Get Fired Up for Fishing Season

Whether the lake has ice or no ice, Door County is one of the top places in the Midwest to find walleye, bass, brown trout, northern pike, lake trout, perch, and salmon. Now that spring is creeping up on the calendar, the open season for many varieties of fish is set to arrive. Brush up on your fishing facts for the 2019 fishing season and enjoy all that the waters of Lake Michigan and Door County have to offer.

What Can I Catch?

Spring Fishing

Brown trout fishing is at its best February through April, followed by Lake Trout fishing peaking in May. Near the end of May, the salmon begin to bite. Rainbow Trout are running the Ahnapee River and other area tributaries for the spring spawning run. Smelt can sometimes be found after a warm spring rain.

Summer Fishing

Anglers find bountiful Salmon and Trout, including the prized King Salmon. Chinook, Steelhead, and Brown Trout are also out in force. The Chinook Salmon have grown a little larger and by the end of August are getting ready to enter the streams to spawn.

Fall Fishing

Fall anglers can experience some great near-shore fishing with large Chinooks and Brown Trout. Kings and Steelhead begin to move closer with the warmer water and can be caught directly off-shore.

Winter Fishing

Ice-fish for Trout (Rainbows and Browns) and Pike on the Ahnapee River or venture out on the ice on the bay for Whitefish, Trophy Walleye, Northern, and Trout.

New to Ice Fishing?

In just the past few years, ice fishing has added to the winter appeal of Door County. Whether you need a charter service to set you up out on the ice or want to launch your own boat onto the frozen water, Door County can be your year-round fishing destination.

Where Should I Fish?

The Waters of Green Bay

The calmer waters of Green Bay offer a good harvest of brown trout and walleye in the spring and even more walleye in the fall. The Sturgeon Bay Canal and surrounding waters into Green Bay are where Smallmouth Bass have large numbers. Those waters hosted the Bassmasters Angler of the Year Championship in 2015.

The Lakeside on Lake Michigan

Launching into the lake water on the east side of the peninsula, you can expect to find record size Trout and Salmon. Gills Rock has frequently been the site of Chinook Salmon stocking by the Department of Natural Resources, and although salmon season doesn’t end, the open season for lake trout is May 6–September 30.

Inland Lakes

At many of the county’s inland lakes, including Clark Lake, Europe Lake, and Kangaroo Lake, you will find panfish such as bluegill and perch. The calmer inland waters are some of the best fishing lakes in Wisconsin and allow anglers to fish from vessels as simple as kayaks.

Don’t Forget Your License

Most bait shops and fishing charters sell fishing licenses, which are required for all Wisconsin residents and out-of-state visitors over the age of 16. Depending on resident status and the license duration, a license can cost anywhere between $8–65. The state offers family licenses as well as multi-day licenses for anglers on a long weekend.