MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
BRAIDWOOD OPENER: The cooling lake south of Joliet reopens Thursday. Daily hours are 6 a. m. to sunset. No new regulations. Check with Jon’s Bait & Tackle Shop — ( 815) 237- 2822 — in South Wilmington. From survey last fall, biologist Rob Miller said, “We did really well on largemouth bass, really pretty remarkable, especially with the amount of tournament fishing. . . . Really good numbers of legal fish [ 15 inches] again.’’ Numbers were almost three times the average during electroshocking, “but the reality is a lot of those fish are 4 to 8 inches,’’ and it looks like a strong year- class coming. Bass were in good condition. Gizzard shad a concern ( low numbers, old fish); but threadfin “were everywhere.’’ Blues numbers “were really good.’’ The biggest one shocked was 37 inches, 26 1/ 2 pounds. “Channel catfish are what they are and go up and down.’’ Flatheads have natural reproduction. Bluegill were down and averaged 5 inches.
AREA LAKES: Ken “Husker’’ O’Malley put it best: “Time to break out the long rods.’’ Many were on Tuesday.
AREA RIVERS: CHICAGO: Capt. Pat Harrison: Water surface in low 40s; a lot of floating wood and stained water over the weekend. ILLINOIS: Projected to be in flood into next week at LaSalle. KANKAKEE: Projected to drop below flood at Wilmington this week.
CHAIN: Triangle: Some already fishing open water on the river for white bass and walleye; a few early crappie on open back channels. COOLING LAKES/ STRIP PITS: MAZONIA/ BRAIDWOOD: See Braidwood at top. Mazonia lakes are open for fishing. LaSALLE: Reopens March 15. Will be open daily. HEIDECKE: Reopens April 1.
LAKEFRONT: Boaters reporting some big whitefish off Chicago. Powerliners started catching the first few coho along with browns and lakers. Slez’s: Nicest perch in a while from Southeast Side slips over the weekend on fatheads. PARK BAIT: May open as early as next week.
N. WIS.: Gamefish season ends Sunday. Kurt Justice: Heavy snows have made travel tougher, be prepared. As to fishing, bluegill, pike and perch have been good.
NW IND.: Slez’s: Weather has people out, a few browns and coho at Port of Indiana, mostly on squid or roaches, a few on lures. Willow Slough is high, but bluegill and bass being caught.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Lake is 85 percent frozen, but going fast. Lakeside — ( 815) 824- 2581 — is closed until real open water, but if you see someone around, bait will be sold. Park goes to 8 a. m.8 p. m. on Thursday.