Category: General

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

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