MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
LAKEFRONT SALMON: CHICAGO: Park Bait: Two kings and one coho were caught Tuesday morning at Montrose. INDIANA: Ben Dickinson, assistant Lake Michigan fisheries biologist: Nineteen kings and a handful of steelhead were caught Monday at the Trail Creek barrier. Capt. Rich Sleziak: Marked kings in 40 to 45 feet out of the Ditch; best on Moonshine spoons or Ace Hi plugs.
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN: Port Washington: John Carlson: His son caught a big king early Tuesday. ( Water temperature was 56 degrees.) SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: ‘‘ On verge of coming in.’’ Kings shallower ( 50 to 60 feet).
LAKEFRONT PERCH: CHICAGO: Park Bait: Small ones at Montrose. INDIANA: Slez’s Bait: Good in 18 to 25 feet from West Beach to Michigan City, but only a few boats are out. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: Sporadic action in 40 to 45 feet.
AREA LAKES: Ken ‘‘ Husker’’ O’Malley: Topwater bite for bass early and late. Drop- shot rig on outside weed lines.
AREA RIVERS: DES PLAINES: Marcus Benesch: Levels more stable north, fluctuating south. Good largemouth action. FOX: Most consistent levels. ILLINOIS: Crested just under flood Monday.
KANKAKEE: River crested in Illinois but will remain high; Indiana flooded. Norm Minas: Fishing flooded cover producing multiple species on single spins, swim jig/ swimbait combo and a weighted keeper/ twister combo.
CHAIN O’LAKES: Triangle: Water remains very warm. Bluegills and catfish top bites. Some suspended crappie. Heavy jigs deep on weed lines for bass. Some white bass evenings on flats or in the river. DELAVAN/ GENEVA, WISCONSIN: GENEVA: Arden Katz: Dropshotting in 15 feet producing smallmouth and rock bass. Dave Duwe: Bluegills consistent in 18 to 20 feet. Largemouth very good by Covenant Harbor, Maytag Point or Coleman’s Point. DELAVAN: Duwe: Largemouth most consistent ( best in 13 to 15 feet around Yacht Club, but some in 22 to 24 feet on Lindy- rigged crawlers). Crappie on weed lines in 13 feet. GREEN/ STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN: Howie’s Tackle: Smallmouth good from Sturgeon Bay to Washington Island. Improvement with walleye on deep- diving crankbaits or worm harnesses. Perch take sorting.
LAKEFRONT: See shoreline salmon and perch at top. CHICAGO: Capt. Bob Poteshman: More lakers now; R4 is best. WAUKEGAN: Ted Boska: Very good fishing from hill south. Good steelhead and coho in 140 feet. A few kings. NORTH POINT: Poteshman: ‘‘ Can’t get any better.’’ Lakers and steelhead straight out from hill to 150 feet on both sides of state line. NORTHERN WISCONSIN: MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Largemouth ( wacky- worming in 7 to 12 feet), smallmouth ( outside edges of coontail in 14 to 18 feet), pike and bluegills ( cabbage flats) are good. SHABBONA: Lakeside: Muskie picked up ( trolling) over weekend as water cooled to 70s. Walleye being taken on weed flats or drops. Wacky- worming producing bass on dam face.