MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
PERCH: CHICAGO: Mostly smaller ones. A few big ones on Shad Raps and/ or in the deep weeds ( Burnham, DuSable). A 27- ouncer leads ‘‘ Perchapalooza’’ at Park Bait. NORTHWEST INDIANA: Slez’s: Started in 25 feet outside of mud line at Burns Ditch and around Dunes State Park in 25 to 35 feet; best on baby roaches.
NOTE: Kankakee River Fishing Derby runs through Sunday. Kyle Plein of Momence has a 9- pound, 6- ounce walleye on the big board.
AREA LAKES: Norm Minas: Basics for panfish: slip float, ice jig with a bee moth and split- shot heavy enough to stand float. For largemouth, Shadow Raps along weed edges or wood. Pete Lamar: Topwaters taking bass at dark in Kane County. Ken ‘‘ Husker’’ O’Malley: Decent bass on Senkos or Texas- rigged power worms along outside weed lines.
AREA RIVERS: FOX: Lamar: High but fishable with fish tight to shore. Ken Gortowski: Creeks ‘‘ are in perfect shape.’’ Find upstream parks and forest preserves to gain access. Go light and small. ILLINOIS: B & B Live Bait: Catfish and flatheads are top bites. KANKAKEE: Minas: Near normal flow. Had a 100- fish day from Area 7 in state park to Bourbonnais parks; best with Bandits on cobblestone flats, around islands, humps, bridges and riffles. On creeks, smallmouth and rock bass concentrated in pools.
CHAIN O’LAKES: Triangle: Walleye going by Mineola on worm harnesses or small crankbaits. Bluegills and crappie are on deeper weed lines. Bass are going on frogs and topwaters. Catfish are good, especially in river. White bass are good on Marie.
DELAVAN/ GENEVA, WISCONSIN: GENEVA: Dave Duwe: Rock bass are very good, especially on south shore. Largemouth active in 13 to 14 feet. Smallmouth best in shallow weeds ( 13 to 14 feet. Bluegills are sliding to deeper weed line ( 17 to 19 feet). DELAVAN: Duwe: ‘‘ Fantastic’’ fishing. Crappie ( weeds in 12 to 13 feet) and largemouth ( split- shot and crawlers or 4- inch finesse worms) are good. Bluegills are consistent on weed lines in 13 to 15 feet.
LAKEFRONT: Perch at top. CHICAGO: Capt. Bob Poteshman: ‘‘ Right now, fishing out of Chicago is the hot spot.’’ Lots of coho and a few steelhead and kings in 45 to 80 feet from Foster south. Park Bait: Drum going on horseshoe. WAUKEGAN: Salmon Stop: Nice coho early by green can straight out. Ted Boska: Hot early in 60 feet for coho. For mixed bag of bigger fish ( lakers, kings, rainbows, coho), try in 180 to 240 feet. NORTH POINT: Poteshman: Slowed recently. Mostly coho with a few steelhead north and south on hill in 60 to 120 feet.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Perch at top. Slez’s: Coho and a few steelhead and kings from the Ditch to East Chicago in 60 to 80 feet. Steelhead on shrimp in Trail Creek and, some days, off piers at Portage and Michigan City.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Bass and walleye going on dam face. Bass in weeds on frogs or Senkos. Walleye on rock piles. Lots of catfish. Bluegills on shorelines. Crappie mainly in cribs.