River Fishing Around the Bay de Noc Area
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Fishing the Menominee River

The Menominee River near Marinette, WI / Menominee, MI is a large river system which flows into Green Bay. The towns of Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan are dividing this waterway and both communities welcome fisherman with open arms.  The local Chamber of Commerce of Marinette can give you places to stay and take care of all your needs.  Give them a call at: 715-735-6681.

Fishing this river system is much like most rivers throughout the Midwest.  Current flow is what dictates where much of your fishing will be involved.  The methods used when fishing the river are varied with two of them being vertical jigging and casting shorelines.  Current involves boat control and good boat control means catching more fish.  Using the proper drift and control jigging is one of the most productive methods for fishing these early season fish. 

Walleye’s are most sought after at this spring time bite and Fire Ball jigs tipped with a lively fathead minnow, head hooked are a deadly method for catching good numbers of fish.  Bright colors are important to use when fishing a river system for obvious reasons one being the stained, dirty river.  Fishing locations along the river are mostly a visual thing most times in addition to using your electronics sonar.  Good places to start would be working the river channel from the mouth to the dam areas of the Hattie Street Bridge.  This approximate 2-mile stretch of river has also other very fishable spots. 

The Boom and Stevenson Islands are a favorite spot as well as all the shoreline structure including docks and boats that aline this watery. Jigs and livebait are a great choice but artificials  like minnow baits will take many fish when cast to these structures.  The key to fishing any rivers is again being a versatile, mobile fisherman looking for the most active fish and once finding them using a number of methods to catching as many of the biting fish you can. Other fish are very abundant throughout this river including Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and lets not overlook the great salmon and trout fishery that exists all along this coast line.

The Brown trout bite in the spring has said to be one of the hottest in the Midwest and boy do we have fun at it in April and May  One method we use lots' is trolling for these active Brown Trout and Splake using planer boards.  Running approximately 30 to 50 feet of 10 pound XL line with a minnow bait attached it's simple to attach the board and cover large amounts of water looking for active fish.  Pound for pound there's not much that can beat the fun of catching these trout at this time of year.

It’s also important to finding out the current fishing rules and regulations when fishing this springtime bite.   Let's not forget that this entire watery both north and south of the Menominee River are year round fisheries and the summer times months through fall hold some great fishing.

Menominee River Boat Landing

There are several boat landings on the river system below the Haties Street Bridge to the bay.

Little River Access: Located on Cty BB south of Marinette - gives access to the main part of the bay with a double-wide access and large parking lot.

Red Arrow Park: In the town of Marinette -follow Leonard Street where it leads to Red Arrow Park.  This access has a double ramp with large parking lot.  Restrooms, and park for the kids are available.

Sixth Street Access: In the town of Marinette follow main street to sixth street to access.  There is a double ramp with parking area.

Boom Landing:  In the town of Marinette on the south side of the river follow Main Street to Mann to access.  There is a double ramp and a large parking area with restrooms, and picnic tables.

Stephenson Island:  On the south side of the river close to the bridge.  There is a double ramp, a small parking area and historical shop to visit.  The site also has restrooms and picnic tables.

Menominee Access - Mystery Ship: North side of the river in Menominee  - follow 41 over the river and turn by M&M Plaza next to KMART.  This is a park and there is a launching fee.  It has a double wide ramp and large parking area.

Menominee Public Access:  In the town on Menominee follow 1st street near Mernominee Paper Company.  There is a double ramp with large parking area.

Menominee Marine Bay Access:  This access leads into the bay and there is a launching fee.  There is a double ramp, marina, restrooms, and picnic tables.

Fishing the Escanaba River

The Escanaba River a very large river system that flows into Little Bay de Noc just slightly north of the town of Escanaba.  It is known for its walleye fishing throughout the year and provides an alternate for people with small boats or when the bay is rough........ acess is easy, off Main Street in Wells and across the railroad tracts your there,  with a double ramp landing it's easy in and out launching.  Noted for a good run of walleye in the spring the "Esky" River holds good fishing throughout the year. 

Spring tactics and using jig/minnow combinations work very good.  A little trick we've been using the last several years is slip-floats and a minnow, snag-free and a fish catching rig!  Work the entire river from the mouth up to and beyond the railroad trussel. 

Checking out the other fishing potential in this stretch of water and some pretty good smallmouth bass are found here too.  Using jigs and plastics, crankbaits and surface baits smallmouth bass can make for a fun day on this river.   It is an excellent fall fishery for action and always seems to be a good population of fish throughout the entire year!

Fishing the Cedar River

The Cedar River is an excellent river  for both walleye and smallmouth bass.  Runs of Steelhead are also seen at peak times of the year.  There is an excellent boat landing - caution should be used in motoring in the river.  Access is right off Highway M-35.   It is an excellent smallmouth bass fishery.  Remember catch & release!  These fisheries are delicate and should be respected........ many of our trips on this river has caught us bass in the 5-pound class. 

Fishing methods and jigs, plastics, crankbaits and surface baits are all productive ways of catching bass.  Locational patterns and shoreline structures should be concentrated on, with the many downed trees and great vegatation of cabbage, coontail and junk weed this cover holds good numbers of fish.  As a river, the Cedar River does have a noticable current flow with numerous deep holes that should be fished also!

Not a large population of walleye exist in this river but it does contain some "eye's" especially in the spring-spawning time through April and May.  If it's one thing that the Cedar River has of utmost is it's beauty!  Each bend and corner has some "unique" feature that makes the fish catching just a bonus!

Fishing the Ford River

The Ford River just south of Escanaba has an excellent boat launch ramp with easy access of Highway M-35, plenty of parking and a pretty good shoreline to fish from for the non-boater.  The river is known for its smallmouth bass fishery and walleye and gives quick access to the bay.  Running out to the bay should be a idling process as shallow water runs out from the river mouth for some distance.  This part of the bay gives you access to deeper water where you can fish trout and salmon.............. don't let these deeper waters from keeping you fishing walleye as when weather conditions are right good action can be had fishing this big water as well! 

The Ford River itself hosts some good smallmouth bass fishing both above the bridge as well as to it's mouth.  Tactics most popular are jigs, plastic, crankbaits and surface baits working shoreline structure, in fact fishing the entire river with it's width can be productive.  Again a pretty stretch of water where fish catching is just a bonus!

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