Find a Fishing Buddy in Green Bay
Wisconsin
The Bay of Green Bay is one of the best big-water fisheries in the Midwest and arguably the top trophy musky and walleye destination in the country. Great Lakes-strain musky here grow to legitimate 50-plus-inch giants, the spring walleye run up the Fox River draws anglers from across the region, and the Door County shoreline offers world-class smallmouth bass and whitefish. Brown trout, perch, and salmon round out a fishery that fishes hard from ice-out through the hard water. MyFishingBuds connects Green Bay and Door County anglers so you can split a big-water musky trip, share a boat on the walleye run, or find a partner who knows the bay's structure.
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When to fish Green Bay
The season opens with the famous Fox River walleye run in March and April, when huge numbers of walleye stage below the De Pere dam. Smallmouth bass fishing on the Door County side (Sturgeon Bay and the Lake Michigan shoreline) is elite in May and June before the season shifts to catch-and-release. Musky season opens in late May and runs into fall, with the trophy window in October and November as the giants feed up. Summer brings walleye out on the open bay and perch fishing, and winter turns Sturgeon Bay into a premier whitefish and walleye ice-fishing destination.
→ Today's best fishing times in Green Bay (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
- 🎣 Musky
- 🎣 Walleye
- 🎣 Smallmouth Bass
- 🎣 Brown Trout
- 🎣 Whitefish
- 🎣 Yellow Perch
Where to fish
- 📍 Bay of Green Bay
- 📍 Fox River
- 📍 Sturgeon Bay
- 📍 Door County shoreline
- 📍 Lake Michigan
Local tips for Green Bay
The Metro Boat Launch in Green Bay and Voyageur Park in De Pere put you on the lower Fox River for the spring walleye run — expect a crowd during the peak. Sturgeon Bay is the hub for Door County smallmouth and winter whitefish, with multiple launches around the bay. Musky here is big-water fishing with big baits — a buddy with a rigged boat and sonar makes an enormous difference. Shore anglers do well below the De Pere dam in spring and along the Fox River walls.
🪪 Wisconsin fishing license
Anglers fishing in Green Bay need a valid Wisconsin fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Wisconsin license prices →Green Bay fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license to fish Green Bay?▾
Yes. Wisconsin requires a fishing license for anglers 16 and older, and a Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp if you target trout or salmon on Lake Michigan and the bay. See our Wisconsin license guide for current resident and non-resident prices and where to buy.
When is the walleye run on the Fox River?▾
March and April, as walleye move up the lower Fox River to spawn and stage in huge numbers below the De Pere dam. It is one of the most concentrated walleye fisheries in the Midwest — check Wisconsin's current size and bag regulations for the river, which differ from the open bay.
Is Green Bay really that good for musky?▾
Yes. The Bay of Green Bay produces Great Lakes-strain musky that reach and exceed 50 inches, and it is regarded as one of the best trophy musky fisheries anywhere. The fall window (October into November) is when the biggest fish feed hardest. This is big-water fishing — pairing up with an experienced buddy pays off.
Where is the best smallmouth bass fishing near Green Bay?▾
The Door County side — Sturgeon Bay and the Lake Michigan shoreline — is a nationally ranked smallmouth fishery, best in May and June. Wisconsin runs a catch-and-release-only window early in the season before harvest opens, so check current regulations.
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