MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
QUOTE: “Bring plenty of water, sunblock and breathable clothing with you this week.’’ — Dustin Murguia PERCH: Season reopens Friday on the Illinois lakefront. Park Bait: Lots of smaller perch at Montrose, plus some bigger ones. Salmon Stop: Perch being seen off the pier at Waukegan. ILLINOIS’ FREE FISHING DAYS: Friday through Monday. No licenses or stamps required, but other regulations apply. BULLFROGS: Season in Illinois opens Thursday. They may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand or landing net.
AREA LAKES: Murguia: Weed growth ‘‘ provides the edge you need to fish.’’ He suggested buzzbaits early at Busse. Kayak fishing at Lemont Quarries producing bass on a Neko rig or weightless fluke along bluff walls.
AREA RIVERS: FOX: Adam Hunt: Best day ever Saturday on Fox. Caught more than 25 smallmouth in St. Charles area, most on Husky Jerk. ILLINOIS: Henry’s: Catfish on fire. KANKAKEE: River more wadeable every day. Norm Minas: Fishing both sides of riffles or current seams producing smallmouth, as are some waterwillow beds. CHAIN O’LAKES: Triangle: Bedding bluegills are top bite. Walleye OK. Some perch on sand or gravel flats.
DELAVAN/ GENEVA, WISCONSIN: GENEVA: Arden Katz: Pumpkinseeds on fire in bays. Dave Duwe: Rock bass everywhere. Bluegills good in 15 to 17 feet. Largemouth picking up in 10 to 12 feet. Walleye good at night. DELAVAN: Duwe: Bluegills ( scattered sand pockets and weeds in 10 to 12 feet) and largemouth ( weed line) are good.
LAKEFRONT: See perch above. CHICAGO: Henry’s: Smallmouth winding down. Capt. Bob Poteshman: Coho turning on in 40 to 140 feet ( depending on the day) right off downtown. Some lakers. WAUKEGAN: Salmon Stop: Boats anywhere from 70 to 120 feet, north and south. The earlier, the better. NORTH POINT: Poteshman: ‘‘ Fantastic’’ for coho, some close to beach, some deep. Lakers hitting deep. NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Ken ‘‘ Husker’’ O’Malley: Largemouth moving shallow ( pick Senkos to shallow cover). Crappie staging ( find new weed growth). Smallmouth going on topwaters last hour. MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Bluegill S ( poppers, Thunderbugs), smallmouth ( jerk- style baits) and largemouth ( more bedding fish, some topwater action). NORTHWEST INDIANA: Tackle Haven: Steelhead going at Michigan City on lake and up creek. Slez’s: Coho, a few steelhead and a few kings straight out of Burns Ditch in 60 to 100 feet. A few perch outside of Burns Ditch and east of the doughnut in 30 feet.
ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: A few steelhead off the north pier. Best coho are in 80 to 160 feet or 200 feet and deeper. Walleye are good in the river.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Heat has limited anglers, but bass are picking up. Catfish, bluegills and crappie are good. WOLF LAKE: Robert Coutinho: Lots of bass spawning. Caught a 32- inch pike on a crankbait.