Captain Geoff's Blog
Fishing Report - September 30th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for September 30th.
Fall roared in over the weekend and brought some fish with it. For those who fish the piers and harbor, the fishing has improved dramatically. It could still pick up some, but the flow of fish has begun in earnest and so will the shore fishing along with it.
The number of boaters outside the harbor is very few and even charters are fishing the harbor area if there is room for them. Those that have been outside the gap are finding fish in 75 early and out to 120 as the sun gets higher. Just to clarify, that was prior to the strong west winds so this may have changed in the past two days. I have not found anyone out since then to tell me what temps are being recorded at the shoreline. Suspecting that we have cold water close to shore now, I would advise a boater to check for temp breaks from the shore out and fish the shallows early. Even if the salmon are not there, browns are likely piling up close to shore to occupy your time until you find the salmon.
Shore fisherman are reporting success on firetiger deep-diving thundersticks, but that is all the bait info I have.
I will continue with reports periodically related to shore fishing, but information is hard to come by on the lake. While I can always offer advice and occasionally do, I try to limit reports to tested facts. I try to fish in the winter when possible so keep an eye out for winter brown reports. Otherwise, fish reports will begin again in earnest on May 1st.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - Sept. 23
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for September 23th.
Tuesday brought some much needed rain. Not just for the grass, but for the fishing. It was not enough to alter the fishing out in deeper water, but it should be enough to increase activity for those who fish the harbor. For boaters, the gap and inside the harbor should improve as well.
The number of charter and private boat fisherman has dropped off since Labor Day so reports are hard to come by. We fished Monday evening with limited success despite having the lake to ourselves and marking lots of fish. Hits came on downriggers and dipseys for the most part. Downriggers down from 80 to 120 had the most action. We marked the most fish from 80 to 120 feet of water, down near the bottom. We still had 60 degree water at 80 feet which was not inspiring a lot of activity from fish. Fish came on a mix of spoons and dodger flies. Our hottest rig was a Carlson Real Fish with pink and blue hues. The next big hitter was a white hotspot which a green and teal fly.
There are a lot of fish out there still and the fall weather pattern should allow the water to cool and fishing activity to improve both on shore and out on the big pond.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing report - September 15th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for September 15th.
Very stable weather and nice weather has made for a great week of boating and the fishing has begun to pick up. The fish had to start eating sometime. The pattern of light east winds has not done much for the thermocline with warm water down triple digit depths. Kings, lakers and the occasional coho are being caught in 100 to 200 feet of water on riggers 100 plus down. However, fish are being marked all the way up into the thirties, but they do not seem to be feeding as few are caught with baits in those depths.
White hotspots with a variety of flies including LBB and Bullfrog have had success along with a mix of spoons. Moonshine spoons have excelled in low light conditions with black and gold pro kings, and spoons with pink taking fish during high sun periods.
This time of year we would expect to see the shores packed with fisherman as the spawning kings make their way into the harbor. Many have been caught, but the numbers are not there yet. We are looking for a good rain to get some water moving out of the creek to draw in fish, but the forecast as of today says we are in for more of the same beautiful sunny weather and light east winds. So for now, keep the boats in the water and look deeper for biting fish.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - September 8th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for September 8th.
A very tough weekend for fisherman. The weather was outstanding for boat rides but the fish must have taken the weekend off as well. Two’s and three’s dominated the fish counts in both numbers and poundage. Frankly, I didn’t know salmon that small could even be caught trolling until this year. Of course a few succeeded bringing in some bigger fish and some OK numbers, but luck was the cited factor.
When fish aren’t biting it is hard to provide hot baits and depths. I can attest that the water is warm all the way down to 60 feet or more in most areas. To find cold water, you have to be willing to trip out at least 8 miles and there don’t appear to be fish in that area, oddly. In fact, most boats are marking a ton of fish from 150 feet of water, most the way toward shore. But are they salmon? They did not bite this weekend for us to see. For you adventurer’s, I can tell you that the fishing was pretty good on the reef about 17 miles WSW of Port Washington. Good numbers of Rainbows and Cohos can be found out there as well as the occasional Lake Trout. Be advised that the reef is a Lake Trout refuge and you are not supposed to troll for, or box any Lake Trout. Keep your baits above 100 feet and you shouldn’t have to worry.
Fish reports have not been posted as frequently as I had hoped and I am sure as you all would prefer. Between the new business, the family and school, it is apparent I have taken on too much. I like to do everything I do, well. I am not meeting my expectations with the fish report and I am sure I am not meeting yours, particularly of late. It is for this reason that I renew the call for either a replacement to do the fish reports, or some to assist with them. If you would be willing to at least assist, if not take over, please call me at 262 618-5060.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing report - September 1st
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for September 1st.
Water temps finally warmed this week with strong north and east winds throughout the week and weekend. Temps in the low 60’s were reported on the surface with mid-fifties as deep as 60 feet. A little too much of a good thing, but overall cause for optimism that fishing could improve as a result.
The shallow water bite has all but disappeared, but we are hitting the time of the year when water tmeps are not the sole factor in congregating fish. Baitfish have been found in ranges from 55 to 80 feet of water, and where there is bait, there are fish. The lighter parts fo the day have had fish deeper, from 90 feet out to depths in the 200’s. When the lights are low, fish can be caught over the baitfish closer to shore.
Spoons versus flasher flies has no clear winner, but some days they prefer one over the other decisively. Orange double-o’s with Richard’s Champagne or fruit punch flies have been good for cohos, rainbows, and kings with fish close to the surface. White hot spots with blue steel bullfrog have remained a consistent bait as well. Moonshine spoons have been included in several reports with patterns including orange or red being good hitters.
I have to offer an apology. Fish reports have not been posted as frequently as I had hoped and I am sure as you all would prefer. Between the new business, the family and school, it is apparent I have taken on too much. I like to do everything I do, well. I am not meeting my expectations with the fish report and I am sure I am not meeting yours, particularly of late. It is for this reason that I renew the call for either a replacement to do the fish reports, or some to assist with them. If you would be willing to at least assist, if not take over, please call me at 262 618-5060.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - August 24th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for August 24th.
It appears that spotty may be the word to describe the whole season this year. Mother nature will not provide us the conditions we might prescribe to congregate fish. West winds have continued to dominate the weather pattern with only a little help from the north on Saturday. Surface temps were as low at 39 degrees in spots before the north winds blew. Temps yesterday reached the upper forties by mid-day and may have found 50 in the afternoon.
Some had success in the 10 – 25 foot range very early in the morning, but depths around 50 and also the 70 – 100 also held fish. They have been scattered along these depths based on either structure or baitfish location. Schools of baitfish have been found hugging the shoreline, but one pass through those fish has them scattered and spooky for any boats which follow shortly behind. Fish are marked among the forage in the 70 – 100 range, but they seem to be tough to catch. Lots of non-biters in the bunch.
Spoons have been more prominent among private anglers and have been going well. However, the charters running flasher flies have also been coming in with good catches. As for spoons, moonshine glows have been getting a lot of hits in patterns that include orange or red with black markings. Oragne double-o’s with Richard’s Champagne or fruit punch flies have been good for cohos, rainbows, and kings with fish close to the surface. White hot spots with blue steel bullfrog have remained a consistent bait as well.
I have to offer an apology. Fish reports have not been posted as frequently as I had hoped and I am sure as you all would prefer. Between the new business, the family and school, it is apparent I have taken on too much. I like to do everything I do, well. I am not meeting my expectations with the fish report and I am sure I am not meeting yours, particularly of late. It is for this reason that I renew the call for either a replacement to do the fish reports, or some to assist with them. If you would be willing to at least assist, if not take over, please call me at 262 618-5060.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - August 12th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for August 12th.
Fishing picked up this morning, but mostly early on. I could not find a boat that was any distance north of the gap so all reports have to do with south to and past the lighthouse.
The early bite was generally in the shallows from 35 – 55 feet slowly moving out as the sun rose. There was a definite drop in action when the sun breached the horizon, but fish were still being caught for those who were willing to put in some time and cover some water. By the time the sun got high, the best fishing was found in 90 – 110, but most bites were in the top 25 feet of water.
Water temps finally hit the 50’s again today with 48 degrees being 15 – 30 feet down. The great scum line from yesterday appears to be gone, but good temp breaks can be found once again with the warming water.
The spoon and plug bite was good early but seemed to shut down once the sun was up. Most hits after sun up were on flasher fly or dodger fly on boards running in the top third of the water column and as far away from the boat as reasonably possible. Champagne and fruit punch flies were good behind orange double-o’s and Rainbow Richard’s bullfrog, Aqua, or Fish Doctor flies behind white or light green flasher took most fish. J-plugs on glow or pearl with black ladder back seem to the mainstay and pro king spoons in green glow or white glow were hit early on.
The club fish-in with the Milwaukee club is this Sunday, August 16th. Contact your respective club for details.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - August 11th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for August 11th.
Fishing has been very tough the past couple days for most. A few have landed on them and done OK, but those reports have been the exception. Cold water has been the challenge as temps outside the gap have been in the mid-forties and finding warm water has been difficult. Yes, it seems odd to be searching for warmer water in August, but that is the case. With mid-forties on the surface, the fish are up high where light penetration makes them uncomfortable and spooky around all the boats.
The better fishing has been in 40 – 50 feet of water or 65 – 90 later in the day. A legitimate scum line with a 4 degree temp break set up today and held lots of fish, but biters were tough to find.
Of course the flasher fly bite is strong in deeper water, but j-plugs and spoons are continuing to take a more dominant role in late summer spreads. For flies, Rainbow Richards mystery or blue steel bullfrog have been very good behind white or green flashers. Plugs in pearl with black or blue ladderback, or pink markings have been catching fish. The list of spoons could be very long, so pick your favorites until you find one that works for you. Pinks, purples and greens have been hot colors in several combinations.
The club fish-in with the Milwaukee club is this Sunday, August 16th. Contact your respective club for details.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - August 4th
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for August 4th.
Sorry for the broken record, but spotty remains the word of the week. Cold water has fish in shallow, but being as the water is very clear, they are spooky and tough to catch at times. Water temps on the surface have been in the upper forties to low fifties depending on time of day. If you find warmer water, the 48 degree water is not more than 25 feet below the surface.
More four year-olds are being caught with maturing eggs as a sign that fish are hinting at their fall migration. Sort of reminds you of high school and the back to school sales that reminded you that a return to class was imminent. The good news is the fishing is slowly improving with the fish moving in. Very early and late, fish are catchable in the 25 – 35 foot range. Parts of the day with more light have the best depths being 40 – 50 and 90 – 110.
Of course the flasher fly bite is strong in deeper water, but j-plugs and spoons are continuing to take a more dominant role in late summer spreads. For flies, Rainbow Richards mystery or blue steel bullfrog have been very good behind white or green flashers. Plugs in pearl with black or blue ladderback, or pink markings have been catching fish. The list of spoons could be very long, so pick your favorites until you find one that works for you. Pinks, purples and greens have been hot colors in several combinations.
The derby season continues with the Brew City Tournament on August 8th and the Sheboygan Coho derby Aug 8 and 9. The club fish-in with the Milwaukee club is the following Sunday, August 16th. All of you competitive fisherman have lots of opportunities to try for bragging rights and a few bucks in the month of August. Go get em.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.
Fishing Report - August 1st
On behalf of The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, This is your fishing report for August 1st.
Fishing remains a bit spotty, but nice catches are still coming in.
There are some indications of staging fish. The 75 – 100 foot range remains consistent, but the west winds have brought fish in tighter the past couple days. The 50 – 60 foot range has been hot in some areas as has the shallows with a couple charters filling boxes running tight to shore in 25 feet. 48 degree water can be found in 25 to 35 generally and fish will be found nearby. West winds are forecasted throughout the weekend so the shallow bite should continue to improve as colder water meets the shoreline.
All baits are catching fish. Rainbow Richards blue steel bullfrog continues to produce with aqua and mystery being hot also. Orange double-o’s continue to take fish, including kings with a champagne or fruit punch fly.
The Lion’s Club Fishing Derby has begun but started a little slow with boats getting chased off the water by strong wind and waves today. Tomorrow looks better in the morning for the most boaters as winds will drop to single digits and waves from 1 to 2 feet. Nonetheless, be careful as seas will pick up in the afternoon. Please also be courteous to your fellow boater and allow wide berths for all boats to run their spreads. There is plenty of good water to go around.
On behalf of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club, good luck fishing.