MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
BRAIDWOOD: Reopened Thursday. Reports were generally good, especially for largemouth and hybrid stripers. Open daily from 6 a. m. to sunset. Rob Abouchar: Found 63 degrees on north ( cool) side Friday. Largemouth ( 1 to 5 pounds) active on small squarebills ( sexy shad good) tight to rocks and grass edges and on dark Senkos on bottom by riprap.
AREA LAKES: Henry’s: Usual holes starting to produce some crappie ( big ones, too). Ken ‘‘ Husker’’ O’Malley: Largemouth best on sunny afternoons. Focus on outside weed lines.
AREA RIVERS: FOX: Below flood stage at Montgomery. ILLINOIS: Projected to remain in flood into next week at LaSalle and in moderate flood through the weekend at Henry. KANKAKEE: Projected to fall from flood stage from Wednesday on at Momence; already under flood stage at Wilmington.
CHAIN O’LAKES: Triangle: Open- water fishing is here. Crappie moving into most channels. Walleye fair in current areas, bridges or main- lake points. NOTE: As of Tuesday, Zone A ( upper river) remained no- wake. Check foxwaterway. state. il. us. or call ( 847) 587- 8540. COOLING LAKES/ STRIP PITS: BRAIDWOOD: See top. MAZONIA: Open. LaSALLE: Reopens March 15. Will be open daily. HEIDECKE: Reopens April 1. LAKEFRONT: CHICAGO: Henry’s: Lots of coho. Powerliners doing best, but casters getting a few with bait. Montrose most packed, but also catching at Burnham/ Northerly Island, 39th and 63rd. Some jigging for lakers. A few browns being caught, too. Slez’s: Perch still being caught at Southeast Side slips ( sort for keepers). Capt. Scott Wolfe/ School of Fish Charters: Sister boat in Chicago already catching good numbers of coho; best south of Chicago breakwall/ Chicago Light area. NOTE: Park Bait is open.
WAUKEGAN: Salmon Stop: Powerliners and casters taking some browns and coho off the pier.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Gamefish season is closed. Permanent ice shacks must be removed from Michigan boundary waters by March 15. MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Expects ice fishing for panfish into April, with 26 to 30 inches of ice and 12 to 16 inches of snow on top. Snow making travel tough. Perch ( wigglers and blood worms in mud) and bluegills ( standing weeds in 6 to 10 feet) are good. NORTHWEST INDIANA: Slez’s: ‘‘ Coho action solid’’ around Gary Light and Lake Street breakwall. Trolling Brads ThinFish and J9 Rapalas producing at mouth of port. When water clears, shore action should pick up for coho.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Lake is 100 percent open ( uncertain if any ice will reform). Lakeside is closed, but Clint Sands is there mornings. Boat rentals are by appointment. Park hours are 8 a. m. to 8 p. m.
FISH OF THEWEEK
Ryan ‘‘ Ski’’ Kwiecinski, one of the best young fishermen in the south suburbs, caught one of the best fish at the Braidwood Lake opener last week. It was a 7.25- pound hybrid striped bass.
Submit nominations on Facebook ( Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@ BowmanOutside) or by email ( straycasts@ sbcglobal. net).
SHOWAND GO
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show: Today- Sunday, Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, West Allis, jssportsshow. com. Canoecopia: Friday- Sunday, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin, canoecopia. com. Salmon and trout seminars: Saturday, Capt. Arnie Ar redondo ,9 a.m .; Capt. Carl Stopczynski, 10: 30 a.m .; Capt. Scott Wolfe ,1 p.m. Lake Michigan Angler, Winthrop Harbor, ( 224) 789- 7627. Quad County Hawg Hunters’ Indoor Fishing Flea Market: Sunday, Plano American Legion, ( 815) 286- 7170 or dlandmeier@ frontier. com. Rockford RV, Camping& Travel Show: Friday- Sunday, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park, landro productions. com/ rv- camping- travel- show.