Category: General

The cold weather through the rest of the holidays certainly has helped firm up quite a few areas around
Green Bay. Please continue to use caution when venturing out as last Monday’s high winds did toss the
ice a bit and the continued boat traffic and ice breaking can present ice issues quickly with the wrong
winds.
The West shore areas from Suamico and Dead Horse Bay have become popular for folks looking to get
out and chase Perch. Reports are that at times the bite can be good. Folks doing their best to stay away
from the main pack are reporting better catches. Tip Downs and Tip ups with small shiners and Rosie
Reds have been the best for action. Some of the folks running and gunning jigging are also reporting
some decent catches. A few bonus Walleye have also been reported in these areas both jigging using
glide baits like jigging raps or tip ups. Areas Like Geanos have had reports of a few anglers cautiously
moving out but if you go venture out to these less protected bays please use caution checking ice as you
go and mind your winds.
Reports from University Bay have been sparse as the action there for Perch and Walleye and Whitefish
has been slow. Some better action has been reported up off Volks landing and Bayshore Park. Anglers
using jigging techniques are reporting a mixed bag of a few Perch, Whitefish, and an occasional Walleye.
Shiver minnow, Jigging Raps, Spoons all tipped with a minnow head have been good along with Jig and
Plastics like 3” Keitech Easy Shiners.
Moving up the east shore a few anglers have begun to venture out of Dykesville up to Red River but
some of that area sounds like travel is not great. Decent catches of Perch have begun to trickle in from
that area.
Around the Sturgeon Bay area the best reports from the weekend came from Sawyer Harbor and Little
Sturgeon Bay for Perch catches. Tip downs with minnows and jigging small jigging raps or spoons being
the best tactic. Again, if you can get away from the pack your chances will go up. Some anglers are
reporting they have to sort through a few smaller 6”-8” Perch to get a few nicer keepers. Pike anglers in
these areas are reporting a few Pike showing up running large Golden Shiners on tips ups just off the
bottom.
Most of the offshore Whitefish areas are still not reachable but that may change over the next 2 weeks.
Some anglers are finding a few Whitefish out near the mouth of Little Sturgeon and Riley’s Bay and. If
you venture out off areas like Big Rock, Limen Kiln, Oak Ave Cabot Point do use caution and watch your
winds as the continued shipping traffic and Ice breaking can make those areas susceptible to ice
movement.
Currently the Shipping Channels on Green Bay will remain open through the month of January.
Remember to take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

As I type this report Mother Nature is doing some nasty work demolishing some of the Ice on Green Bay.
Late last week she had already taken a toll on some landings on the Bay due to the warm weather and
rain, then fast forward to the 30mph NW winds pushing ice off the NW shore and really tearing up the
ice on the NE shores.
So, the next few days USE EXTREME caution any where you decide to venture out on Green Bay.
Areas around Suamico and Deadhorse Bay have seen good action for Perch mainly. Tip downs and box
tip ups with minnows and Rosie Reds have seen the best action for catching Perch. Some fish have
certainly been caught jigging plastic and small glide baits like jigging raps. The same areas have some
anglers reporting a few Pike showing up on tip ups and Large Golden Shiners.
University Bay from Joliet Pary to the Eagles Nest launch has seen some activity for a mixed bag of fish.
Whitefish, Walleye and Perch have all been caught but not hot and heavy. Again, Tip ups and Tip downs
with minnows showing up as the best tactic.
Reports last week of some action for Whitefish showing up from Volks Landing to Bayshore landing.
Jigging plastics or glide baits. After this wind today this is an area I would avoid until the weather settles
down and gets cold again.
Little Sturgeon Bay has had a fair number of anglers out and getting decent Perch action. Mostly fishing
6-10 fow. The same Tip downs and box Tip ups with minnows and Rosie Reds providing action.
Most of the prominent Whitefish areas have not had any amount of good ice yet so those reports are
slow.
One more caution reminder – The Shipping Channels on Green Bay will remain open through the month
of January.
Remember to take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

Well as most folks know by now, we have seen some early ice development out of Green Bay.
My first priority of this report is to preach to USE EXTREME CAUTION when looking to venture out on
Green Bay especially this early ice conditions. Green Bay shipping traffic will continue throughout the
month of January that means the center of the Bay and the shipping lanes will remain open and active
for quite a while yet. Early ice on Green Bay means LOTS of open water out in the middle and to the
north yet as this large and dynamic body of water takes time to settle in and “lock up”. If you are out
anywhere on Green Bay pay very close attention to winds both speed and direction. It does not take
much for the winds to move or break up ice when it is this early in the season.
On the lower bay folks are venturing out on Deadhorse Bay, Suamico Bay and University Bay and having
some decent early ice success. Ice thickness varies so use caution and work your way out with your
spud or by drilling holes. Perch action on Tip downs with minnows has been reported as good in
Deadhorse bay. Folks walking out from the Eagles nest landing to Joliet Park are reporting a few Perch a
few Whitefish and a few Walleyes but not great numbers of any one think. Tip ups and tip downs are
reportedly taking most of the activity. The other east shore locations like Volks Landing and Bayshore
park I would recommend using extreme caution as both those areas have seen ice movement in the last
couple weeks. Up the east shore Little Sturgeon Bay has seen a fair number of Perch and Pike anglers
venturing out around the shallows. Reports area few Pike have been taken on tip-ups soaking Golden
Shiners and the Perch bite jigging, and on tip downs has been good in 6-10 fow. Lots of folks are
reporting sight fishing for those Perch. Rosie reds and medium shiners minnows have been the best bait
but don’t forget some Waxies! Just a reminder Smokeys is closed until March 1st 2026. Thanks for your support in 2025, see you again in spring, Yah!!!
Have a Wonderful Holiday Season and Merry Christmas
Remember to take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

Well, the open water fishing season on Green Bay has come to a screeching halt. There may be a few
hearty anglers still trying to sneak out but the cold temps are starting to freeze up the harbors and the
shore areas making launching difficult.
Thanks to all the folks out there that follow our reports for the season. We will be back with ice
condition and fishing reports once we get through the holidays and into more ice fishable conditions.
Until then have a Wonderful Holiday Season and Merry Christmas from all of us at Smokey’s on the Bay,
FinFanatic Charters, and Anglers Plus Guide Service.

Smokeys on the Bay will be closing December 17th 2025 through March 1st 2026. Thanks for all your support, see you next spring,Yah only at Smokeys!!!
Remember to take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

It’s that time of year again most fishermen are putting their boats away and getting ready for deer hunting. With that said there is still alot of good fishing to be had. On the east shore of the bay walleyes and perch are still being caught out of Bayshore . The walleye fishermen are trolling flicker minnows, flicker shads, P10s and jigging with hair jigs. Perch fishermen are having luck with perch fly rigs tipped with a minnow. Geano’s reef is still producing some nice walleyes and perch using the same techniques.

The fishermen fishing the Fox river from the mouth to dam are reporting some nice catches of walleyes, white bass and white fishing trolling cranks, casting blade baits, hair jigs and a jig and minnow.

Water levels are low on the river and the level changes daily with the wind direction.

Musky fishing has been slow but guys are still getting them trolling U-Bay, the mouth of the Fox River and the 172 flats. Trolling baits like Raz Shads that have rattles have been working well. Shore fishermen are having luck at Metro and Voyager catching walleyes and some musky’s.

Remember to take a kid fishing. Yah, only at Smokeys!!!

The cold front conditions that moved in late last week made for some tough fishing and tough fishing
conditions on Green Bay.
Remaining anglers looking to chase Walleye on Green Bay my suggestion is to fish shallow along the
shorelines along the East shore anywhere from Vincent point all the way to Sturgeon Bay and your best
opportunity will be early morning or evening/night fishing. Casting plastics, or shiver minnows or hair
jigs can find a few fish on those areas. I do recommend putting out your trolling spread and searching
for fish by covering some water along those shorelines. If you contact fish then go back and cast if that’s
your gig. Running #7 Flicker minnows or P-10s in chrome or natural colors is your best bet and keep
your speeds slow 1.4-1.5mph due to cold water conditions.
The action in the Fox River came to a screeching halt this last week as the river is packed with bait fish
both Shad and Shiners. The lack of rain and flow means the wind direction can have a huge impact on
the current and flow. Any North winds are backing up the river current making the down river areas
holding fish nonproductive. Same can be said for the channel edges with the lack of flow. If the winds
are from the south at all the current increase does impact the feeding windows and anglers casting hair
jigs and jig/plastic or blade baits have seen some fishing action. The huge number of Shad up at the dam
has slowed the Walleye bite up there casting cranks. A few fish have still been caught casting #7 Flicker
Minnows both regular and jointed. Anglers have done ok casting Berkly Hit Sticks around the rocks and
current areas also. A few Whitefish have also begun making their way into the river to begin their fall
spawning activities. A few have been caught in most of the walleye areas as incidentals. Use caution
when boating up at the dam with the very low water levels.
Musky anglers continue to troll the Lower Bay around Point Sable, Kidney Island, Dead Horse Bay and up
in the fox river. Catch rates have been low but some anglers have seen success. Running Tyrant Raz Shads
still have been the angler preference. A few casting anglers also report a catch here and there along
shorelines or “back water” areas along the river throwing big plastics like Bulldawgs. Shore fishing from Metro again is producing some nice walleyes and muskies. Throwing Smokeys custom P-10’s.
If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

As Fall moves along less and less anglers are seen launching their boats heading out on the waters of
Green Bay. The cooler overnights have settled in our water temps at about the 50 Degree mark for now
and as things normalize, we should see an increase in feeding activity. The issue will be fish will have a
tendency to spread out a bit more.
Anglers looking to do some trolling around University Bay you can still find a few Walleye willing to bite
trolling Flicker Minnow #7’s in natural patterns as the water begins to clear. Keep your trolling speeds
slow around 1.5 mph and make frequent “S turns” to trigger strikes. Also do not be afraid to toss a
larger profile bait like a P-10 out behind your boards as hungry Walleye will look to feed on larger
opportunities as we draw closer to winter. Walleye anglers wishing to fish out of the Bay Shore area I
would advise you to troll morning and evening time frames along rocky shorelines as that water is fairly
clear up along Point Comfort to Shoemaker point. Get your baits up shallow and run out lures like
Smithwick P-10’s and Rapala Husky Jerks to add length to your profile to tempt the hungry fish.
Like wise the night bite along the shorelines from Chaudoir’s Dock up to Little Sturgeon are a good bet
for both a few eater fish along with a potential trophy this time of year. Keeping your boat in 8-10 fow
and running your baits on one side of the boat up shallow and the other side deeper off the break is a
great technique. Again, keep your trolling speeds low around the 1.5mph range. Stick with chrome or
more natural color presentations.
The action in the Fox River is still fairly slow overall. Casting hair jigs and jig/plastics and blade baits on
shallow flats or the edges of flats adjacent to the channel edges has been producing some walleye. For
example, casting toe 8-10’ edge of the channel out in front of Voyager Park and up to the dam has been
ok at times. Jigging around the channel edges and shallow flats and a few of the bridges through
downtown has also produced a few Walleyes but with the lack of current that has been tough. Folks
casting at night around the moth of the river are having good success on a multitude of species.
Musky anglers reports have been few and far between but most are trolling the University Bay and the
lower stretches of the Fox River and the mouth of the river out to Grassy Island. Super Shads continue
to be the most popular bait. I have witnessed a few successful Musky anglers landing fish casting the
areas upriver holding bait along the bays and some of the shoreline structures along the river. Plastics
like bull dawgs and jerk baits have both been favorites. Shore fishing at metro is still producing some nice walleyes and Muskys. At Voyager they are catching some walleyes, water level is very low.
If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

Overall fishing on the Bay has slowed up quite a bit as the frosty mornings outside have cooled water
temps and made fish begin to think about the Fall transitions. After things stabilize for weather and
water temps expect an increase in feeding activity so don’t put your boats away yet!
Walleye anglers are reporting the best activity trolling the east shore or lower bay like University Bay.
Running Flicker Minnows around 1.5 mph has been the best bet. The best bet is to work shallow waters
that warm slightly on sunny days. Shore lines 8-10 fow or humps like College Reef or Volks Reef or the
channel edgers around Deadhorse Bay have been good choices. The water in University Bay and
Deadhorse has been very dirty overall so chose white/brighter colors. Once you get north of Vincent
point the water clarity swings to very clear so color patterns in chrome or natural bait colors (like Perch)
have been better.
The lack of rain to date has continues to keep the Fox river action slow. Jigging areas around bridges
and channel edges adjacent to shallow flats has been productive for a few Walleye. Anglers have been
casting hair jigs and blade baits and jig/plastic combinations with some limited success. Casting cranks
at the dam has been so/so during the day but reports from the evening bite have been very good.
The Perch action has also slowed a bit but some good-sized fish have been reported being caught in
areas like Volks Reef, the shipping channel edges out on the lower bay along with areas form Dykesville
to Sugar Creek along the rock/sand transitions. Use your electronics to locate fish tight to the bottom in
those areas. Minnows on dead sticks have been reported to be the best along with sunny days.
Musky anglers seem to be doing decent trolling the University Bay and the lower stretches of the Fox
River area with Super Shads being the most popular bait. Schools of Shad have been seen along the
channel edges so do not overlook trolling out to Grassy Island along the shallow river channel edges
also. Musky fishing has been pretty good trolling the northside of frying pan shoal, U-Bay and the mouth of the river using Raz Shads and KO Shads.

Shore fishermen are getiing walleyes and muskies out of Metro and Voyager Park.
If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus Capt. Jerry Ruffolo
FinFanatic Charters Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-360-2904 920-973-2868
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com anglersplus@yahoo.com
www.finfanatic.net www.anglerspluswi.com

Mother Nature heading into last weekend was still trending warm keeping fishing activity in the good
range. Unfortunately, this first few days of this week we are seeing cooling more fall like weather and
colder frosty morning. Expect to see cooling water temps and more transitional fish activity and now
as much catching ahead for a bit.
If you are heading out to chase Walleye continue to target those shoreline areas with trolling or casting
tactics. The east shore from Volks landing all the way to Little Sturgeon will have some activity and the
best times will be mooring and evening and even the night bite. Those cooler temps have the water all
along the east shore very clear. For trolling the best bet continues to be #7 Flicker Minnows in chrome
purple patterns working less that 10 fow in the morning and evening and moving out beyond 15 fow
during the day. If casting is your thing try casting jerk baits in less than 10 fow in the morning or evening
along rocky shore areas. As the water temps cool don’t forget your hair jigs casting to the rocky shores
and the reefs like Volks and Vincent and Macco’s.
The shallow rocky areas around Deadhorse bay and University Bay have also had a decent trolling bit
using #7 Flicker Shad and Minnows. Perch patterns and other purple/white and orange/white patterns
have all been productive In all these trolling circumstances slow your troll. Keep your GPS speeds closer
to 1.5 mph to get those lethargic fish to bite as the water temps cool.
The lack of rain to date has continues to keep the Fox river action slow, although some reports f a few
more fish showing up have been coming in. Casting hair jigs on the flats or channel edges has been
reported as a good tactic along with casting cranks at the Dam.
The Perch action has been a bit spottier with the temps up and down. You have to work at it a bit more
locating schools on your electronics and be willing to move around a bit to keep on active fish. Minnows
on dead sticks and slip bobbers have been the best. Deeper action on the rock to sand transitions has
been the primary target area for anglers on the Perch hunt. Volks reef Bay Shre and Dykesville have
seen their share of anglers. The Oconto shoal has given up some reports of a decent Perch bite also
over the last several days.
Musky anglers seem to be doing decent trolling the University Bay and the lower stretches of the Fox
River area with Raz Shads and Blue Water KO Shads being the most popular baits. Schools of Shad have been seen along the
channel edges so do not overlook trolling out to Grassy island along the shallow river channel edges
also. Shore fishermen are having some luck by Metro and Voyager Park catching walleyes and some muskies.
If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing
Brought to you by
Capt. Robert Claus Capt. Jerry Ruffolo
FinFanatic Charters Anglers Plus Guide Service

The weather the last few days has been a bit of a roller coaster.  Gusty south winds one day then blustery north winds the next has kept the fishing off balance.  We have begun to see cooling water trends on most of Green Bay with the shorter days and cold mornings, driving our fall patterns to begin.   

The Walleye bite on the lower bay softened a bit in general.  Trolling crank baits in chrome patterns or perch patterns has still been productive overall.  #7 Flicker minnows trolled along shorelines has been the best.  If there is some wind or in the low light times run the shorelines in 10 fow or less.  If it is calm and sunny out slide out to 18-20 fow.  From Point Comfort and Volks reef all the way up to Chaudoirs’ Dock has been a good area to target.  

Around University Bay and Dead Horse Bay some folks have also been caught trolling #7 Flicker Minnows.   The water in those areas is a bit dirtier and colors like Prime time (Purple /white) and Fire Tail Perch have been productive.  

The lack of rain to date has the Fox river action still very slow.  A few anglers are reporting a few Walleye being caught up at the dam in the mornings and events casting crank baits.

Even thou less Perch anglers have been out the catching has still been above average for the most part.   Anglers working just off the east shore reefs continue to find fish in 14-16 fow.  From Bayshore to Dykesville has also been productive from 18-22 fow.  Anglers looking to get out of the wind shave also had great success targeting Perch around d the shipping channel in Sturgeon Bay.   Dead sticking methods with minnows continues to dominate the catches.  Many anglers are reporting above average size for most of their catches. The key is to use your electronics to search our schools before dropping a line. 

If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing 

Brought to you by 

Capt. Robert Claus Capt. Jerry Ruffolo

FinFanatic Charters Anglers Plus Guide Service

920-360-2904 920-973-2868

finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com anglersplus@yahoo.com

www.finfanatic.net www.anglerspluswi.com