Washington Island Door County

  • fred bartling
    Posts: 57
    June 25, 2020 at 4:04 pm #1952616

    I am going to make my first trip to Washington Island next week to fish for smallmouth. Any suggestions and starting points would be much appreciated. One question I also have is if it is not windy can you safely boat from Door County to the island and where would you launch. I know you can take the ferry, just wondering if their are other options. Any suggestions on baits and presentations would be appreciated. Who has any stories to tell. Its a bucket list trip.

    Thanks

    Steve Root
    South St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 5623
    June 25, 2020 at 4:13 pm #1952617

    I can’t help you Fred, but good luck!!

    SR

    Sylvanboat
    Posts: 986
    June 25, 2020 at 4:31 pm #1952620

    I bought my boat in 1996 and my wife and I took the inaugural trip to Washington Island. There was a hotel on the island run by a former Lombard IL cop; great guy. We spent several days fishing for northerns in the bay. Great trip. If the hotel is still there, check it out.

    B-man
    Posts: 5799
    June 25, 2020 at 4:39 pm #1952622

    Smallmouth bass????

    You’re in some great salmon country man mrgreen

    Get out the spoons toast

    Biggest last night was 21 pounds. Headed out again soon.

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    Walleyestudent Andy Cox
    Garrison MN-Mille Lacs
    Posts: 4484
    June 25, 2020 at 4:53 pm #1952625
    fred bartling wrote:

    One question I also have is if it is not windy can you safely boat from Door County to the island and where would you launch. I know you can take the ferry, just wondering if their are other options. Any suggestions on baits and presentations would be appreciated. Who has any stories to tell. Its a bucket list trip.

    Thanks

    Isn’t the legend of that passage called “Deaths Door” for a reason? whistling

    Eh…you’ll be fine I’m sure. roll

    Anyway can’t help with current fishing tips (B-man can) since the last time I fished there was 1976. SMB were an easy catch back then.

    Beautiful and unique area Door County is, like no other in the Midwest. I’d love to get back there someday.

    Enjoy your trip!!

    BTW B-man, that’s a nice king. waytogo

    munchy
    NULL
    Posts: 4931
    June 25, 2020 at 10:03 pm #1952690

    I’d talk to the marinas in Gills Rock. They’d be the closest point of access to the island other than the ferry.

    the_hat
    SE Metro
    Posts: 246
    June 25, 2020 at 11:31 pm #1952702

    B-man,
    Are you up in the Door now? If so out of what port are you fishing?

    Browndog
    Omaha, NE
    Posts: 306
    June 26, 2020 at 7:59 am #1952726

    B-man,

    I would also be interested where you’re at and if you would share any info. Wife and I are going up there for the 1st time 7/9 for 10 days for our “honeymoon” since we had to cancel our actual. Will be chasing salmon most of the time and have never done it. PM me if you’d like.

    Thanks!

    travelNFish
    Nebraska
    Posts: 82
    June 26, 2020 at 10:22 am #1952767

    Went 2 years ago with Adam Rasmussen Guide service/Part of the IDO staff. 2 days on salmaon and did really well with fish upwards of 23lbs, and 1 day of walleye which was great too. He has some damn nice boats and crew.Can’t wait to do it again, and i wouldn’t change a thing.

    B-man
    Posts: 5799
    June 26, 2020 at 10:41 am #1952769

    Fishing out of Kewaunee. I have a three week job in Green Bay, figured I’d make lemonade and bring the Grady. Rented a slip for the month and leaving it there. Taking my crew guys out as much as possible during the week.

    It’s a only a half hour from the hotel in GB to the dock.

    Killed it this morning (didn’t have to work and headed home today for the weekend). Went 10/14, a fricken blast toast

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    the_hat
    SE Metro
    Posts: 246
    June 26, 2020 at 10:49 am #1952776

    Damn nice fish. Gonna be huge in a month for sure.
    Can I ask how far out you are having to go and what is working best? Flasher fly’s or spoons??
    Looking at heading over in about 3 weeks but thinking maybe I should go now!

    B-man
    Posts: 5799
    June 26, 2020 at 1:22 pm #1952815
    the_hat wrote:

    Damn nice fish. Gonna be huge in a month for sure.
    Can I ask how far out you are having to go and what is working best? Flasher fly’s or spoons??
    Looking at heading over in about 3 weeks but thinking maybe I should go now!

    The fish were biting all over this morning, heard guys on the radio catching in 100′ out to 300′

    My 300′ coppers have been hot, 400′ copper has been good, and 150’s are taking a mixed bag.

    Captain Valium flasher with a beat up green frog fly (missing 80% of the tinsel) has been killing it on a 300′ copper. Can’t keep the damn thing in the water lol

    I’m going to trim down/thin out some newer flies to try and replicate the beat up one.

    Spoons have put some fish in the boat, but F/F’s have been better. Nothing on meat rigs yet.

    I paid my dues this week and had a couple tough nights, a great night, and a killer morning (this morning was the only morning we could fish).

    Have two more weeks of fishing out there, then headed to LOTW for a real vacation!

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    MnPat1
    Posts: 371
    June 26, 2020 at 4:18 pm #1952866

    Your timing should be good for bass fishing the area. Don’t forget to bring some hair jigs and swimbaits.

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