Lake Michigan Fishing Forecast

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

 

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

Port Washington

Ramp: This past week the action was slow with only a few boats reporting good trips.  Chinook, rainbow trout and an occasional lake trout were caught.  Fish were caught in 100 to 400 feet of water.  The fish were located from 50 to 130 feet down.  Successful set-ups included: downriggers (65-115 feet down), dipsy divers (approximately 60-120 feet back), weapons (50 to 80 feet down) and leadcore (6-10 colors). Landings reported came on dodger/flasher and fly combinations and spoons.  Many different colors were reported, so try to check with other anglers for current info.  There were many reports of water fleas.  The lake is warm right now, the thermocline is 60-65 feet down, a good west wind is needed to turn the water over and get the fish biting again.  Water surface temperatures are currently in the low 70’s. 

Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was light to moderate effort and decent action.  Catches were made up of Chinook, Coho, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout.  Fish were caught in 80 to 400 feet of water and 30 to 80 feet down.  They came on spoons, flies and j-plugs on planar boards, dipsy divers and downriggers.  Conditions:  Air temperature was in the low to high 70’s, skies were clear, there were light wind to the north and west and water surface temperature was in the high 60’s to low 70’s.

Pier:  Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was light effort and little action.  Chinook salmon have been caught on spoons and a plastic lure.  Bass have been caught on jigs.  Conditions:  water color was blue green with moderate to good clarity, the water temperature was in the mid 60’s, air temperature was in the low 70’s, skies were clear, and there was light wind to the west.

Power plant:  Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was light effort in the area and no action.

Marina: Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was light effort in the area and no action.

Cedar Grove

Amsterdam Road

ramp:  Over the past three years during the fourth week of August there was little or no effort and no action to report.

Sheboygan

Ramp:  The action over the past week was slow with only a few boats reporting good trips.  Fish were caught in 60 to 210 feet of water from 30 to 70 feet down.  Chinook, Coho, rainbow trout and lake trout were caught.  Successful set-ups included: downriggers (approximately 70 feet down), leadcore (5-6 colors), and slide divers. Landings reported came mostly on spoons but also on flasher and fly combinations and j-plugs.  There were many reports of water fleas.  The lake is warm right now, a good west wind is needed to turn the water over and get the fish biting again.  Water surface temperatures are currently in the low 70’s.

Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was moderate effort and the action was slow.  Chinook, Coho and rainbow trout have been caught.  Most fish were caught in 60 to 250 feet of water and from 50 to 60 feet down with flasher flies, spoons and j-plugs on downriggers and dipsy divers.  Conditions: Air temperature was in the high 60’s to high 70’s, skies were clear, there was usually a light to wind to the north and water surface temperatures were in the high 60’s to low 70’s.

Pier:  Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was moderate effort and little action.  Chinook salmon have been caught from both piers on alewives and spoons.  Smallmouth bass were caught off the harbor side of the north pier with wax worms and night crawlers.  Conditions: Water on the lakeside of the north pier was blue green with moderate to good clarity, the lake was calm and the water temperature was 60° F.  The water on the lakeside of the south pier was blue green with moderate to good clarity and the water temperature was in the mid 60’s.  Air temperature was in the high 60’s, skies were clear and there was a light wind to the north.

Shore:  Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was little or no effort and no action to report. 

Edgewater power plant: Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was no effort.

Cleveland

Cleveland ramp:  Over the past few years during the fourth week of August there was little or no effort and no action to report.