Sturgeon Bay
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Sturgeon Bay Fishing Reports
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Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rock Pile
Water Temperature
46°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rock Pile
Shallow waters from average of 3-8 feet. A Megabass Vision 110 Pro Blue does the trick triggering those bronzeback to hit.
Brian Aschliman
Bronze Ambassador
5/23/23
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Docks
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
58°
Fishing the first wave of fish looking for beds with a drop shot with a short leader and the key bait was a 3” keitech goby color. The fish were not locked onto beds but this fish were aggressive fighting off other fish who were also looking for beds so they were in an aggressive pattern and would instantly hit the drop shot with the keitech goby. My biggest was 5 3/4 pounds which is in the picture. Water temp warming up just a couple of degrees fired them up. Also fished cruising fish with a 1/16 oz tungsten round head with a 3” goby keitech and they were biting that until the water temp changed a couple degrees and then they started cursing looking for beds and not interested in eating unless they became aggressive trying to fight off other fish when looking for beds.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Tubes
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
55°
Fishing rock and sand transitions with tubes has been the ticket for big pre-spawn smallmouth. Some fish have spawned already but there’s still lots of pre spawn fish to be had!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
65°
Fish were spawning on the large spawning flats
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Rock Pile
A small swimbait presentation was a staple bait of our trip to Door County. When slow rolled over shallow rock flats, the small swimbait perfectly resembles a goby or dying baitfish. Be sure to select realistic looking 3 inch or less swimbaits in a light brown or baitfish color as the water is gin clear. I personally had great success on a mega bass dark sleeper in 1/2 or 3/4 oz.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Minnows
Fish in sturgeon bay and surrounding areas are in all phases of the spawn. Weather and fishing pressure has made fishing tough, but throwing baits that stand from the crowd have been working well. Small swimbaits like the Armor Shad and Spark Shad on 1/8 and 3/16 ball head jigs have worked great for covering water and finding roaming fish. Once fish are located, slowing down with a Howie’s tube with a light head help clean up. When the bottom is too nasty to fish a tube, a small black hair jig like the feider fly always gets a few good bites! There’s still plenty of time to catch these fish shallow!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Hair Jigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Got out on May 15th. Mostly sunny day, some wind. Fished in sturgeon bay. Bass were still prespawn. Lots of 2-4lb fish were up on shallow flats (3-5') on rock or rock/sand transitions. They hit black hair jigs the best. I would recommend to stick with 6-8lb fluoro for line size. First time using the new St Croix Legend Tournament rods... I have the 7'3" MLXF and very much enjoyed it. Go catch em!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Alewife
Water Temperature
63°
Small mouth were in spawn as well as pre spawn. Fish were biting on beds on Ned rigs and drop shots. Otherwise in deep boulders or windblown points with alewives a drop shot proved effective.
