Lake Michigan fishing forecast

In Port Washington, there is usually moderate effort from the ramp and light effort from shore.  The action has been mixed from the ramp and slow from the pier.  In Sheboygan, there is usually light effort from the ramp and light effort from the piers. The action has usually been slow for the boats and from the piers. 

Reports based on personal observations and angler reports from the past three years.  Please comment or share information.

Ramp: The action was slow early last week but started to pick up towards the end of the week.  Chinook, Coho and rainbow were caught.  The fish were all over the place, getting caught in 50 to 400 feet of water.  Successful set-ups included: downriggers (40-70 feet down), dipsy divers (approximately 70-120 feet back) and leadcore (10 colors). Landings reported came on flasher and fly combinations and spoons.  Again, the fishing may be slow but some diligent anglers were rewarded with 20 pound Chinook.  The Lions Club 2011 fishing derby was this weekend and results can be found on The Bait Box website.    

Over the past few years, there has typically been moderate effort and the action has been mixed, last year the action was exceptional to good but in previous years the action was slow.  Catches consisted mainly of Chinook, but Coho, rainbow trout, lake trout and brown trout have also been caught.  Most fish were caught in 40 to 160 feet of water, and 20 to 100 feet down.  Fish were caught with spoons, flasher/dodger flies and j-plugs on downriggers, dipsy divers, leadcore and planar boards.  Conditions:  Air temperature was in the mid 70’s to low 80’s, skies were clear to cloudy, there were light winds to the north and east and water surface temperature was in the low 60’s to low 70’s.

Pier:  Over the past few years, there has typically been light effort and the action has been slow.  Chinook and brown trout have been caught on alewives. Conditions: Water temperature was in the mid 50’s, water color was blue green with moderate to good clarity, the lake was calm with occasional choppiness, air temperature was in the mid to high 70’s, skies were cloudy and there were light wind to the north and east.

Power plant:  There is typically light effort in the area with little action.  Chinook salmon were caught with spoons just before sunset and carp have been caught.  Conditions: water color was blue green with moderate to good clarity, air temperature was high 70’s to low 80’s, skies were clear or cloudy and there were light winds to the north and east.

Marina: There is typically little effort in the area with little action.  Bass have been caught on worms.

Cedar Grove

Amsterdam Road

ramp:  Usually little or no effort and a little action. Chinook have been caught in 35 feet of water with spoons on downriggers.

Sheboygan

Ramp:  The action over the past week has been slow.  Chinook, Coho and lake trout were caught.  Fish were caught in 50 to 175 feet of water.  Successful set-ups included: downriggers (20-30 feet down), leadcore (approximately 2-5 colors) and planar boards. Landings reported came on flasher/dodger and fly combinations, spoons and j-plugs.  Green and white glow were commonly reported.  Reports indicated slow fishing, but there were rumors of lots of fish getting caught out beyond 300 feet of water.

Over the past few years, there has typically been light effort and the action been slow.  Chinook, rainbow trout and brown trout have been caught.  Most fish were caught in 50 to 80 feet of water and 30 feet down with spoons on planar boards and slide divers.  The browns were caught by jigging in the harbor.  Conditions: Air temperature was in the high 60’s to high 70’s, skies were cloudy, there were light to moderate winds to the east and northeast and water surface temperatures were in the mid 60’s to low 70’s.

Pier:  Over the past few years, there has been light and the action is usually slow.  Chinook and rainbow trout have been caught off the lake side of both piers, mostly on alewives but also on spoons.  Landings usually occurred in the early afternoon  Conditions: Water temperatures on the lakeside were in the low 60’s, water color was blue green with moderate to good clarity, air temperature was in the low 80’s, skies were mostly cloudy and there was little or no wind.

Shore:  There is usually little to no effort and no action.  A Chinook has been caught off the North point on a spoon. 

Edgewater power plant:  There is usually little or no effort.  Bluegills have been caught from behind the power plant on night crawlers.  Conditions:  air temperature was in the low 80’s, skies were mostly cloudy and there was little or no wind.

Cleveland

Cleveland ramp:  Usually light effort and little action.  Chinook have been caught in 40 to 110 feet of water.