Category: General

Walleye fishing started out decent at the beginning of the week, but came to a screeching halt by Thursday, as Alewife intrusion started in the lower bay. Before that, a good bite was going on Deadhorse Bay, grassy island, Frying Pan shoal, and the edges of the shipping channel. To add to the tough fishing, bug hatches, have been seen throughout the week. Up near Oconto, Alewife intrusion was also affecting walleye fishing. Still, a good bike can be found by those willing to change techniques. The typical trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses is still taking fish, but some anglers are finding fish on the edges of weed growth, casting jigs with crawlers, or their favorite plastic baits. The same can be said around Sturgeon Bay, as those seeking smallmouth bass have found fish to be tougher than in the past, mainly because of alewives. Perch fishing is just starting to go with anglers finding decent catches around Geanos reef, inside weeds edges near Pensaukee, and shallow weeds in Oconto, near County Park 2. Musky anglers we’re taking post spawn muskies in the fox river, University Bay, and the west shore, weed edges. Bucktails, shad baits, and large crankbaits are all taking fish. Metro shore fishing is still producing some nice fish of all species, Remember it is illegal to camp over night at Metro Launch, you will get fined!!! If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Green Bay walleye, fishing can best be described as inconsistent, with some days being great, and others not so great. During the week, with less boating pressure and a couple days of consistent wind, the bite started to takeoff and behave like a normal spring walleye bite. By Saturday, another cold front rolled in, shutting down the bite for many recreational and tournament walleye anglers. Trolled crankbaits such as Berkley flicker minnows and Salmo hornets took many fish in my boat when the bite was good. Jigging with hair, jigs, jig/half a crawler, and blade baits were also hot choices for walleyes. Saturday, in order to get some decent eating size fish, I went into the Fox River, and found a mix of walleyes and white bass around current breaks and rock structure. There is a large group of walleyes still in the fox river, which is uncommon for this late in the spring. Hopefully those fish will filter out into the bay and put us on a better bite. Deadhorse Bay, Frying Pan Shoal, and Vincent Point were putting out fish through the weekend. By Sunday, better conditions had returned, and a better bite started. White bass have been very active in the fox river, with those anglers seeking them finding a decent bite. I have not heard much on perch fishing, but I suspect those seeking perch are finding them up in the waters of Oconto County and the east shore by Vincent Point. Musky fishing opens at midnight this Saturday, and those seeking a shot at a giant, will be out in full force on the river and the bay. Shore fishing from Metro still continues producing a mix bag of crappie, bass, pike walleye and some monster sheepshead.

Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868
Sent from my iPhone

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Early season walleye fishing on Green Bay was, at first, great last week, with consistent wind pushing into structure, making for a great bite. By Wednesday, with wind nearly non-existent, the bite slowed to a crawl, with walleyes still holding in places like Eagles Nest, Deadhorse Bay, Frying Pan Shoal, University Bay and Vokes Reef. When the bite was on, trollled crankbaits and casting hair jigs took the most fish. Many times, those who remain patient and stay with their tried and true methods were rewarded with a short bite window, as a little wind would get walleyes active. By the weekend, winds did indeed pick up, and the bite did too.
To the north, smallmouth bass fishing was excellent, as tournament anglers were averaging well over 4lbs during the latest event. Pitching hair jigs, crankbaits, Ned rigs, and tube jigs was taking the most fish. Shore fishing at Metro Launch is still producing a nice variety of fish. Remember perch fishing is open this Saturday May 20th, should be a good season on the bay. Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
If you get out, please be safe, and take a kid fishing!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Walleye fishing on Green Bay was good during the last week, with fish setting up in post spawn areas. A good bite was going in Deadhorse Bay, Suamico, Bayshore, Vokes Reef, and frying pan shoal.  With two walleye tournaments in the bag from the weekend, big weights were seen all the way up to Sturgeon Bay. Good fishing for large post spawn walleyes was found at Henderson point, the cup in sand bay, and down the east shore to egg Harbor. Aggressive northern pike are being caught on weed edges near Geanos Reef, Pensaukee, and the emergent weeds in Deadhorse Bay. A combination of trolling and jigging are taking walleyes, while casting stickbaits or large spoons are the ticket for pike. Metro Launch is giving up nice catches of crappie, whitebass, northern and some walleyes. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.

Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Captain, Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Gude Service
920–9 73–2868.

Sent from my iPhone

More inconsistent weather continued over the past week, but big fish still were had by those in the right locations. The bite has slowed some in Oconto, as water temps have dropped into the 43-45 range. Some fish are still active by City Park, CP2 and the mouth of the Peshtigo River, with hair jigs and rippin raps taking fish. The trolling bite over the mud on the north shore has been good too, with flicker minnows in the 10-12’ deep areas holding walleyes. On the east shore, good walleyes are going near Henderson Point, the cup in Sand Bay, near Stone Quarry and the Chateau. Hair jigs or trolled crankbaits are dominating this catch. In the lower bay, decent catches are going near Bayshore, Geanos Reef and Suamico. Trolled crankbaits have been best. White Bass have started to show up in the Fox River, with good catches taken on minnows, hair jigs, and blade baits. Shore fishing by Metro is still doing very well, crappies, walleye and pike are being caught. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.

Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Walleye fishing was good to excellent last week, depending upon location and Mother Nature allowing us to access areas with fish. Walleyes are migrating out of the Fox River, with good action found on the east shore, near Dykesville, Vincent point, and University Bay. Trolling, stickbaits, casting, hair jigs, rippin raps, and jig/plastic combinations are taking large post spawn females, along with the occasional pike and muskies. Please treat these big fish carefully, as muskies are preparing to spawn. Up north, post spawn walleyes Please treat these big fish carefully, as muskies are preparing to spawn. Up north, post, spawn, walleyes have been active, and a goodbye is going near Oconto, Sturgeon Bay, and the mouth of the Peshtigo river. Hair jigs have dominated the catch, but rippin raps are taking their fair share of fish, too. Shore fishing by Metro is still producing some nice walleyes, crappie and pike. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing. Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Post spawn walleyes dominate the scene, as most fish have spawned in the Fox and Oconto rivers. Late last week, walleyes began working their way out of the Oconto into the bay, making for excellent fishing. Right now, your best bet is to work structure edges outside the mouth of the Oconto, the west and north shore, Peshtigo River mouth, City Park in Oconto, and the east shore areas such as Henderson Point, Sugar Creek, Chaudoirs Dock, the Chateau, and north. Casting rippin raps, hair jigs or swimbaits are popular choices for these post spawn big fish. In the lower bay, a bite should be starting from fish leaving the Fox for their bay haunts. I like to work off current areas, especially areas of rock/sand transition. Trolling cranks or casting plastics or rippin raps should be the ticket to put those big post spawn fish in the boat. Some nice crappies and whitebass are also being caught by Metro Launch. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing. Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Walleye fishing on Green Bay and the Fox River remains good with hot bites going, as fish begin their spawning ritual. On the Fox, the best bite has been up near the refuge line and on the flats, as post spawn walleyes are working their way down river. Casting crankbaits like Berkley flicker shads and rippin raps are good near the refuge, and hair jigs or blade baits are best for fishing downriver flats. On the Bay, good fishing for walleyes is found on rock/rubble/sand areas around University Bay, Oconto Shoal, the sand humos near Oconto, and down the shoreline from the river mouth to County Park 2. Hair jigs and rippin raps are taking the most fish. A good bite is just starting in the Oconto River, as both boat and shore fishermen are finding walleyes as they begin their run up to Stiles Dam. Pitching jigs with minnows or plastic is taking the most fish, as boat anglers are anchoring above deep holes and putting nice prespawn walleyes in the net. If you go, be courteous to others, as many of these locations are heavily fished. Please be safe, and take a kid fishing. Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Heavy winds and a torrential thunderstorm played havoc with our walleye playgrounds over the weekend, with muddy water as a result! The bite was good too great at DePere on the Fox, as female walleyes began their spawning ritual. With water temps falling 3-6 degrees and muddy conditions prevailing, it remains to be seen whether the fish are deep into the spawn or still holding eggs. Before the storm, casting cranks, jigs, and blade baits were all good tactics for taking fish. The nighttime trolling program was also good. On the Bay, walleyes are going well around University Bay and Oconto as ice conditions allowed access to these fish. Hopefully the SW winds we are experiencing now will push remaining ice away, opening up all our open water playgrounds. If you go, please be safe and take a kid fishing. Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

The Fox River at DePere walleye fishing continues to be good, with daytime anglers putting many fish in the net casting hair jigs, rippin raps, blade baits, jigs w/plastic or minnows and diving cranks. Big weights from the weekend’s Swamp Donkey and Green Bay Walleye Series show that the influx of big female walleyes is in progress. Nighttime anglers are having great success casting cranks and trolling stickbaits like Smithwick P10’s behind planer boards. On the Bay, big walleyes and pike are being taken with similar tactics, as ice continues to recede. Some days, depending on wind direction, are accessible, but be aware of changing wind direction, as it’s easy to be engaged in fishing and get closed out from the launch. Fox Point, The Fairgounds, and Metro launches all have piers in place, making more areas fishable. To the north, the launches in Oconto are open but accessing some trophy walleye areas is limited by ice flows. Check with your local sport shops before you go, as they are keeping an eye on accessibility. As always, and especially in early season with cold water temperatures, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.

Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868