There is a good deal of water to cover, and electronics can be helpful. It should also be noted that Green Bay waters are not for smaller watercraft. The lake can swell and get rough quickly. A good GPS system can not only help anglers get back to shore but also can record productive spots on otherwise featureless water.

Fishing should continue to improve because stocking rates were increased in 2002, Kapuscinski said, and fisheries biologist Richard Rost agreed.

"I've seen some of the muskies at the south end of the bay, and there are some quality fish," Rost said.

For more fishing information, contact the DNR at (920) 662-5480. The Packer Country Visitor & Convention Bureau can be reached at 1-888-867-3342 for lodging info.

RANDOM LAKE
Many avid muskie hunters prefer waters smaller than Green Bay. One such water is Random Lake in Sheboygan County.

Random Lake covers just 209 acres, but it can have a lot of muskie activity when the feedbag is on. The DNR started stocking muskellunge and northern pike hybrids in the mid-1970s to control panfish populations, and then switched to pure muskies. The Between The Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc. stocks Random Lake -- with the DNR's blessing.

"Random is a relatively shallow and fertile lake with a big population of slow-growing panfish," said John Nelson, the DNR fisheries biologist who manages the lake. "The stocking didn't solve the panfish problem, but it has turned out to be a pretty good muskie fishery, especially after we changed over to true muskies."

According to Nelson, Random Lake is going through some changes. It used to harbor vast areas of milfoil, so a "whole lake treatment" of herbicides to reduce the vegetation was conducted twice over the last five years. As a result, there was very little submerged vegetation last year.

"The vegetation situation is very important to the fishing activity," Nelson said. "It was tough to find muskies last summer. There have been times in the past when muskie action has been very good with plenty of follows and catches. A few fish in the upper-40-inch range have been caught, and all in all, the lake would better be considered an action lake, especially in the spring."

Anglers should check the reeds and cattails in the northeastern section of the lake. Locals like to use perch-colored lures there. Depths only drop to 21 feet, and the bottom is muddy and featureless.

Random Lake has a village launch ramp that charges a $7 fee. The ramp is located in the Lake View Park on the southwestern section of the lake.

This lake is perfect for Milwaukee-, Sheboygan- or Fond du Lac-area anglers looking for a quiet day on water that has the potential for a muskie or two.

Additional fishing information is available from the DNR office at (920) 892-8756. Call the Random Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at (920) 838-1726 for information on lodging and other local amenities.