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Posts: 280
Location: Pewaukee WI | are all the fish here stocked, or are there any natives? It seems wierd that there is ski's on the st. lawrance and Goergian bay but not in other great lakes. |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | There have always been a few muskies in the Lake Michigan, but not a 'fishable' population. The stocking efforts have provided a fickle, but exciting fishery that will get better and better. |
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Posts: 354
| The popluation has always existed. As a young boy in my hometown (Two
Rives, Wi.) there was a guy by the name of Jim Suettinger. He co-owned
a hardware store in town. Anyhow, he had ( he has since passed away) a picture of his grandfather from the early 1920's with a large musky out of the East Twin River. There was another man by the name of Joe Jacobs (who is now approaching 90 years old) who as a boy watched as large muskies would sun themselves in the Two Rivers harbor. Currently the Green Bay area musky clubs and the DNR are stocking 5-10,000 fish a year in the Fox and lower bay. Check out the DNR website for their data. It, of course, does not include the private clubs stocking info.
Bill C. aka the greenduck
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Posts: 280
Location: Pewaukee WI | So it really doesn't have a fishable population yet? |
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Posts: 5874
| Sure it does. But it is a lot of water to try to cover. I will go up there again next year to try to figure it out. May try up around Sturgeon Bay, and up further to the tip of Door. Lots of structure, lots of water.
Edited by Shep 12/1/2003 6:17 PM
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Posts: 354
| No there are definitely guys who are targeting and catching fish in Green
Bay. The action is more consistent in the Fox River/lower bay than the rest of it. There have been guys targeting skis in Sturgeon Bay and the
Little Sturgeon area for 15 years. |
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Posts: 280
Location: Pewaukee WI | when you say lower bay? what area are you talking
thanks |
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Posts: 177
Location: Germantown & Land O Lakes WI | DePere area |
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Posts: 354
| When I say lower bay I'm talking about just North of the mouth of the Fox.
There are a series of small islands, some points, and large flats in that
area. Check out the map. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Been fishing the bay for three seasons for muskies now. It has both barred and spotted fish, but the spotted far outnumber the barred. We are still learning this vast body of water, but have gotten onto a few patterns over time. If action is what you want, wait a few more years. But there are a few big ones, and that is what we are after. All I can say is that if you stick to the river mouth areas(like the fox) like most everyone else is right now, you are severely limiting yourself. People are really pounding the Fox right now since the past few articles about it, and there are far more spots in Green Bay to get away from those crowds and give yourself the same odds in my opinion. Good luck!
Edited by Reef Hawg 12/3/2003 12:02 PM
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Posts: 236
| When looking at the map it seems as if the depere area wouldn't be all that great because there's not much depth, I'd think that the ski's would be out in the deep water hammerin the oily baitfish. I've only fished it once so I have no clue.
slay em |
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Posts: 177
Location: Germantown & Land O Lakes WI | The DePere area is water with flow...with flow you have oxygen, with oxygen you have game fish and bait fish. There's a trench that was cut in for shipping, it's over 20' deep. We pick up a few musky every spring and fall snap jigging for trophy eyes. We've picked them up in less than 3 feet of water in the fall. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Very little flow in the Fox this fall. Hope we get some rain/ snow or next springs walleye run will really suck!!! It is as low of flow as I've seen. Here on the WI river at home it is dangerously low as well. We need precipitation badly!!!! |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | Interesting discussion.
I'm curious what articles actually put a bullseye on the Fox River? I saw several articles about Green Bay in general... and most of those discussed the "big water" areas along Door County and the Sturgeon Bay area. I don't think the articles are to blame for the INTENSE trolling pressure seen the past few years on the Fox River. I think the increased pressure is a result of the increased musky population that has resulted in consistent incidental catches by the numerous trophy walleye fisherman flocking to the lower bay area during the cold water months. Those walleye fisherman have no qualms with "complaining" about muskies eating their walleyes OR bragging how easy it is to catch a big ski (even by accident). Get enough of those stories floating around... and sooner or later enough adventerous musky nuts will take a peek for themselves.
Regardless, considering the immense number of spotted fish getting stocked into the entire Green Bay system the past few years... its only a matter of time before it becomes a Musky Mecca. Hopefully for the Fox River's sake, some of that pressure will disperse as the population grows. Just simply not enough room for all the Walleye and Musky TROLLERS on the river... but the Bay can hold an infinite amount of anglers.
Bottom Line... the musky opportunities in Eastern Wisconsin are increasing rapidly, and I'm EXCITED about it. The future is lookin' good.
jlong |
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Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | What? Green Bay has muskies in it? Are you sure? I think they are just really cool looking pike!!!!!(HeHeHe) |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | There aren't any muskies in Green Bay.
What are you talking about.
I think your nuts.
P.S. ReefHawg we should get out sometime next year. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Those are actually barred Sheepshead that you are chasing, not muskies. No fish in it's right mind, other than a walleye, would ever take up residence in the Fox river. Right Shep.  |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Not to argue, but a couple articles really pinpointed the Fox. This really doesn't bother me, as it is just one of many of our spots, and we expected there to be more pressure there eventually. But I have noticed just this fall the amazing increase in pressure. We met several locals who said fishing was nearly as good(not that it is that great yet by any means) three years ago when we started, just getting noticed now(as any spot does that gets better as we all know). The article in Musky Hunter(though it really didn't touch on the Fox that much) was very informative and several guys we spoke with talked about it(many knew nothing about the muskies in there till then). We were lucky to keep up with it from the start as our club helped raise many of the first ones restocked there in the 80's, but I started fishing it after a WI Outdoor Journal article talked about a few stray big ones being caught at key locations(the article was written in 97 or 98 and specifically spoke about some good spots to try, and it helped us a bunch). That and a couple other tid bits in publications opened our eyes and we started going over. Like I said, it doesn't bother me, as I don't blame people a bit for trying to get on some good fishing. it is simply an easy place to start as most that has been talked about has been the river mouths including the Fox. This is rightfully so as most fish are still stocked in that area, and it was where things got started. Articles are often the reason i try a spot, so I'm not complaining about them. It is often a double edged sword for me. I love an article that teaches me something new, but hate the ones that put people on areas I fish(ohhh greedy me). Fishing can only improve and I can't wait till the whole Bay is teeming with em'! Can't wait till next year when things open up!!!!!!! muchos mukies to shag.
Edited by Reef Hawg 12/5/2003 12:40 AM
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Green Bay