Door County, WI · Great Lakes
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) offers public shoreline and pier access on the Great Lakes in Door County. Common targets include walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, steelhead, chinook salmon, coho salmon, and lake trout.
Live · updated
Top pick today
Smallmouth Bass — Workable day for Smallmouth Bass.
Best conditions of 7 species tracked at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach).
Heat Advisory issued July 12 at 1:33PM CDT until July 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Species at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)
7 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top pick is open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Smallmouth Bass Workable day for Smallmouth Bass. In season 61/100
What's helping
- 71°F water — right in smallmouth bass's ideal range
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.
Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 14"
- Daily creel
- 5
Wisconsin Great Lakes / Green Bay: 5 bass/day, 14" minimum (a renowned trophy smallmouth fishery).
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#2 Walleye Workable day for Walleye. In season 57/100
What's helping
- 71°F water — inside walleye's active range
- Dark moon — walleye feeds aggressively in low light
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 5
Wisconsin Great Lakes / Green Bay (Lake Michigan): 5 walleye/day, 15" minimum.
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#3 Steelhead Skip the Steelhead trip today. In season 13/100
What's helping
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 71°F water — above steelhead's active range (40–55°f) — fish move deep
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Oncorhynchus mykiss — Lake- or sea-run rainbow trout — chrome-bright fighters that ascend tributaries from fall through spring. The Great Lakes tributary steelhead run (Lake Erie’s “steelhead alley,” Lake Ontario, Michigan rivers) is a destination fishery; bite keys on flow and water clarity.
Prefers. Water 40–55°F (ideal 48°F) · either tide · depth 2–60 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
5 trout & salmon in combination per day on Lake Michigan (Great Lakes trout stamp required; zone rules may apply).
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#3 Chinook Salmon Skip the Chinook Salmon trip today. In season 13/100
What's helping
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 71°F water — above chinook salmon's active range (42–58°f) — fish move deep
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha — The “king” — the largest Pacific salmon and the marquee stocked predator of the Great Lakes. Trolled over open water through summer, then staged off river mouths and run up tributaries on the fall spawning push. Flow and water temperature drive the river bite.
Prefers. Water 42–58°F (ideal 50°F) · either tide · depth 15–150 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
5 trout & salmon in combination per day on Lake Michigan (Great Lakes trout stamp required; zone rules may apply).
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#3 Coho Salmon Skip the Coho Salmon trip today. In season 13/100
What's helping
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 71°F water — above coho salmon's active range (44–58°f) — fish move deep
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Oncorhynchus kisutch — “Silvers” — acrobatic, aggressive salmon that school near the surface and along piers in summer before their fall tributary run. A staple of the Great Lakes stocking program and the Pacific coast alike.
Prefers. Water 44–58°F (ideal 53°F) · either tide · depth 10–120 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
5 trout & salmon in combination per day on Lake Michigan (Great Lakes trout stamp required; zone rules may apply).
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#3 Lake Trout Skip the Lake Trout trip today. In season 13/100
What's helping
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 71°F water — above lake trout's active range (40–52°f) — fish move deep
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Salvelinus namaycush — The native deepwater char of the Great Lakes and cold northern lakes. Holds in cold, deep water through summer and moves shallow to reefs in spring and fall. Targeted by deep trolling, jigging, and from shore early and late in the season.
Prefers. Water 40–52°F (ideal 48°F) · either tide · depth 30–200 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
5 trout & salmon in combination per day on Lake Michigan (Great Lakes trout stamp required; zone rules may apply).
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#7 Yellow Perch Skip the Yellow Perch trip today. In season 7/100
What's helping
- 14 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 71°F water — above yellow perch's active range (45–70°f) — fish move deep
- incoming tide — yellow perch prefers slack tide
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Perca flavescens — Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.
Prefers. Water 45–70°F (ideal 58°F) · slack tide · depth 5–30 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 15
Wisconsin Great Lakes: 15 yellow perch/day (Lake Michigan; Green Bay zones may differ).
Source: Wisconsin regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
Location Info
Water Body
Great Lakes
Region
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Wisconsin
Coordinates
Local reports & rules for Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach): Wisconsin DNR fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)?
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Steelhead, and 3 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) have?
Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach)?
state agency regulations apply at Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) tidal water?
Yes. Peninsula State Park (Nicolet Bay Beach) sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.