OMGOSH STURGEON BAY

[Mitch f]

6 hours ago, fozzype said:

I have been to both several times.  

Was up on Milelacs this week.  Sturegon Bay gets my vote every time and your wife will love Door County.   It can bite you with rough weather but the bite is simply off the chain when they bite. 

I heard you have to take a number to fish Mille Lacs at certain hot spots after the virus set in. Did you find that to be the case?

[Quillback]

9 hours ago, Terrierman said:

They do.  Why though?  Pressure or lack thereof?

Gobies get my vote for Sturgeon Bay.

[Bill Babler]

Sturgeon Bay is part of Lake Michigan and that is one huge body of water.  There are a multitude of factors besides supreme forage and thousands of acres of offshore structure.  There are brown fish up there that will never see a bait of any kind.  The fishing season is short and they are second string and probably close to 3rd string on the hit list.

Probably 90% of 5 yr. old bass on the rock have seen a jig or a whopper pooper and probably 90% of 5 yr. old bass on Lake Michigan have never seen any type of artificial bait.

While Lake Michigan fish are still in relax mode, ours are constantly dodging an A-Rig.

[Quillback]

Watching some live coverage, they are rocking and rolling in the waves.  Kind of like fishing the Rock when the wake boats are out in force.

[garyw]

would like to go up there next year.  kinda looking around for a place. any ideas on a $-$$ kinda place?

 

[fozzype]

9 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Sturgeon Bay is part of Lake Michigan and that is one huge body of water.  There are a multitude of factors besides supreme forage and thousands of acres of offshore structure.  There are brown fish up there that will never see a bait of any kind.  The fishing season is short and they are second string and probably close to 3rd string on the hit list.

Probably 90% of 5 yr. old bass on the rock have seen a jig or a whopper pooper and probably 90% of 5 yr. old bass on Lake Michigan have never seen any type of artificial bait.

While Lake Michigan fish are still in relax mode, ours are constantly dodging an A-Rig.

This exactly right...also consider that you cannot access most of the lake 50 or more percent of the time because of wind and weather during  the summer season.  I would say you might be able to fish the main lake 40 days a year.   

I also don't think you can really understand  how big this place is until you have been there.  From Green Bay to Washington Island it is a 85 mile by 20 mile wide stretch that 80 percent is fishable.    

It will sound like a lie if I told you numbers,  but if you can be there when they spawn AND the wind doesn't blow (very hard to do) it is the most unbelievable thing you will ever see as a fisherman.  In my 3 trips we were able to find 2 days where we could fish shallow humps in the main lake for spawning fish.  Simple miraculous!

[Bill Babler]

Today it was almost like bed fishing for some of these guys, looking right at the fish and dropping to it.  6 to 8 pound test line and small 3.5 inch drop shot baits baby tubes, 1/8th. oz hair jigs  and neds.

Worldwide did OK today, but I don't think Mike will be able to recover from a 9 lb. day.  Sitting right at the Redcrest line I think he is out now.  He did catch a 5 pounder so that should make him solid for next year heavy hitters.

[fozzype]

11 hours ago, Mitch f said:

I heard you have to take a number to fish Mille Lacs at certain hot spots after the virus set in. Did you find that to be the case?

It wasn't too crowded because the wind didn't blow.   It is a huge place so it can handle a lot.  Just stopped in there on the way to Grand Rapids area.  The upper Mississippi  River area  up there and the northern lakes in the region are my vote for a fun time and a ton of bites.  

[Mitch f]

34 minutes ago, fozzype said:

It wasn't too crowded because the wind didn't blow.   It is a huge place so it can handle a lot.  Just stopped in there on the way to Grand Rapids area.  The upper Mississippi  River area  up there and the northern lakes in the region are my vote for a fun time and a ton of bites.  

I’ve fished the Upper Miss several times and should be going up there again in a few weeks. They’ve gotten no rain up there though I’ve heard. 😫

[fozzype]

15 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

I’ve fished the Upper Miss several times and should be going up there again in a few weeks. They’ve gotten no rain up there though I’ve heard. 😫

Water was 83 degrees and usually about 70 now.  Got rain on Wednesday and dropped to 77..fishing was still  good and family and I had fun.  View from cabin doesn't get much better.