Lake Michigan Fishing Forecast

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

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.  Good winds brought cold water to the area for a few days, but it has warmed back up.  Fortunately, the Chinook salmon are starting to congregate in front of the harbor for their spawning run   Most of the fish caught the past week were Chinook salmon or rainbow trout but Coho salmon, brown trout and lake trout were also caught.  Most fish were caught in 50 to 150 feet of water and in the top 50 feet, but a few anglers that headed out deeper also had success.  Successful set-ups included: downriggers, dipsy divers and leadcore. Landings reported came on flasher and fly combinations, spoons (magnum) and j-plugs.  Water surface temperatures are currently in the low 70’s. 

Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was usually light effort, except on Labor Day weekend when there was strong effort. The action was slow or decent.  Catches were made up of Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout.  Most fish were caught in 20 to 125 feet of water and 15 to 70 feet down, but fish have been caught as far out as 325 feet.  They came on spoons and flies on planar boards, dipsy divers and downriggers.  Conditions:  Air temperature was in the mid 50’s to mid 70’s, skies were mostly sunny to cloudy, there were light winds to the north or moderate wind to the east and water surface temperature has ranged from the high 40’s to the low 70’s.

Pier:  Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was usually light effort, except on Labor Day weekend when there was strong effort. Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and brown trout have been caught on alewives and spoons.  Conditions:  The water color was blue green with moderate to good clarity, the water temperature has ranged from the mid 40’s to mid 60’s, air temperature was in the mid 50’s to mid 60’s, skies were mostly sunny to cloudy, and there was light wind to the north or moderate wind to the east.

Power plant:  Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was usually light effort, except on Labor Day weekend when there was moderate effort. There has been some action.  Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout and brown trout have been caught on spawn sacks.  Carp have also been caught.  Conditions:  The water color was blue green with moderate to good clarity.  The air temperature was in the mid 50’s to mid 60’s, skies were mostly sunny to cloudy and there was light wind to the north and moderate wind to the east.  The Bait Box reports Chinook salmon and rainbow trout have recently been caught on spawn sacks by the power plant’s discharge.

Marina: Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was usually light effort, except on Labor Day weekend when there was moderate effort. There has been little action.  Chinook salmon have been caught on spawn.  Conditions:  The water in the harbor was greenish gray with moderate clarity and the water temperature was in the mid 60’s.   

Cedar Grove

Amsterdam Road

ramp:  Over the past three years during the last week of August there was no effort.

Sheboygan

Ramp:  The action over the past week was mixed.  The Chinook salmon are moving to shallow water in preparation for the spawning run, so anglers are starting to get some action in 30 feet of water.  Beyond these fish to approximately 100 feet of water the action has been slow to dead.  Beyond 100 feet of water the action picked up with Rainbows and younger Chinook getting caught; most catches in 200 to 300 feet of water and 40-70 feet down.  Most common set-ups were planar boards, slide divers and downriggers but dipsy divers and leadcore were also reported. Landings reported came on spoons and j-plugs.  Water surface temperatures are currently in the high 60’s.

Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was usually light to moderate effort and the action was usually slow with occasional exceptional days.  Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and brown trout have been caught.  Most fish were caught in 30 to 175 feet of water and from 40 to 80 feet down with flasher flies, spoons, j-plugs and crankbaits on downriggers, dipsy divers, leadcore and planar boards.  Conditions: Air temperature was in the mid 50’s to high 70’s, skies were clear to cloudy, there were moderate winds in a variety of directions and water surface temperatures ranged from the high 40’s to low 70’s.

Pier:  Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was moderate effort and some action.  Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout have been caught from both piers on alewives and spoons.  Smallmouth bass were caught on worms.  Northern trout were caught on rapalas.  Conditions: Water on the lakeside of the north pier was greenish brown or blue green with moderate to good clarity, the lake was calm.  The water on the lakeside of the south pier was brownish blue green with moderate to good clarity and the water temperature was in the low 50’s to mid 60’s.  Air temperature was in the mid 50’s to high 70’s, skies were usually cloudy and there was a moderate wind to the north or east.

Shore:  Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was no effort. 

Edgewater power plant: Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was no effort.

Sheboygan River:  Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was light effort and little action.  Chinook salmon have been caught near the mouth of the river on alewives and spoons.  Conditions:  The water at the mouth was brown with low clarity and the temperature was in the mid 60’s.

Cleveland ramp:  Over the past few years during late August and the first week of September there was no effort.