Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 9/5/23

Walleye fishing on Green Bay, over the last week, remained inconsistent, with times of good to great fishing, along with periods one would swear the walleyes disappeared. To the south, a few fish are being caught in University Bay, Vincent Point, Bayshore, Macos Reef and Geanos Reef with trolling crankbaits or casting ripper minnows around rock structure the best approach. In the mud, anglers are finding that slow trolling crawler harnesses are enticing more walleyes and jumbo perch than trolled crankbaits. The best bite for a mixture of eating size walleyes and big fish remains in the Oconto/southern Door County waters, with North-South reef, Chaudoirs, and Oconto shoal putting out good numbers of fish. Trolled crankbaits, crawler harnesses, and casted ripper minnows have worked best. Perch fishing is very good, with perch activity peaking early and late. The areas around Dykesville, Oconto, Bayshore, and Sturgeon Bay are best for these jumbos. Live bait such as minnows, crawlers, red worms, and helgramites are taking perch. Musky fishing remains good, with peak activity around moon phases creating the most big fish activity. Trolled crankbaits and bucktails, or casted big plastics such as Bulldogs and Medusas are triggering the most action. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 8/28/23

Green Bay walleye fishing over the past week was as much a roller coaster as the weather and wind! With one day in the low 90’s, followed by NE winds and temps in the 60’s, the fish have been very difficult to pattern, especially in the southern Bay waters. The mud bite has faded, with fish still not hard to find, but tough to get to bite. I spent 3 trips working shallower areas of rock and weeds, finding a few walleyes each time, but still unable to put a consistent pattern together. From my perspective, the best approach is to remain versatile, and be ready to switch techniques often. We had fish jigging ripper minnows on 2 mile reef, along the edges of Pensaukee shoal, Geanos reef, North-South reef, Larson’s reef and Oconto shoal. For trolling, all the same areas apply, with crankbaits and crawler harnesses taking fish. Perch fishing was very good last week, especially IF you could find the weather cooperative. We had several nice 9-12” perch on minnows and crawler pieces when the wind laid down and the sun came out. Musky have been excellent, with a good casting bite going around Pensaukee shoal, Charles Pond, Geanos reef, and Chaudoirs Dock. Big plastics like Bulldogs, Medusas, and Swimming Dawgs were excellent choices, and bucktails, as always, took some giant fish. The trolling bite for musky is also good, as the west shore weed edges and gravel bars are holding active fish. Bucktails, shallow invaders, and diving crankbaits were best. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 8/22/23

Walleye fishing over the last week has been below average for this time of year, with successive cold fronts hitting the Bay and putting fish in a neutral to negative mood. My best bite last week was up on shallow rocks where wind was blowing in, creating current and semi-aggressive fish. Vincent point, Point Confort, and Macos reef had some active fish when the wind was right. Finding fish in the mud was not difficult, but coaxing them into taking our offerings was difficult. In the lower bay, a few walleyes are active on Kidney rocks and College reef. To the north, Oconto shoal was still a good bet for a few fish, with a few large perch mixed in.
For big fish, trophy hunters are finding giant walleyes up on Door County reefs. Strawberry islands, Advenrure Island, Chambers Island and Horseshoe reef were hotspots for trolling crawler harnesses or cranks, and deep casting with Ripper minnows. Perch fishermen are finding perch in and around the rocks near Dykesville, Vincent Point, and up in the Sturgeon Bay shipping channel
Night crawler pieces and minnows are best. Musky continue to be active, with big fish found on the west shore from Pensaukee to Geanos. Bucktails and big plastic baits like Bulldogs are best for these big fish. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Smokey’s weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 8/14/23

Green Bay continues to keep putting out great fishing, with walleyes, perch, and musky all being caught by many anglers. The walleye bite in the deep mud and on Door County reefs is on fire. The mud bite was best for anglers trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses, while the Door County reef bite was best with ripper minnows and trolled crawler harnesses. Along the Bayshore launch shore, anglers are finding good perch and walleye fishing. Macos reef, 2 mile reef, Point Comfort, Vokes reef and Vincent point are all putting out walleyes and perch. Casting ripper minnows or trolling crankbaits are the best presentations for walleyes, while deadsticking crawler pieces, minnows, or helgramites are best for perch. On the west shore, musky activity has really picked up, with these big predators showing themselves by Pensaukee shoal, Geanos reef, and Charles Pond. Casted bucktails, bulldogs, medusas, and swimming dawgs have been best. With the warm weather we are having, Musky fishermen need to take special care of these fish. Please have the proper equipment, hold the fish horizontally for pictures and take your time reviving the fish when releasing it. Some times it is better to take the fish to shore , wade out to chest high water and hold the fish below the surface in the cooler more oxygenated water.We need to protect this great resource that we have on the bay of Green Bay. Walleyes and perch are also being caught on Geanos reef and Pensaukee shoal. To the north, Oconto shoal continues to churn out walleyes. Trolled crankbaits and crawler harnesses for the trollers, and casted ripper minnows are all taking fish. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 8/7/23

Walleye fishing on Green Bay remains hot, with several different bites going around the Bay. Oconto shoal continues to put out walleyes, with trolling crankbaits, crawler harnesses and casting ripper minnows being the best presentations. Nearby the areas of Pensaukee shoal and Geanos reef are also good excellent choices for both perch and walleyes, with the same presentations mentioned earlier. In University Bay, walleyes are being caught trolling on College reef and the rocks near Kidney Island. Around Bayshore, a good but inconsistent bite exists on Vincent point, 2 mile reef, and Point Comfort. Trolling crankbaits, dragging bottom bouncers with crawlers, and casting ripper minnows. In the deep mud the bite was great last week. Big fish and great eating size walleyes, along with the occasional big perch are taking trolled crankbaits. The perch bite off Dykesville also picked up over the last week, with good catches of 9-12” on minnows, crawlers and helgramites. Musky fishing has been good too, with big fish getting actine early and late. Casting bucktails has been the ticket for these big fish. Overall, we are blessed with one of the best fisheries in the country. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing.
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 7/31/23

Great walleye fishing continues, with a variety of presentations and size in walleyes! Last week we found a mix of smaller and bigger walleyes on shoals and rocks along both shorelines. We trolled these fish with crankbaits, using planer boards at 2-2.2mph with snap weights to get baits down deep and without weights when positioning baits higher in the water column. The best areas along the east side include Point Comfort, Vincent Point, Chaudoirs Dock and North-South reef. On the west side, Oconto Shoal, Pensaukee shoal, and Geanos reef. have all put out walleyes and perch. In the deep mud, crawler harnesses and crankbaits are both excellent choices for walleyes. Muskie fishing has also been good, with casting bucktails, medusas, and bulldogs working best. Pensaukee shoal and the rock/weed edges around Chaudoirs Dock are great choices for musky. The perch bite off Dykesville has picked up, with many anglers taking these great eating fish on crawler pieces, helgrammites, and minnows. If you go please be safe! A shout out here to Leo, a big fan of our reports! Keep fishing Leo! Capt Jerry RuffoloAnglers Plus Guide Service 920-973-2868

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 7/24/23

Walleye fishing during the past week was first on fire, and then slowed a bit for some, and remained hot for others. Best early week reports were coming from the mud, with a great bite for both smaller and larger fish. By Wednesday, that bite cooled, and a bite developed on the west shore. Geanos reef, Pensaukee shoal, and Oconto shoal were all putting out fish, as trolling crankbaits, dragging crawlers with bottom bouncer, and jigging all took fish. Since that 3-4 day slow period, the mud has once again started putting out fish, with crawler harnesses trolled along bottom the best technique. Over the weekend, good fish were starting to show up at 2 mile reef, Point Comfort, North-South reef, and Vincent point. Dragging crawlers with bouncers and jigging Ripper minnows were best bets. Perch fishing continues to give mixed results, with some decent sized perch being taken in weeds along Suamico, Geanos reef, Pensaukee and the inner bay north of Oconto. Muskie fishing has been good, with a steady casting bite along west shore weed edges. Smallmouth bass are still going well in Door County on Ned rigs and jerk baits. If you go, please be safe, and take a kid fishing!
Capt Jerry Ruffolo
Anglers Plus Guide Service
920-973-2868

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 7/17/23

I could easily copy last week’s report and call it good, because fishing in ever area mentioned is great. The bite continues to roll hot, with lots of great walleyes in eating and trophy sizes. Oconto Shoal, Pensaukee Shoal, North-South Reef, the rocks off Chaudoirs Dock, Macos Reef, Point Comfort, 2 Mile Reef, Vincent Point, and Vokes Reef all put out fish in the last week, as has the mud off Geanos up beyond Oconto Shoal. Trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses, jigging Ripper minnows, jig/crawler and plastics all worked. To the north, alewives have started to move off the deep reef structures of Door County, and the big fish are on the feed. Similar techniques earlier mentioned are good for these giant fish. Smallmouth bass are also doing well in the Door County area, with jerk baits and Ned rigs taking the most fish. Perch fishermen are starting to find good schools of fish around Dykesville, just off the shipping channel, out from Chaudoirs Dock and in Oconto Shoal. Night crawler pieces and minnows on perch rigs are taking the most fish. Musky anglers are finding big fish along west shore weed beds, casting bucktails, bulldogs, medusas, swimming dawgs, and shallow invaders is the best approach for these trophy fish. 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

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 7/10/23

Walleye fishing on Green Bay is excellent, with several great bites going. The lower bay in University Bay had fish on the east shore, kidney, college reef and across the channel in Deadhorse Bay. Weeds are the biggest issue, as keeping trolled crankbaits was difficult. Jigging with Wapsie lures Ripper minnow and Binks spoons also took fish. On the east shore, when winds were right, a good bite was going at 2 mile reef, Point Comfort, Vincent point and Vokes reef. Trolled crankbaits are best, but jigging worked too. On the west shore, Geanos reef, Pensaukee shoal, and Oconto shoal had a decent walleye bite. Out in the mud, anglers are finding success trolling crawler harnesses and crankbaits. Perch are still slow on the east side but better on the west up near Oconto. Crawler pieces and minnows are the best bait. Musky fishermen are having some success casting bucktails and rubber on the west shore weed lines. 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

Smokeys weekly fishing report by Captain Ruffolo 7/5/2023

Walleye fishing on Green Bay is approaching its summer peak, with good bites taking place in many areas. University Bay, Deadhorse, Geanos Reef, 2 mile reef, Charles pond, Pensaukee and the deep mud off the west shore all were putting out walleyes. Trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses out over deep mud and inshore rock areas produced good fish, with several 23-30” walleyes released. Inshore reefs had the most eating size 17-20” walleyes, with jigging ripper minnows, spoons, and jig/plastic combos the best approach for these fish. University Bay has fish going too, but the surface weeds made fishing difficult, so we did well casting ripper minnows for walleyes. Perch fishing has picked up too, with fish taken on live bait by Dykesville, Pensaukee, Oconto shoal, and Chaudoirs Dock. Staying vertical on these schools of perch is key. Up in Sturgeon Bay, walleyes are starting to show up in summer areas like Larson’s Reef, Monument Shoal and Green Island. Trolled crankbaits or harness, and casting ripper minnows or jigs has been the best technique for taking these fish. Smallmouth Bass fishing has also been good in these same areas. 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