Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore: what the data says
1,003,153-acre section. Kenosha and Milwaukee up through Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Kewaunee: deep water close to shore makes this the most consistent salmon trolling on the west side of the lake. The lake tops out around 451 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Chinook Salmon fishing at Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore
Spring chinook salmon on Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore hold shallow, usually 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 90 ft. The spot to know is Milwaukee harbor mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore
In spring, coho salmon run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 30 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 60 ft. Milwaukee harbor mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for spring coho salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Steelhead fishing at Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 45 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Milwaukee harbor mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Brown Trout fishing at Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore
Spring brown trout on Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 25 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. Milwaukee harbor mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for spring brown trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Lake Trout fishing at Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 28 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Notable structure
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 401 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 306 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 303 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 238 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 231 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 206 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 172 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 131 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 127 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 105 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 98 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 98 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 79 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 65 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore?
Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore is about 451 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore?
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout on Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore?
Milwaukee harbor mouth is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore?
For chinook salmon, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Pewaukee Lake · Nagawicka Lake · Okauchee Lake · Lake Winnebago · Oconomowoc Lake · Fox River (Lower)
See how Lake Michigan - Wisconsin Shore stacks up: best lake trout lakes in Wisconsin · best brown trout lakes in Wisconsin
Browse all Wisconsin fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.