Category: General

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

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

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

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

Fishing on Green Bay for walleyes and perch is on the upswing, as fish are starting to set up in their typical summer locations. Trolling and jigging took walleyes during the last week, with jigging Wapsie Lures Ripper minnows in purple goby being my number one presentation. Some days a more aggressive lift was needed to trigger bites and other days a one foot lift was best. 2 mile reef, Point Comfort, Vincent Point, Kidney, College reef, and Geanos Reef put out fish. For trolling, a combination of #7 Flicker Minnows and #5 Salmo Hornets worked best. Perch fishing was excellent in Oconto, with rock/weed areas around CP2 and the north shore putting out perch, including jumbos up to 15”. Minnows, crawler pieces, and soft plastics on small jigs worked best. Smallmouth bass fishing was good in Door County, as Egg Harbor and Fish Creek rock structures put out as many as 50 fish per morning for some knowledgeable anglers. Casting Ned rigs, tubes, and jerk baits all caught fish. Musky fishermen continued to put nice fish in the net, as casting bucktails, swimming dawgs, medusas, and surface baits took big fish. The west shore weed edges, Pensaukee shoal, Chaudoirs area rock/weed area and Geanos reef were best areas for these fish. Musky fishing has been slow but a few are being caught trolling alewife colored cranks and casting bucktails. Shore fishing by Metro remains the same, you never know what species you are going to catch. 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

Fishing on Green Bay is a good news/bad news proposition. The good news: on several of the structures I fish last week appear to have less alewives than a week ago. The bad news: the bite has not improved much. I found fish on Vokes Reef, Vincent Point, along Bayshore, Barrett Point and Macos Reef, but only got a few to bite. There are some fish starting to work deeper into the mud, so I’m hoping our mud bite takes off soon. I know of fish taken last week around Geanos Reef, in the weeds of Charles Pond, on Pensaukee Shoal, Oconto Shoal and in the rock/weed structured near County Park 2 launch. Night crawlers and leeches jigged or rigged on slip bobbers was the best technique. Musky have been active around the west shore weed edges, and smallmouth bass have also been active along the rocks of the Oconto River. Perch are starting to pick up, with decent catches in Oconto in weeds. Patience seems to be the key to connecting with these fish. In the lower bay, a few walleyes are going by University bay, the east shore, kidney and across the channel in Deadhorse Bay. Trolled crankbaits was best for these fish. Shore fishing by Metro launch is still giving up a nice mix bag of bass, perch, walleye, cats 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

Walleye fishing on Green Bay can be best described as mixed results. With alewives seemingly in ever structure of the lower bay, the bite has been tough. A few days were very tough, with just a couple walleyes per trip. Thursday afternoon the wind gave us a decent walleye chop, and the walleyes cooperated. By the next day, windless fishing went back to a difficult bite. One thing I did notice was there were areas with far less bait, and fish responded better in these areas to jigged or trolled baits. During the week, Grassy Island, University Bay, Frying Pan Shoal, Deadhorse Bay and Geanos Reef put out walleyes and perch. Musky fishing has been good, with active fish in the Fox River, University Bay and west shore areas. Perch are starting to get more active in Oconto and Vincent Point along with a few walleyes in weeds . Smallmouth bass have been hot in the Sturgeon Bay area, with tube jigs and Ned rigs taking the most fish. Shore fishermen are having a good time on the Fox River with plenty of white bass biting. 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 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