I have had a chance to hit the waters of Green Bay four days in mid-May and a few days around Memorial Day.  Even though Door County smallmouth bass fishing is not what it was back eight or nine years ago, it is still a fun time with an opportunity for some large smallies.

Throughout Door County, the smallmouth bass spawn is happening, and in many locations male bass are guarding those nests. It is important to let them do their important job. We have a large population of gobies in the waters of Door County and taking a male off the nest, even for a couple of minutes, will have gobies inundate that nest eating eggs and the fry once the eggs hatch. 

Kayak anglers tend to fish close to shore, where most of the nests are located.  In the clear water, it is easy to see nests, so I try to avoid those areas. Male bass are mostly concerned with predators and lures right in the nest, so I like using lures that are not fished on the bottom. Small swimbaits and curly tail grubs can work great swum slow and steady on a light chartreuse mushroom head jig. Fishing deeper, where there are few nests, I will use a 2.5” tube and the Ned Rig, which are both fished slowly on the bottom.

Here is another tip.  Up and down the shores of Green Bay there are Permanent rock piers and most of these attract smallies, although these are usually smaller fish. I will be touching on places to launch kayaks in a later article but know that any road that dead-ends at the water you can use to launch your kayak.  Just be sure you can park off the road.

Good luck, be safe on the water and if you have any kayak or kayak fishing questions email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com