MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
INLAND TROUT: Nearby sites include Cook County: Axehead, Belleau, Busse North, Green, Horsetail, Sag Quarry East, Wolf; DuPage: Silver, Pickerel, Grove; Kankakee: Bird Park Quarry, Rock Creek; Kendall: Big Lake at Silver Springs SFWA; Lake: Sand at Illinois Beach SP, Banana; McHenry: Spring Grove Hatchery Pond; Will: Lake Strini, Van Horn Woods.
AREA LAKES: Most attention on inland trout, but some starting to chase crappie as water cools.
CHAIN: Arden Katz: Lots of white bass in 12- 15 ft. on Bluff and Marie; crappie are picking up; yellow bass on Spring are “unbelievable’’; he has seen others with walleyes of 7 and 10 pounds. Triangle: Water cools through the 40s; try for walleye around connecting channels, main lake points and bridge areas; muskie are good on small suckers or big jerkbaits.
LOCK/ DRAWDOWN: The Stratton Lock closes for the season Wednesday; and drawdown begins.
COOLING LAKES/ STRIP PITS: Braidwood, Heidecke and LaSalle are closed for the year; as is Mazonia, except Monster at Mazonia South is open year- round.
KANKAKEE RIVER: Kankakee River Trading Post: Water is stained and high, some walleye and smallmouth, but most focusing on trout in Rock Creek.
LAKEFRONT: CHICAGO: Park Bait: A few steelhead at Belmont and Diversey. Henry’s: Few picking up a few perch at Navy Pier; but Southeast Side remains dead for perch. SALMON
SNAGGING: Legal spots are Jackson Park inner and outer harbors; Lincoln Park Lagoon south of Fullerton; Winnetka power plant discharge area and Waukegan Harbor North Basin. N. WIS.: MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Some water cools toward 40; snow limited anglers; fishermen are going to suckers for muskie. NW IND.: As FOTW shows, some steelhead in the streams. Slez’s: Crappie going many places, including under 249 bridge and evenings on Long from boat.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Trollers on muskies in east and north bays; crappie being caught in the deep trees. NOTE: Park goes 8 a. m.- 5 p. m. Wednesday. Lakeside is closed until ice fishing comes.
WOLF RIVER, WIS.: FREMONT: Bill Stoeger: Water cools through 40s, walleye are coming up, some are scattered throughout, has been good Red Banks to Partridge.