Monona bass are on the deep weed edges. Water temperatures on all lakes are in the low 80s, so guys have backed off on fishing for muskies because the high water temps can kill fish quickly. Lake Kegonsa has been very quiet.
D&S Bait & Tackle, (608) 244-3474.
Dorn Hardware, (608) 244-5403.
