Sturgeon Bay

[Bill Babler]

Wife and I got home Monday from Whisky. We had a super time and fishing was the smallest part of it. 

Missed the Cherry Tree bloom it should be. Next week but the Redbuds and ornamental trees were fantastic. 

It’s a long drive especially on the way up we got caught in a jam due to a wreck on 55 in Chitown. Sat for 2.5 hours and onstar could not help us. 

Lodging was great and the restaurants in Door County are the best we have been to in 45 years of marriage. 

Now about the fishing. Fishing the Great Lakes is a Super Challenge. Not only are 99% of the fish in 10 percent of the water, but at times that 10% is unfishable due to weather. (WIND).  Or, the lack there of. 

First day of fishing I took a guide trip. It was Super Tough. Still flat calm and a sky that you could see to eternity. Guide caught 3 and I caught 2.  BRUTAL. 

From what I heard however there was a bite as a friend on a trip had 20 plus with a couple over 5 pounds.  Strangely it was a walleye trip and they were fishing channel swings in 15’ of water, trolling cranks. He said walleye fishing sucked because they couldn’t keep the Smallmouth off. 

Next 2 days for us we’re unfishable. With wind out of the ENE with gusts to 40 MPH.  We got out Friday to a gentle breeze at 5-10 MPH and I fished a location I had caught them on last year, swimming a small Howie’s tube and a 2.8 Keitech. Both with 1/8th. oz. Heads. 

Guide showed me the tube swimming deal, as nothing can hit the bottom or it comes back either with a zebra mussel or slime. 

We caught 14 up to 4 pounds. One nearly ate Becky up. We were fishing out of Egg Harbor so she only fished an hour or two and then walked to lots and lots of shopping. 

We met some fantastic people and played a ton of Pickleball. Door County has a magnificent facility and we felt right at home with a group of 50’s, 60’s and folks our age. Very competitive they could play.  Lots of 3.5 to 4.0 players, just like us. 

We were going to stay and fish 1 more day but again 30 MPH Wind put a stop to that. I’m not comfortable with my wife in the boat with 3 and 4 foot rollers. 

Guys it’s a fantastic place to take the wife but if it’s going to be straight fishing go with a guy group.  Last year we were winded out only one day. This year it got us 3 days. If I go back next year I’m spending 2 weeks. Maybe after Labor Day as the big 3 tournaments will be over. 

Had a fantastic time with Becky and she really enjoyed it except for the 14 hour drive. 











 

[Phil Lilley]

Glad you guys got away.

[DavidB]

Bill,

Sorry you had such challenging weather on your trip.  A buddy and I will be making our third trip on June 20th, this time with our wives.  We will also be staying at Egg Harbor, and have a guide booked for 3 morning trips, while we're there.  

Our first two trips were the first week in September.  The first trip it was hot, and we fished Lake Michigan in shorts.  The first day we had huge rollers, but caught big 4-5 lb. smallmouth on small swimbaits in shallow water.  Thankfully, the second day was much calmer at the same location, and the fishing was just as good.

Our next trip (same week of the year) it was very cool, and we fished in heavy rainsuits both days.  We fished in Green Bay that trip, all the way out to Washington Island, where we caught a 6 lb 3 oz smallmouth in 25' of water on the Ned.  The numbers weren't as good that trip, but the size remained pretty consistent.

The area is so quaint and laid back, with the small villages, that we talked about bringing our wives on a return trip.  We hope they will enjoy it.  I would welcome any suggestions that you might have about where to go, things to do, places to eat, etc.

I've followed this site for many years, and our group from Louisiana just completed our annual week on Table Rock, the last week of April.  We've done that every year since 1982.  The fishing was good, as always, but a challenge with the high, stained water, and with the high winds.  The fish made it worth our effort!

I hope all of you who fish our home away from home will continue to contribute to this site.  It's always been one of the best, and I've touted it to the guides and others on Toledo Bend, hoping that someone will initiate a similar site on our home lake.

All the best to all of you.  Tight lines!

 

[Bill Babler]

One of the most quaint and beautiful places I’ve been to and this includes Alaska. 

Limitless activities and places to see. 
3 places you have to take the Ladies;

1. Lunch at the Mink River Basin Bar. $
Everything and I mean everything made in house. Portions are legendary. Drink menu with 50 plus craft beers. Homemade twice cooked fries. Hand cut tempora beer battered rings. Burgers cooked your way to perfection plus a fantastic seafood and daily specials menu.  In house dessert. Becky had chocolate mousse with homemade whipped cream,  IT WAS NAUGHTY 👿 Can’t miss eatery. 15 minutes from Egg. 

2. Nightingale Supper Club. $$ Sturgeon Bay. Prime rib cooked to perfection fork tender. I had mine blackened med.rare covered in mushrooms. Best I’ve ever had. PERIOD.  Fish and seafood fantastic for non-beef eaters.

3. Donnie Gliddens Lodge. $$$    Magnificent views Dress up. Business casual. Seafood Steaks. This place is super high end and expensive.  4 persons with cocktails supper and desert and tip will push $400.00.  You won’t think you wasted the money, it’s that good.  

4. Sonney’s Sturgeon Bay. $$ pizza and Italian , amazing views of Sturgeon Bay Harbor.    

Anything Cherry up there is the best you’ve ever had.  Cherries are their life and it shows  

Make sure the girls go to Renard’s cheese shop.  If you come home without a bottle of their Cherry Butter you have made a HUGE MISTAKE.  We have eaten at least 15 jars of it since last year. It’s just crazy good. Also 100’s of craft cheeses that are just out of this world.

Between Egg and Ephraum there is a huge cove that has a long curved runout in the middle. It’s about a mile from Egg. Can’t miss it. It is totally the bomb. You could stay in there all day weather permitting.

Most all the guides were using a micro-Howie’s tube on a 1/8 th. head swimming it slowly just off the bottom. It really works. 
We had lots of moss and slime to deal with I don’t know if it disappeared like it does here. 

Also we had a huge bug problem the day I was with the guide. He said it was the worst he had ever seen. We both swallowed and coughed them up. Not mosquito but midges.

He said they go away after May. Becky didn’t like them the day we got on the water, she had to cover her mouth and nose to avoid them. 

Also for some reason the lake is down about a foot. My guide said he had never seen it that low. I don’t think that’s a problem however. 

Give us a report when you get back. If we had had another couple with us, where the ladies could have been together not on a boat, we probably could have gotten another couple of days fishing. 

However I do get queasy in 4 ft. rollers. 

Make sure if you take a boat to rent a car for the ladies. I believe Sturgeon Bay has 3 car rentals. If they have their own ride you will have two very happy girls. Probably won’t be able to keep track of them there is so much for them to do. 

Another thing is I got to look at several multi-species boats. 
Personally I think the Vexus is by far the best. Warrior and Lund also top of the line. Fished out of a Ranger and it would be the 4th. Choice no doubt. 

You see a lot of Minn Kota and Hummingbirds up there but everyone has a Garmin on the bow. 

Good Luck. Hope this is some good information.  
Also if the ladies are pickleball players the faculties and welcoming folks of the Door County PB Club are fantastic.  








    
                         

 

[Terrierman]

Door County is dead nuts a great area.  Best cheese anywhere.  Next time you go, do not miss the Prince of Pierogi.

[DavidB]

13 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

One of the most quaint and beautiful places I’ve been to and this includes Alaska. 

Limitless activities and places to see. 
3 places you have to take the Ladies;

1. Lunch at the Mink River Basin Bar. $
Everything and I mean everything made in house. Portions are legendary. Drink menu with 50 plus craft beers. Homemade twice cooked fries. Hand cut tempora beer battered rings. Burgers cooked your way to perfection plus a fantastic seafood and daily specials menu.  In house dessert. Becky had chocolate mousse with homemade whipped cream,  IT WAS NAUGHTY 👿 Can’t miss eatery. 15 minutes from Egg. 

2. Nightingale Supper Club. $$ Sturgeon Bay. Prime rib cooked to perfection fork tender. I had mine blackened med.rare covered in mushrooms. Best I’ve ever had. PERIOD.  Fish and seafood fantastic for non-beef eaters.

3. Donnie Gliddens Lodge. $$$    Magnificent views Dress up. Business casual. Seafood Steaks. This place is super high end and expensive.  4 persons with cocktails supper and desert and tip will push $400.00.  You won’t think you wasted the money, it’s that good.  

4. Sonney’s Sturgeon Bay. $$ pizza and Italian , amazing views of Sturgeon Bay Harbor.    

Anything Cherry up there is the best you’ve ever had.  Cherries are their life and it shows  

Make sure the girls go to Renard’s cheese shop.  If you come home without a bottle of their Cherry Butter you have made a HUGE MISTAKE.  We have eaten at least 15 jars of it since last year. It’s just crazy good. Also 100’s of craft cheeses that are just out of this world.

Between Egg and Ephraum there is a huge cove that has a long curved runout in the middle. It’s about a mile from Egg. Can’t miss it. It is totally the bomb. You could stay in there all day weather permitting.

Most all the guides were using a micro-Howie’s tube on a 1/8 th. head swimming it slowly just off the bottom. It really works. 
We had lots of moss and slime to deal with I don’t know if it disappeared like it does here. 

Also we had a huge bug problem the day I was with the guide. He said it was the worst he had ever seen. We both swallowed and coughed them up. Not mosquito but midges.

He said they go away after May. Becky didn’t like them the day we got on the water, she had to cover her mouth and nose to avoid them. 

Also for some reason the lake is down about a foot. My guide said he had never seen it that low. I don’t think that’s a problem however. 

Give us a report when you get back. If we had had another couple with us, where the ladies could have been together not on a boat, we probably could have gotten another couple of days fishing. 

However I do get queasy in 4 ft. rollers. 

Make sure if you take a boat to rent a car for the ladies. I believe Sturgeon Bay has 3 car rentals. If they have their own ride you will have two very happy girls. Probably won’t be able to keep track of them there is so much for them to do. 

Another thing is I got to look at several multi-species boats. 
Personally I think the Vexus is by far the best. Warrior and Lund also top of the line. Fished out of a Ranger and it would be the 4th. Choice no doubt. 

You see a lot of Minn Kota and Hummingbirds up there but everyone has a Garmin on the bow. 

Good Luck. Hope this is some good information.  
Also if the ladies are pickleball players the faculties and welcoming folks of the Door County PB Club are fantastic.  


Very good information, Bill.  Thank you!  Be sure that I'll post a reply when we return.

I still remember one of our crew getting seasick in the rollers on Lake Michigan while the rest of us were catching those big smallmouth with "shoulders."  He recovered and caught his share.

If you were fishing off the bottom because of the moss, I wonder if you were pestered by the gobies?

    
                         

 

 

[Bill Babler]

No problems with the gobies. Slime, moss, zebra muscles BAD. 

Guide said Green Bay out to Washington just keeps getting worse every year for moss and zebras. 

Retie and check your line a lot. Best braid to carbon knot is a 5 wrap surgeon knot. Beats the FG by 1/2 Mile and  you can tie it in 30 seconds. 
You very seldom ever hear it going thru the guides. 
 

[Bill Babler]

Terriorman, we were there but neither of us are into Polish Food. I’m absolutely sure it’s great, but just not our deal. 
Saw it rated very highly and asked our PB group about it.  Was not their bag either.  They said you had to like Sauerkraut, cabbage, green peppers and heavy sauces.  

DaveB and his group may be into that so thanks for posting it as it’s rated off the charts.

I’m kinda a steak and tator guy and Becky has never met anything swimming in the sea she is not crazy about. 

 

[Bill Babler]

A Caveat on the restaurant recommendation, Terriorman.  We were getting most of our information from a group of ladies that were 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that were size O to size 4 that played Pickleball 4 hours a day 7 days a week and wore spandex leggings, mini-tennis skirts and halter mid-drift tops. 😂😂😂.

One lady, I think it was Maggie told Becky we know how to spend our calories. Margaritas, Great wine, Martinis, Bloody Mary’s, and Craft Beer. 🤩

Another one chimed in saying don’t forget Cherry Cheese Cake and Chocolate. 

Totally fun awesome group.

PS Their husbands were more into the Craft Beer and were not quite in the same shape😁😁😁

A relief to me 👏👏👏

 

[Terrierman]

1 hour ago, Bill Babler said:

A Caveat on the restaurant recommendation, Terriorman.  We were getting most of our information from a group of ladies that were 50’s, 60’s and 70’s that were size O to size 4 that played Pickleball 4 hours a day 7 days a week and wore spandex leggings, mini-tennis skirts and halter mid-drift tops. 😂😂😂.

One lady, I think it was Maggie told Becky we know how to spend our calories. Margaritas, Great wine, Martinis, Bloody Mary’s, and Craft Beer. 🤩

Another one chimed in saying don’t forget Cherry Cheese Cake and Chocolate. 

Totally fun awesome group.

PS Their husbands were more into the Craft Beer and were not quite in the same shape😁😁😁

A relief to me 👏👏👏

 

Well then!!!  The Door County sausage can be fine too.  For a husband.👍