Lake Michigan - Milwaukee Harbor

I found some hungry coho a few days back off shore in Milwaukee.  It was great to see lot's of bait and coho finally in range for shore fishermen!

Fished the lighthouse a lot this spring including today off shore. Used to be an ok shore spot. I guess trolling on the boat is the only way to go now. Used to do good off the rails years ago. Not anymore.

Thanks Blitz

I saw a FB post from a local guide who did a recent  "family day" with his kids. They kept some coho but had a mixed bag.  He claimed to be jigging. In years past he's made other similar posts. Always the picture background is open water.

I've had friends who jigged the gaps for a random big laker very early in the season and I've trolled "too early for coho" and caught mostly browns.

I used to fish 4 days a week,somehow. After work, before work, nighttime...somehow I managed to wet a line. I no longer have the time, the energy.. I've gotta go when I can find time.

Wiscoarborist,

Bottom structure doesn't have a lot of do with it more than the fish just run the shorelines or where there is pockets of slightly warmer water. Trolling tends to be more effective unless you are jigging/casting around gaps or discharges. If you can find a random large pod, you could possibly jig/cast for them. P.s. a little early for coho still, it's really only just picked up the last couple weeks in the Chicago area. 2 or 3 weeks from now Racine/Kenosha will probably start picking up. Probably end of the month by the time the first of the coho show up this far north, if not into May. There are some that hung around the oak creek power plant all winter though.

CDs,
Message sent.

Question:

Every year folks post (here or  - increasingly - only on other social media) about early season jigging for a mixed bag of coho and steel/browns.

IF I do manage to find some time to wet a line, would I be looking for subtle, relatively shallow bottom structure?. I'm thinking off St Francis.

Gaps maybe a little too?

Thanks

Water temperature comes into play especially in the spring and summer.  Warmer water in spring , colder in summer      IMO 45o - 55o optimal.   lakers like the colder water. Salmon around 50o. Browns & Bows a little warmer.

Last couple years if you begin early in the season the fish are close to the surface and easy to find near the harbor entrances.  Work most of your lines on planners away from the boat at 2-3 mph and you will be fine.

I spent thousands of hours on the lake in the 70's and 80's. First in a 16 footer, then in a 17, then my Dad's buddy bought a 22 then 28 footer. I was kind of a first mate or gofer on the biggest boat. Took a 25 year brake and just fished the tribs.

Back at it 3 years ago first in a 14 then a 15 footer. Weather patterns put the fish 60 to 100 feet down for long periods the last few years.

Caught some fish but my biggest mistake was not running the insane long leads from the diver to the dodger. The super clear water has changed the game. I finally tried some 10 foot lengths and caught some fish but when you get one to the boat it's a circus trying to get a net under one. Basically ended up hand lining to the net.
If I had added a down rigger or two it would have been a bit easier.
                                       Good Luck

Thank you for the response Jump. I'll start fishing the Big Lake around mid April. I expect some fish will be fairly close to shore but really have no idea how far out most people go to begin fishing. I don't know anyone that salmon fishes so I'm asking here. Am I correct in assuming that my best luck will be in the top 25 feet of the water? Anyone else want to chime in to help a noob get dialed in?