2023 Brown Trout Update, March 2nd

You don’t need a boat to take part in the Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament. The vast majority of anglers participating each year fish out of a boat. Most of the top fish caught over the years have been by trolling various artificial baits near shore or just offshore. Boats are launched at sites from Kewaunee to Washington Island.  However, that does not mean that you must have access to a power boat to fully participate in, and win, the tournament. Ice anglers have done well in previous tournaments, although that does not seem a likely option this year. Some anglers have opted to fish from kayaks or float boats, depending on the vastitudes of the weather. I know of at least one local angler who does very well during the early season out of his fishing kayak. Spring kayak fishing is not for the unprepared angler as, even in a warm spring, Lake Michigan waters are frigid and unforgiving. 

Of course, you can always target browns from the shore. Early spring is one of the few times that large brown trout can be found in significant numbers close to the shore. Often within a cast’s length. This is due to the spawning habits and life cycle of Salmo trutta in Lake Michigan. According to Becker’s Fishes of Wisconsin,  browns spawn from October to December when water temperatures are at least 35°F. This can occur in tributary streams, but in Lake Michigan including Green Bay, this often happens over rocky and rubble-filled lake bottom. Browns will move into these areas under the winter ice cover allowing ice anglers to target them. Once the fish are done spawning, they will remain in the same areas resting and feeding, for as long as there is food around and the water temperatures are comfortable. Once the shallow waters begin to warm, browns will drift out deeper into the lake looking for their preferred range of 54-63°F. It then becomes more difficult to target browns as they are now swimming in a much larger volume of deeper water. During the early spring, these same number of fish are concentrated in a much smaller area, sometimes in large schools or smaller groups. This is when they are most vulnerable to shoreline anglers. 

My first experience with casting for large brown trout in Lake Michigan was during my high school years casting off Anclam Park. The conditions were often brutal, and your efforts did not always produce fish, but if you were fortunate enough to be there when a group of fish showed up, you could have some fantastic action. To this day, I will still wander down to the break water on a warm spring day and try my luck. I typically cast spoons for browns, but many anglers use crank baits or a variety of rigs with spawn sacks or minnows. I once saw a guy catch nice brown trout in the Baileys Harbor Marina using a piece frozen shrimp!

So, there are ample opportunities for shore anglers to participant in the Brown Trout Tournament. Now, one stipulation that must be met to register a fish in the tournament is that the catch must be witnessed by a fellow angler who has purchased a tournament ticket prior to the catch. This means that shoreline anglers need to fish in pairs to ensure that an eligible angler is there to witness the catch. We did have an unusual situation several years ago when a shore angler caught a nice brown but was fishing by himself. Fortunately, a nearby tournament angler in a boat witnessed the catch and was willing to come in and register the fish. However, I would not count on this happening again. 

Follows is a short list of possible shore fishing locations in northern Door County. It is by no means complete and only includes spots where I have had success or have seen brown trout landed. It does not include any spots south of Sturgeon Bay, as I have little experience down there. This is just to give any prospective shore anglers an idea of the kinds of locations where browns can be taken. 

Baileys Harbor Marina – Downtown Baileys Harbor

In early spring browns seek the warmer water in the marina basin. Fish can often be seen surfacing or cruising among the docks. Casting spoons can be effective, but this is a good place to try spawn sacs or live bait. Early morning is best or times when boat traffic is light. The town does dredge the marina in the spring which may disrupt fish patterns. 

Anclam Park – South end of Baileys Harbor

            This is a tricky spot to fish because of the large, jagged rocks. Care must be taken, particularly if you use waders as there are some sharp drop-offs. Long casts off the very end of the breakwater can get your bait out into deeper water. Fish will also congregate off the sides of the rocky breakwater as well. Anytime is good, but low light is best. An east or southeast wind will push bait fish toward the breakwater and feeding browns will follow. 

Egg Harbor Marina and Breakwater – Downtown Egg Harbor

            This is a very popular spot for ice anglers to target browns. Once the ice leaves, the brown trout will still be in the area and can be targeted with spoons and crank baits off the rocky breakwater or with spawn sacs within the harbor basin.  

Frank E. Murphy County Park – Between Egg Harbor and Sturgeon Bay

            There is a large permanent pier at Murphy Park which is a popular spot for early season brown trout anglers. I have often trolled right off this structure and boated some nice fish. Casting baits off the end of the pier will get your bait into deeper water, but fish are often taken in the shallower water on either side of the pier. You will seldom be fishing by yourself at Murphy during the brown trout season. 

George K. Pinny County Park (The Quarry) – North of City of Sturgeon Bay

            Another popular fishing spot for several species, including browns in the spring and fall. The marina is usually busy, so fishing in the basin can be problematical. However, casting along the extensive seawall will put your bait into very productive water. Depending upon the year and timing, anglers fishing Sturgeon Bay have put a lot of fish on the tournament board. There are rock outcrops at each end of marina to fish from as well. If you cast from the seawall, you will need a long-handled net to land any fish you hook. 

So, that should give any shore anglers a good start. Be sure to find a partner and buy your tournament tickets before you head out. 

Tight Lines, The Harbor Angler (aka Bruce Smith)