Green Bay/Sturgeon Bay

Opener this year took us to Sturgeon Bay for a Walleye Unlimited mixed-bag tournament outing on Saturday. But managed to fish on Friday and Sunday also with buddy Geno. Friday we targeted pike, as bass didnt open till Saturday, and as is typical to the canal connecting Lake Michigan to Green Bay, it’s just a matter of finding them. Dragging suckers and shiners in 15 to 20 feet of water is what took this 31 incher and others like him over the 3-day trip. While that was entertaining for the day, we were anxious to hit the water the next two days, searching for those famous Green Bay football shaped smallies. While Saturday found us targetting the mixed bag quota for the tournament, on Sunday it was all Bass-business. Fished the flats at Green Bay end of canal and boated about 2 dozen smallies, and lost at least a good dozen more, drifting in 6 to 10 feet of water in chop, with two drift socks, dragging suckers and shiners. Except for 2 16 inch “dinks”, all the rest were in the 17 to 20.5 class, with a few doubles. Once the winds died down about 1 pm, and the water flattened out, things shut down and it was time to go home. Water temps were between 49 and 51 degrees. I can kind of see why you bass guys get hooked on these fish .

….and one of Geno’s dandies….

Yikes, nice smallies.
Where is the 31 inch northern?

If I couldn’t fish for walleye I would spend all my time chasing smallies.

…right here, Diesel…this was our largest, but as you know the big ones usually seem to get away…lost a couple that were bigger…bit thru 50 lb. mono leader while trying to get them up from 20 fow….guess we should have used steel leaders…

Nice fish. I’m heading out there tomorrow and staying at Potowatami State Park. Any word on the ‘eye bite?

Sully

Sorry Jason…havent been out there since the pics, and neither have any of my buddy sources. I’d probably start by hitting Monument and Larsons. did hear that the day bite is pretty good in the south part of the bay. good Luck.