JerryT wrote:
What’s the lastest info on shoreline fishing on Chicago’s lakefront,any reports out there?
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Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Perch? Yes, some; plus steelhead, bass, coho, catfish and bluegill...
Some perch reports in southern Lake Michigan highlight this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report; but there is also the usual summer mix of steelhead, bass, coho, catfish and bluegill around Chicago fishing.
Jul 6, 2021, 5:50pm CDT, Share this story...
Leighton Cooper enjoyed a good smallmouth on Big Green Lake last week with her father and guide Mike Norris. Pr
Some perch reports in southern Lake Michigan highlight this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report; but there is also the usual summer mix of steelhead, bass, coho, catfish and bluegill around Chicago fishing.
Last week, guide Mike Norris texted the photo at the top and this from Big Green Lake in Wisconsin:
Leighton Cooper from Northfield with a Big Green Lake smallmouth she caught with a swim jig
He added;
“She was a gamer!”
Norris’ usual weekly report on the Green Lake area is below.
SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN PERCH
Some are around.
CHICAGO: Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:
There has been perch off and on. I’ve got a couple guys that have been finding some everyday, and the ones they are catching are really nice size.
Last week before the storms there was a couple mornings early that a few guy’s got there limit but that was before all the weather changes. Basically it’s pretty hit or miss you just got to get out there and give it a try. . . .
WAUKEGAN: Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:
. . .
Harbor fishing turned really, really good with nice perch and bass caught. Perch wanted little panfish jigs dressed with waxies. . . .
Capt. Scott Wolfe
School of Fish Charters/ Manipulator
630-341-0550
schooloffishcharters.com
INDIANA: Capt. Rich Sleziak of Slez’s Bait in Lake Station, Indiana texted:
. . .
Some perch action in 15 to 30ft of water west of the mouth of burns ditch and east of the doughnut. You must move around and pick away at them
. . .
Cristina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:
. . .
Perch fishing getting better every day. Some anglers have been limiting out in a couple of hours; others have had a more challenging time with limits being caught after fishing most of the day.
Regardless, they are being caught! Beemoths, red worms, crawfish, & smaller minnows are what we’ve been getting the most requests for.
. . .
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said winds kept perch guys off the lake on Monday and Tuesday, but before then some were being found in 23-50 feet off the pumphouse south of the St. Joe pier.
DERBY NOTE;
The Kankakee River Fishing Derby was moved to Friday, July 9, to July 18. Click here to check updates
ILLINOIS FROG SEASON;
Illinois’ bullfrog (only) season runs through Oct. 15. A fishing license is required. “Bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand, or landing net.” Daily bag limits eight, possession limit 16.
LAKEFRONT PARKING;
Chicago Park District’s parking passes for the fisherman’s parking lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are on sale at Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport and Park Bait at Montrose Harbor.
Readers suggest SpotHero app downtown. Otherwise, here are some basics: Foster (free street parking or pay lot); Montrose (now a mix of metered and free street parking); Belmont (pay lots on north and south sides); Diversey
(pay lot or street parking); DuSable Harbor (pay lot or fisherman’s lot); Northerly Island/Burnham Harbor (meters, pay lot or fisherman’s lot); 31st/Burnham (meter parking between McCormick Place and 31st Street Harbor); Oakwood/39th (meters); 63rd Street/Casino Pier (pay lot); Steelworkers Park (free street parking at east end of 87th); Cal Park (free parking).
AREA LAKES;
It’s summer, go for largemouth early and late with topwaters; otherwise, fish bluegills on the weed lines or weed pockets.
And think big, as in see this note from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:
Forest Preserve’s Big Fish Contest begins July 1
The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Big Fish Contest begins Thursday, July 1, and runs through Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Monee Reservoir.
Prizes will be awarded in three categories for biggest bass, catfish and panfish by length. Even if you don’t have the biggest fish in one of the three categories, there is a chance to win a prize just for entering because one overall winner will be chosen at random from all entries. The contest is free and for ages 16 or older. Registration is not required.
To participate, just bring your catch to the Monee Reservoir Visitor Center, and staff will measure, photograph and record the fish to enter you in the contest. All the fish photos will be included on the visitor center’s Big Fish Contest display. Winners in the 2021 contest will be announced September 1.
The 248-acre preserve features a 46-acre lake. The lake is stocked with bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and channel catfish. And the visitor center offers fishing poles for rental and fishing licenses for purchase. The visitor center also offers bait, tackle and snacks for sale. Monee Reservoir is located on Ridgeland Avenue, south of Pauling Road in Monee Township.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE;
Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Click here for the preview.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA;
Staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said largemouth moved off beds to shallow weeds; crappie are suspending in open water; bluegill are shallow, some are still on beds; catfish are best at night in the river; a few walleye, best in the river north to Wisconsin line.
NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.
NOTE 2: The Stratton Lock and Dam is open 8 a.m. to midnight through Sept. 30.
CHICAGO RIVER;
Jeffrey Williams with a nice crappie from the Chicago River. Provided Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above and this on Sunday:
Multi species were caught, 2 crappies(11 and 12 in), a decent size rock bass, a green sunfish(beautiful colors underneath him), all were caught on a underspin jig with gulp minnows. Carp was the last fish caught as i was packing, he was 8 lbs
DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN;
Dave Duwe emailed:
Delavan Lake 7/5/21 through 7/12/21
Fishing remains excellent. With the warmer weather, the northern pike have been biting very well. Northern Pike have been great. The fish are off the weedline anywhere between 20-25 ft of water. Look for the fish by the gray condos, willow Point or the west end by the island. The best approach is lindy rigging suckers. I fish the suckers on a 6500 Abu Garcia with a bait clicker, so when the fish bites, it will click out line and indicate that a fish is on.
Walleye fishing has been average. The fish are on the weedline in 15-24 ft of water. The fish I’m catching are on nightcrawlers fished on either a lindy rig or a split shot rig. This week it was kind of a battle to catch a legal fish. Every trip out I caught a couple but nothing to brag about. The best locations are by Browns Channel or west of the Yacht Club.
Largemouth bass can be either caught on the deep weedline in 17-20 ft or on top water lures first thing in the a.m. The best bait is chug bugs or white buzz baits. It’s best to work a depth of 8-10 ft. The fish I’ve been catching on the deep weedline, I’m catching on split shot rigged nightcrawlers. You want to concentrate on inside turns or the points on the weedline. A few fish have also been caught drop shotting Berkeley Gulp.
Bluegills are done spawning. They have moved out on the deep weedline. The nicer fish are in the 22-26 ft depth. Fishing so many nightcrawlers, I catch many right off the weedline. Some of the fish are in excess of 10 inches. Nightcrawlers or small leaf worms are the best approach.
Crappies have pulled off the weedline. They are suspending in 15 ft of water. The best approach has been purple plastic. Look for the fish over by Browns Channel or west of the Yacht club. I use a 1/32 oz Arkie Jig and a 3/0 split shot 1 ft above the jig. That allows you to cast a good distance and the fall rate is very effective.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
DOWNSTATE;
POWERTON: Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 30.
EMIQUON: Access permits and liability waivers are again required. They are available Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounds Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Reopens May 15. Open through Sept. 6. Closed Mondays (except Labor Day). Check regulations at
http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/dixon-paddling-fishing.
SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing.
FOX RIVER;
Simone Ziller with a good catfish from the Fox River. Provided by Dicky’s Bait Shop.
Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery emailed the photo above and this:
Weekly Fishing Report from Dicky’s Bait Shop;
This week, the water level on the Fox River in Montgomery has returned to the extreme low levels we were at prior to the rain storms 2 weeks ago.
The fishing picked up above the dam briefly while the water level was up but has since declined. However, our customers have had good success fishing below the dam. I’ve included a photo of Simone Ziller, 6 years old, who caught this 20 lb catfish off the bank of the Fox near Oswego. The photo was submitted to us by her father, Bernard.
Pete Lamar emailed:
Hi Dale,
I fished a couple of different Fox tribs before the extreme heat of the holiday weekend hit.
One of the streams was still high and off-color from recent rains. I couldn’t fish my usual “milk run,” so I headed way upstream, near the source, until I found water clear enough for fly fishing. No smallmouths up there at the moment but I did get an assortment: chubs, shiners and rock bass.
At least I know what the smallmouths are eating to get so big. I tried a different stream to the northeast of the first stream the next day. It is a higher gradient and usually clears up quickly enough after rain. It had dropped, but was still more off-color than I’d have liked.
I did catch some sunfish and a few small smallmouths. And I do mean small: the two weight, my usual brook trout rod, was not too much gun for them. Judging from his reaction, I really startled a kingfisher who was patrolling under the canopy of trees; he must not have expected anyone to be there.
GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN;
Arden Katz said there are two good bites now: a night bite for smallmouth in 15-20 feet on the south side of the lake on drop-shots or early or late in Geneva Bay for largemouth.
Dave Duwe emailed:
Lake Geneva 7/5/21 through 7/12/21
Fishing continues to be excellent. The bass bite is very steady and other species are now starting to turn on! The only problem has been excessive boat traffic with the holiday weekend but we’ve come to expect that.
The largemouth bass I’ve been catching are in medium depth weeds in 12-14 ft of water. The best presentation has been an Arkie Finesse jig with a green pumpkin Yum Houdini worm. The bass have been biting on the fall and on the initial shake of the rod.
I vibrate the rod 5-6 times as soon as the jig hits the bottom and then check the weight and usually the fish is on the bait. During some guide parties the jigs have been out performing nightcrawlers. The best location has been Trinkes or in Williams Bay.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been slow for me. They started to move deep and I haven’t been catching many. I would look for them on the drop off near the spawing flats. The Military Academy and Rainbow Point are good locations to start with. I would use Lindy rigged nightcrawlers and start in 18-24 ft of water.
Lake Trout are biting in the main lake basin. I’ve been fishing 100-120 ft of water catching suspended fish at first light. The bait of choice are nickel and blue spoons. The fish have been suspended 85-95 ft down. The average weight thus far has been around 10 lbs.
The big bluegills are still aggressively hitting. The best depth is 17-19 ft of water. Most of my success is coming off of leaf worms or ½ nightcrawlers. I’ve been straight lining the worms underneath the boat with a small hook and split shot. The best location has been Elgin Club and Maytag Point.
Some Walleyes are being caught at night while trolling crank baits. Use Bandit shallow Walleye crankbaits or Rapala’s fished on planer boards. There has been a lack of floating weeds on the lake so trolling has been fairly easy. The best locations are Abbey Springs or Fontana Beach.
Northern Pike will be picking up in about 10 days once the Thermocline starts. I’ll be starting to try for them the 2nd week of July.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN;
Guide Mike Norris emailed:
Fishing Report 7/5/2021;
Mike Norris;
Big Green Lake – The bass have moved deeper, and we are catching both largemouth and smallmouth bass early in the day on topwater lures out to 40 feet of water. Right now, an Evergreen Custom Topwater lure in the bone color is luring in bass up to 5 lbs. Walleye fishing is good early and late in the day with crawler harnesses trolled over and just outside the deeper weed edges.
Little Green Lake – I am getting reports that largemouth bass fishing has slowed with the warmer weather, but muskie fishing remains good. Crappies are still the main attraction out in deep water, but bluegills are hanging in and around fallen trees along the shoreline and can be caught on redworms suspended on a small jig beneath a float.
Fox Lake – With weed growth maxing out, many anglers have turned to the frog bite to battle Fox Lake’s largemouth bass. Try the grass matted areas in “The Jug” with an artificial frog. Bass can also be found around Dead, Elmwood, and Brushwood Islands. Cast a Senko to the shoreline and work it back slowly.
To book a guide trip reach out to me via my Facebook page at mike.norris.7773 or email me through my website at
www.comecatchsmallmouth.comGREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN;
Click here for the Wisconsin DNR weekly report.
HEIDECKE LAKE;
Bob Johnson’s daughter Taylor caught and released fine smallmouth bass on Heidecke Lake.
Please click on link for addition information, Thank You.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/7/6/22564829/chicago-fishing-midwest-fishing-report-perch-yes-steelhead-bass-coho-catfish-bluegillRon620DVS🎣🐠🐟🐸🦞
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