BROWN TROUT HARBORS

Question
Is now a good time to catch brown trout in Milwaukee Harbor? What techniques to use? Areas to fish? on a boat Soft plastics? I love to take my little girl to catch some of these brown trout..

Answer
Hi Richard,

It has been a roller coaster of weather here in Milwaukee this week.  I don't know what I will be facing this weekend.  

The domestic Browns are coming in had nave been in for a month now but I don't see many in the harbor right now.  The next push will be Seeforellens (the big ones!).  They will start showing up soon and continue through December.  The real hot action may be in a few weeks and through November.  If I had one month to fish it would be November.  You have the domestics coming back out of the river (post spawn) and really hungry and the Seeforellens coming in pre spawn.  November is Brown trout fishing heaven.  

McKinley pier, the McKinley harbor, Lakeshore State Park estuary, the area behind the Amphitheater, and Jones Island are all good bets.  The Browns aren't shy in fall so if you don't get action in the first 1/2 hour, keep moving.  For kids, the LSSP estuary and the area behind the amphitheater are very safe as far as not having to worry about little kids falling in.  

Minnow baits like the original 4 1/2 inch Thunderstick and Husky Jerks are great in fall.  Small cranks like #7 Shad Raps, Berkely Flicker Shads, or Deep Thunderstick Juniors are good in deeper areas.  Smaller spoons like 2/5th Cleos, #1 Syclops can also be good but the plugs seem better in Late October and November.

For live baits, a medium to large golden shiner or a spawn sack is a good option.

You can keep abreast of the action by reading my Lake Michigan Report in every Thursdays Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel Sports section or my blog at www.thelureofthefish.blogspot.com

This weekend may not be the best to try, but some great fishing is on the horizon.

Marc