Category: General

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

More large walleyes are starting to show up around DePere on the Fox, as days grow longer and closer to the spawn. The pre spawn walleye bite remains good, with bigger fish showing up near the dam at night, along deep edges in daylight, and on the flats after dark. Trolling, casting rippin raps, crankbaits, and blade baits have been best for bigger fish. Male walleyes remain active, as jigs, blades and hair jigs are taking most of these smaller fish. Crappies are active in off current areas, most of which are shallower than river structure. Small jigs, minnows, and ice flies with waxed are best. Down river, near the mouth as it enters the Bay, big pike are being taken on dead bait and golden shiners. Some adventurous souls are still ice fishing these big pike, as they are moving into shallow spawning habitat, but please be careful if you decide to take this approach. As always, be safe, and take a kid fishing.

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

Great walleye fishing on the Fox continued through most of last week, with a few more bigger fish starting to appear along with the many 17-22” walleyes, which are keeping most anglers busy. Every day a different lure seems to emerge as the lure of choice, with the staple of jigging, blade baits, hair jigs, and rippin raps being best choices. With the snow from Saturday and Sunday, water temps should drop a bit. Night fishing has also emerged as a good option, with casting cranks or trolling cranks behind planer boards taking nice walleyes. If we could get out of this late winter chill I believe more big fish would be taken. Down near the mouth of the bay, some bigger pike are being taken on dead bait. Quick strike rigs with smelt, suckers, or golden shiners are the best bet for these big fish. Crappies are also being caught in shallow tributary streams and current edges. 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 bite at DePere has been red hot, with the first full week of open water walleye action providing great fun for those hardy souls looking for a late winter walleye fix. The best daytime bite has been casting a combination of blade baits, jigs with plastic/minnows, and hair jigs. The fish are in thick along the main channel, with many 18-22” walleyes and the occasional large pre spawn female being taken. Along with walleyes, some anglers are finding crappies and perch in shallower slack water areas. Perch season closes March 15, so be aware if the changes in seasons. Walleye limits changed as of Monday on the Fox, with 1 fish 28” or bigger the limit March 6 through May 5. On May 5, the limit in the river reverts back to 3 fish no size limit. Please be aware of the change, and don’t be afraid to inform those unknowing of the limit. As always, please be safe and take a kid fishing.

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