Wisconsin Fishing Report September 16th

Weekly fishing report

Posted: Sept. 16, 2009

AREA LAKES

Fishing has improved with the stable weather and warmer water temperatures.

Musky anglers continue to do well, with Pewaukee providing the most action. Casting around weeds in 6-12 feet of water with bucktails, glide baits and jerk baits has produced many fish. "Following" muskies also have taken suckers on quick-strike rigs.

Northern pike have been active. Fishing the deeper weed lines with a slip-sinker rig or jig baited with a medium sucker, chub or large golden shiner will work best.

Bass fishing has picked up, but fish are still somewhat scattered. Fishing around piers or shallow water structure with wacky worms, "jig & pigs", tubes, swim jigs or nightcrawlers has produced. Fishing deeper weed lines with large golden shiners, drop-shot rigs, Texas-rigged plastics or deep-diving crank baits also has worked well. Smallmouth bass were found around weed flats or rock bars. Small chubs, swim jigs, tube jigs, skirted grubs or drop-shot rigs will work best.

Bluegills were caught along weed lines in 8-20 feet, or suspended 12-20 feet down over deep water. A small ice jig or hook baited with a giant redworm, waxworm or spike has worked best.

Crappie fishing has picked up. Look for them suspended along deeper weed lines or over deep water, during the day. During evening, look for them suspended around shallower weeds. A 1/32-ounce jig or smaller hook baited with a small fathead minnow has produced the most fish.

A few walleyes have been caught. The best action was during early morning or nighttime, when they were found around shallower weeds. Casting stick baits over the tops of the weeds has worked well.

Anglers fishing the Rock River reported catching a few crappies and walleyes. Walleye fishing will improve as water temperatures cool. Look for the crappies around downed trees or wood. A small fathead minnow baited on a hook or jig will work best. Walleyes will be found in deeper holes. A jig-and-minnow or jig-and-twister combo will work best. Many catfish also have been caught on the Rock. Cut-up suckers or chubs, nightcrawlers or stink bait works best.

Becky Smith

LAKE MICHIGAN, MILWAUKEE

Continued east winds have pushed up the warmest waters of the season near shore. Trollers are working in 90-to-150 feet straight east of the harbor and north to the filtration plant. All the action is down at least 75 feet. Downriggers towing large spoons have been taking chinook salmon, rainbow trout and some lake trout. Glow patterns with dark accents have been the hottest lure.

Some action also is available early and late in the day in and around the main and north gaps. Here, too, big spoons along with No. 5 J-Plugs are catching some migrating chinook and an occasional brown. Brighter-colored baits in chartreuse and greens are working better around the harbor.

Shore fishing for trout and salmon has been slow with the warm water in the harbor. There has been a small window of opportunity to catch them early in the morning. Glow spoons before daylight, then natural spoons, large minnow baits and crank baits are all worth a try. Work deeper with jigging spoons as the sun comes up.

Some perch are being caught under the Hoan Bridge. Small to medium fatheads and golden shiners fished near bottom have produced better than lures.

The harbor finally warmed up enough to produce a little bass action. Crank baits and goby-imitating jigs are good choices. Look for them cruising rocky shorelines or along seawalls.

Marc Wisniewski