OUTDOOR CONVERGENCE
Bringing People and the Outdoors Together
Winter Fishing in a Boat
Fishing the Milwaukee Harbor
Terry Bitz of Outdoor Convergence
The Milwaukee Harbor is an interesting fishing destination, especially during the winter. The relatively protected waters of the McKinley Marina and the South Shore Yacht Club can offer ice fishing opportunities while portions of the river and the harbor can stay ice free and open to shore and boat fishing.
I recently took the opportunity to fish the harbor in a boat with Captain Doug Kloet. Kloet and I would be joined by Eric Johnson, a resident of Dundee, Michigan who, due to work demands, has taken up temporary residence in Waukegan, Illinois.
The day did not start out promising. A planned morning outing was delayed by relatively heavy snow showers. Instead we launched the boat in the middle of the afternoon in the Milwaukee River.
Doug Kloet (L) and Eric Johnson with a nice Steelhead caught in Milwaukee
Amongst the three of us, Johnson is the most experienced when it comes to fishing for trout. This self described “diehard steelheader” has fished for steelhead and brown trout across the eastern half of the United States.
Milwaukee has gained notoriety for having an excellent brown trout fishery. Browns over 30 pounds are not that uncommon which has gotten attention from the national fishing media and fueled Johnson’s desire to fish the harbor.
“I am really excited about fishing in Milwaukee”; said Johnson. “Ever since I came to this area, I have wanted to get out here. We will at least catch some steelhead”.
After a short boat ride out into the harbor, we pulled up near one of the many piers designed to dock large cargo ships. In calmer conditions we would have tied up to the pier, but on this day Kloet put out an anchor to keep us near a warm water discharge located in 30 feet of water.
Within minutes, we had our lines in the water. We each had one pole rigged up with spawn sacs that we suspended under slip bobbers. Johnson had cured the brown trout eggs with special recipe that he and his dad have developed over years of experimentation. Their recipe, said Johnson, keeps the eggs firm whereas some other methods cause the eggs to become dimpled and soft. According to him, brown trout eggs catch fish better than steelhead eggs and the eggs’ colors are key factors in fish taking the bait.
While the spawn sacs hung under the bobbers, each of us casted a mixture of crankbaits and soft plastic lures into the depths in an effort to entice some fish.
We were out for over an hour before the first fish was pulled into the boat. Kloet was jigging near the bottom with a Zip lure when he reeled in a gizzard shad of about 12 inches in length. After he caught a couple more of the silver fish, Johnson and I rigged up with Zip lures as well.
“At least these (fish) provide us with some activity while waiting for the trout to bite”; said Kloet.
Eric Johnson holding a steelhead caught in the Milwaukee Harbor
Shortly after losing a large shad, Johnson noticed the line on the reel holding his spawn sac was flying off at a rapid pace. He picked up the pole and set the hook. It was quickly apparent this was no shad; it had to be a trout.
“I don’t know what it is, but it’s a nice fish”; said Johnson.
After several strong runs, Johnson led the fish into the net being manned by Kloet. It turned out to be a nice looking steelhead. After some photos, the fish was put into the livewell and we returned to fishing.
As the sunlight was replaced by the glow of city’s lights, the air temperatures began to drop and the gizzard shad activity slowed. A half hour before packing up for the ride back into the river, another fish found the spawn sac hooked under Johnson’s slip bobber.
He again set the hook and quickly determined by the fish’s strong runs that it was likely a trout. The fish put up a good struggle, but Johnson expertly fought the fish until it could be brought into the net. It was another steelhead similar in size to the first.
