JJs Guide Service

JJs Guide Service Come fish with Door County's Premier Sport Fishing Guide Service, JJs Guide Service. Fish for trophy walleye, bass, salmon, and trout.
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Also in the winter check us out for the great ice fishing action for Whitefish and Walleyes.

As another ice fishing season comes to an end, we’re wrapping up another safe and successful ice season!With the incomin...
03/06/2026

As another ice fishing season comes to an end, we’re wrapping up another safe and successful ice season!
With the incoming weather system bringing warm temperatures and the potential for over an inch of rain, it’s time to pull equipment and call it a season. The combination of rain, runoff, and warming temps will quickly start breaking down what has been some of the best ice we’ve seen in years.
This winter started with ice earlier than we’ve seen in several seasons, and it developed into a robust and widespread ice pack across the bay. At its peak we were sitting on over 24 inches of ice, something we haven’t seen in more than eight years.
The fishing was consistent for most groups throughout the season, with a lot of big, healthy whitefish hitting the ice. We had several fish over 5 pounds this year, including one giant that tipped the scale at over 7 pounds.
Most importantly, we want to thank all of the customers who have supported JJ’s Guide Service over the years — from our long-time returning groups to the new faces we had the chance to meet this winter.
And a special thanks to those folks who took a chance 17 years ago and booked a trip with an 18-year-old kid running a Craigslist ad. Without that early support, none of this would have been possible.
With the weather moving in, we’ll start pulling gear and closing things down for the year.
Thanks again for another great season. We’re already looking forward to setting the hook with many of you again next winter🎣🐟
Tight Lines
Capt JJ Malvitz!

We had a great weekend of fishing with our customers! The warm weather is now in the rearview mirror, and the colder tem...
02/23/2026

We had a great weekend of fishing with our customers! The warm weather is now in the rearview mirror, and the colder temperatures have settled in. The bay is completely locked up — solid from north to south and east to west. We did a flight over the bay, and everything looks great. The ice pack extends well north up the bay and is in excellent shape. Ice thickness is currently sitting at 20–24 inches. It’s hard and solid, with all the previous slush frozen up. We also received a couple inches of snow, which helped smooth over some of the rougher sections of ice.
Fishing was pretty consistent for groups this weekend. Anglers who stayed focused and kept up with the right techniques were rewarded with some quality bites. We landed two whitefish over 5 pounds — really cool to see!
Looking ahead, the forecast suggests temperatures will keep us on the whitefish grounds into mid-March, which is often some of the best fishing of the year. With sunny, slightly warmer days ahead, it’s a great time to get outside, move around, and enjoy it. We do have some availability coming up, so if you’ve been thinking about getting out yet this season, there’s still time to make it happen.
Captain JJ
jjsguideservice.com

We’ve had lots of questions the past few days about ice conditions with the above-average warmth and recent rain.There h...
02/19/2026

We’ve had lots of questions the past few days about ice conditions with the above-average warmth and recent rain.
There have been some areas of standing water on top of the ice, but we were able to mitigate a good portion of it and draw some of that water down. The ice is over 23” thick in most spots, and the rain has not significantly compromised its structural integrity. The top few inches are a bit soft right now, but with the colder temps ahead, that should firm up nicely.
The bigger concern at the moment is accesses. Many of the access points are getting a little beat up. There’s some ponding at the ramps, and the ice ramps themselves are deteriorating. Please be mindful, tread lightly, the cooler temps coming will help heal them up.
Also, this time of year, it’s best to avoid shallow reefs and points.

As for the fishing — it’s been decent for most groups. Not lights-out action, but if you keep your foot on the gas and dial in your technique, you’ll get rewarded with bites. This past weekend we saw one of the biggest whitefish we’ve seen in a long time — over 7 pounds!

We did have a group drop out for this Saturday, so if you’re looking to spend the weekend out on the ice, get ahold of us and let’s get you out there!
jjsguideservice.com

Science FridayLast winter, I had the opportunity to partner with the U.S. Geological Survey and UW–Stevens Point on a wh...
01/30/2026

Science Friday
Last winter, I had the opportunity to partner with the U.S. Geological Survey and UW–Stevens Point on a whitefish research project on the Bay of Green Bay.
Throughout the winter of 2025, I worked alongside two fisheries biologists to catch, tag, and release lake whitefish in the Sturgeon Bay area. Each fish was surgically implanted with a radio telemetry (acoustic) tag, which allows researchers to track whitefish movements throughout the year. In addition, each fish received an external loop tag offering a $100 angler reward, helping ensure the tags — and the valuable data they contain — are returned to the biologists.
Over the course of the winter, we successfully tagged and released several dozen whitefish.
Fast forward to this Friday — one of our guest anglers landed a whitefish carrying an acoustic tag. What makes this catch especially cool is that this same fish was originally tagged on February 19, 2025, in nearly the exact same area we’re fishing right now.
Preliminary data shows this fish has spent much of its time along the eastern shore of Green Bay, ranging from southern Door County up to about mid-peninsula.
Moments like this are a great reminder of why this research matters. Every tag return helps scientists better understand whitefish behavior, movement, and habitat use — information that’s critical for the future of the fishery.
Huge thanks to the anglers who support these projects and to the biologists doing the behind-the-scenes work to protect our resources. 👏🐟

Fishing on our offshore deep-water locations remains very strong, with anglers targeting Whitefish in 60–100 feet using ...
01/30/2026

Fishing on our offshore deep-water locations remains very strong, with anglers targeting Whitefish in 60–100 feet using our traditional rigs and consistently catching thick, healthy, robust fish with excellent size and quality.
Recently, we’ve noticed online discussions about Whitefish harvest and fish freezing on the ice, and we’d like to share our long-standing approach. For the past seven years, we’ve encouraged keeping Whitefish 16–17 inches or larger—fish that have already had the chance to spawn and contribute to the fishery. Our presentations are designed to target these mature fish, helping support a healthy, sustainable population for the future. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.” Responsible stewardship means thinking beyond today’s catch and making decisions that protect the resource for generations to come.
Proper fish care is just as important. Allowing Whitefish to freeze on the ice and thaw later can lead to soft, mushy fillets. Preventing fish from freezing helps preserve texture and ensures the best table quality.
Looking ahead, ice conditions are strong and expansive across the bay, and fishing continues to be solid. We’re excited for the weeks ahead and another great stretch of Whitefish action!
Captain JJ

Ice Conditions UpdateI flew the Bay of Green Bay today to check ice conditions, and things are looking very strong overa...
01/23/2026

Ice Conditions Update
I flew the Bay of Green Bay today to check ice conditions, and things are looking very strong overall. There is extensive ice coverage stretching well beyond Chambers Island and Green Island. When the ice extends past the islands like this, it really locks in the ice pack for the southern half of the bay, which is a major positive for stability going forward.
I did observe a few small, isolated hot pockets, but nothing widespread. With the forecast calling for single digits to double digits below zero over the next 96 hours, these areas should heal over quickly, and the ice pack will continue to tighten and strengthen.

We have our shacks set up on the traditional offshore deep-water structure. We fished for a short time and can confidently say the fish are there. Everything is setting up well heading into this cold stretch.

Travel conditions remain rough in spots, with ice shoves, pressure ridges, and uneven ice that take time and effort to work through. We’ve been working closely with several other guide services, sharing information, manpower, and equipment to build and maintain trails out to the shacks. This kind of collaboration between guides is extremely valuable in challenging conditions like this and helps keep everyone moving efficiently and effectively. We will start running trips this coming weekend, looking forward to seeing everyone!
Let's go Fishing!🎣
jjsguideservice.com

Ice Report – Green Bay | January 12Today we took our first plane ride of the year to survey ice conditions on Green Bay....
01/13/2026

Ice Report – Green Bay | January 12

Today we took our first plane ride of the year to survey ice conditions on Green Bay. Several years ago, we started flying the bay to get a better look at ice conditions. We used to rely heavily on satellite photos, but nothing beats seeing it firsthand. Overall, the ice coverage is pretty impressive for this time of year.
That said, there are several important observations. We’re still seeing multiple large pockets of open water. One stretch runs from the Stone Quarry down toward Hendersons Point. Larson’s Reef also has several open water areas that extend toward Snake Island.
Further up the bay, there remains a large section of open water west of Green Island and north of Peshtigo Point. As we continued north, the ice around Chambers Island looks very solid overall, but there are still open pockets to the north and west of the island. Once the ice fully locks in around these islands, it greatly reduces the amount of movement in the ice pack to the south, which will be a key step toward more stable conditions.
Another major safety factor to keep in mind is active shipping traffic. The Port of Green Bay remains open, and icebreaking operations are still underway. Continuous vessel traffic and repeated icebreaking give the ice room to move, shift, and open up — sometimes quickly and without warning. Wind direction and strength can accelerate this movement, so keep a close eye on conditions. Shipping traffic typically begins to taper off toward the end of the month, which should help ice stabilize moving forward.
With the weather we have coming, we should continue to make progress and hopefully push across the finish line to safely access deeper offshore structure soon. Until then, patience and smart decisions will go a long way.
Stay safe out there and keep checking for updates.
— Captain JJ Malvitz
jjsguideservice.com

We want to wish all of our clients, friends, and fellow anglers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season. Thank...
12/24/2025

We want to wish all of our clients, friends, and fellow anglers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season. Thank you for the continued support—it truly means a lot to us and our family.

As we head into the holidays, we’re actually ahead of last year in terms of overall ice coverage, which is great to see. Early ice has formed in some inner bays and harbors , but we’re still waiting on a stretch of colder temps to really lock in Green Bay.

We excited about how this season is shaping up and looking forward to more cold weather ahead. Once things settle in, it should set us up for a great winter on the ice.
Enjoy the holidays, stay safe, and we’ll see you soon!
Capt JJ
jjsguideservice.com

Current temps are starting to make ice, but we’re still waiting on a prolonged Arctic blast to really lock things up saf...
12/13/2025

Current temps are starting to make ice, but we’re still waiting on a prolonged Arctic blast to really lock things up safely. Things are starting to line up! Some of the inner bays and harbors are capped over, but still need cold to grow in thickness. While we keep an eye on conditions and finish final preparations, Capt. JJ and Taz are squeezing in a few more duck hunts before we officially hit the hard water.
We have a couple weekend ice fishing spots left, but availability is very limited. Once ice is safe, we’ll be ready to roll.
Stay tuned—ice season is almost here! ❄️🎣
jjsguideservice.com

With plenty of fresh snow and a solid week of cold temps ahead on the Door Peninsula, things are looking promising. The ...
12/01/2025

With plenty of fresh snow and a solid week of cold temps ahead on the Door Peninsula, things are looking promising. The weather folks are even calling for the coldest winter in 10 years, so we’re hopeful for better, safer ice conditions — and hopefully getting out sooner than last year!
We’re gearing up for our 16th season and couldn’t be more excited. We still have some availability,and are looking forward to seeing everyone this winter! 🎣
jjsguideservice.com

We sure missed the cold crisp mornings off Sturgeon Bay. The fishing has been pretty consistent the past few days. Lots...
02/19/2025

We sure missed the cold crisp mornings off Sturgeon Bay. The fishing has been pretty consistent the past few days. Lots of healthy and strong whitefish. We had an unexpected cancellation free up a couple shacks for this coming weekend! 2/22-2/23. Let go get em!
jjsguideservice.com

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3040 Stevenson Pier Road
Sturgeon Bay, WI
54235

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+19204932953

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