Category: General

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

The weather is playing a huge factor on the accessibility of ice and open water around Green Bay. Early this week boat fishing was excellent, with anglers averaging 30 or more walleyes per trip on the Fox River. Hair jigs, blade baits, rippin raps, and jigging with minnows or plastics were all taking fish. A few of the 25” or bigger female walleyes were caught, but the majority of the fish are 17-22”. As of late Thursday, skim ice returned on the river, delaying boat fishing till it warms up. On the Bay, remnants of ice remain around Deadhorse Bay, Suamico, University Bay and Oconto, but great care needs to be taken on the ice. Wind plays a huge role here, and large floating sheets of ice shift with changing wind directions. Check with Smokey’s before going, and use caution. Fishermen are taking pike, perch, and whitefish on the ice. Be safe, and take a kid fishing.

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

Sent from my iPhone

The weather is playing a huge factor on the accessibility of ice and open water around Green Bay. Early this week boat fishing was excellent, with anglers averaging 30 or more walleyes per trip on the Fox River. Hair jigs, blade baits, rippin raps, and jigging with minnows or plastics were all taking fish. A few of the 25” or bigger female walleyes were caught, but the majority of the fish are 17-22”. As of late Thursday, skim ice returned on the river, delaying boat fishing till it warms up. On the Bay, remnants of ice remain around Deadhorse Bay, Suamico, University Bay and Oconto, but great care needs to be taken on the ice. Wind plays a huge role here, and large floating sheets of ice shift with changing wind directions. Check with Smokey’s before going, and use caution. Fishermen are taking pike, perch, and whitefish on the ice. Be safe, and take a kid fishing.

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

First and foremost, no ice is ever safe ice.
Since I did spend a little time looking ant and walking on a little bit of Green Bay ice this weekend, I felt
one more report was needed.
Both in person visually and the satellite pictures from the weekend make the ice on Green Bay look like
it is in good shape, when in fact it is not. Prior to the snow fall last week most of the outer areas of
Green Bay were open water with a few ice flows. The near shore areas had very suspect and punky or
“Honeycomb” ice. With the little colder weather much of the open water areas slightly skimmed and
then the snow fall coverage has made this ice look like better than it is.
In just about every location and or landing along Green Bay both east and west shores there are areas
where there is a “crust” of 2”-3” of ice covered in snow with slush under it. Let me be clear, this is VERY
DANGEROUS ICE! It is not only dangerous for any kind of Snowmobile, ATV, and UTV traffic for sure it is
also dangerous for walking traffic. It is not clear hard ice it is soft crusty ice with little to no strength.
There were reports along many areas of the East shore where anglers were “Breaking through” when
and getting wet when walking out. I personal walked around several large areas like this up near
Sturgeon Bay this Saturday.
IF you are thinking about trying to walk out on any ice left on Green Bay pay close attention to your
winds and bring a spud to check the ice as you go don’t take any areas for granted. USE EXTREME
CAUTION this cannot be stated enough.
My advice would be to make other plans and stay off the ice.
No fish is worth your life!

Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com

First and foremost, no ice is ever safe ice.
Howdy folks this will be it, the last report for a short Green Bay ice season if you want to even call it
that.
The major ice pack on Green Bay has blown apart and moved out to the open water. Satellite pictures
from Sunday Jan 19 th tell the tale of lots of open water up through the entire Bay.
There is some ice hanging on in protected areas like Dead Horse Bay and Suamico and University Bay but
all these areas have take a beating as far as ice strength the last week and from hear on out all ice on
Green Bay should be considered extremely dangerous. Use extreme caution on any let over shoreline
ice.
Many areas I was scouting over the weekend even though on top the ice seemed good I had ice from 8-
12” in areas around Sturgeon Bay but drilling half way through it the partial hole would fil up with water
seeping from underneath in a few minutes.
I did hear of some Pike still being caught in the shallow water in Suamico and Dead Horse Bay on tip ups
with large shiners. Perch activity as usual was better away from the commotion.
Reports are Red River and Bay Shore alone with Volks all have ice but it is not great and with open water
near by all these areas are susceptible to instability with winds. Reports of some Whitefish catches were
still coming in over the weekend along with a few Walleye.
Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor both have people still out fishing but travel should be limited to
foot traffic or ATV/Snowmobile but with those be very careful as the ice around points and various
structures is very soft and there are more cracks and shoves where ice is buckling all over these areas in
the last week. Some Pike coming in the back of Little Sturgeon along with a few decent perch. Box Tip
ups and Tip downs were key for Perch along with Tip ups with large shiners for Pike action.
Downtown Sturgeon Bay went from completely iced in a week ago to all open water shore to shore.
The impending snow storm this week will make the conditions even more suspect to trouble.
My advice, make other plans for the upcoming weekend…. If you do decide you want to venture out on
the ice please, please, please, do not become a statistic use extreme caution.
No fish is worth your life!

Yah, only at Smokeys!!!
Capt. Robert Claus
FinFanatic Charters
920-360-2904
finfanaticcahrters@yahoo.com