MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
ILLINOIS PERCH: Reopens Saturday on Lake Michigan, the Chicago River system and the Calumet River. Forecast of south winds and 90- degree temaperatures bring promise. Henry’s: Should have soft shells. Park Bait: Many perch at Montrose.
FREE FISHING DAYS: No licenses or stamps are needed during Illinois’ Free Fishing Days ( Friday through Monday).
FROG HUNTING: Season ( bullfrogs only) opens Friday. Fishing license is required. Frogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand or landing net. Daily bag is eight; possession limit is 16.
AREA LAKES: Many lakes and lagoons were stocked with catfish. Henry’s: Bass ‘‘ doing very well.’’ Lots of bluegills.
AREA RIVERS: CALUMET: BoRabb Williams: Catfish top bite, but there’s ‘‘ plenty’’ of bluegills along with big drum and bass.
CHICAGO: Capt. Pat Harrison: Multiple species ( crappie, bluegills, bass) going; best on white jig and twistertail, but small crankbaits or drop- shots taking bass. DES
PLAINES: Downstream areas are near flood. ILLINOIS: Crested under flood stage at LaSalle. B& B Live Bait: Catfish top bite. KANKAKEE: Stained but reasonable levels.
CHAIN O’LAKES: Triangle: Bluegills on the beds. Walleye are ‘‘ unbelievable’’ around current. Catfish ‘‘ excellent’’ on crawlers, stinkbait or cut bait. COOLING LAKES/ STRIP PITS: LaSALLE: Darryl Turner: Blues remained very good ( to 27 pounds) last week. BRAIDWOOD: Rob Abouchar: Bass best on flipping baits. DELAVAN/ GENEVA, WISCONSIN: DELAVAN: Dave Duwe: Best overall fishing in years. Top bite is post- spawn largemouth on weed lines in 12 to 15 feet. Smallmouth ‘‘ hot’’ on weed lines. GENEVA: Arden Katz: Panfish ( 80 percent still have eggs) are in 12 to 14 feet. A few largemouth drop- shotting. Duwe: Water warming daily. Rock bass ( 12 to 14 feet) bite builds. Walleye are best bite around Trinkes, Williams Bay and Abbey Springs from midnight to 4 a. m.
LAKEFRONT: Still good smallmouth on lakefront ( see Fish of the Week). Park Bait: Lots of drum at Montrose. ‘‘ Gigantic carp’’ inside the harbor. Capt. Scott Wolfe: Waukegan fishing has ‘‘ likely been the best of the season’’ for coho and lakers with an occasional king and steelhead; best in 70 to 150 feet. NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Ken ‘‘ Husker’’ O’Malley: Crappie very good in 7 to 10 feet with plastics over weed tops. Bluegills good along shoreline cover. MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Bluegills very good shallow on small leeches or thunderbugs. Perch, pike and largemouth are good. NORTHWEST INDIANA: Ben Dickinson: A few steelhead starting to move into streams after rains. Slez’s: Willow Slough giving up bluegills. Catfish good in the Ditch. On Lake Michigan, coho and lakers are in 70 to 150 feet straight out of Ditch. ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: Catfish and drum are good off the pier. A few skamania. ‘‘ All you want coho’’ in 200 feet. SHABBONA: Lakeside: Fishing outstanding with a ‘‘ ton of walleye’’ on crawlers, leeches, minnows or crawler harnesses around weeds. ‘‘ A bunch of catfish and bass.’’ Bluegills and crappie are done spawning.
SHOWAND GO
Ducks at the Track Waterfowl Classic and Super 66 Great Gun Giveaway:
Ducks Unlimited fundraiser, 10 a. m.- 4 p. m. Saturday, Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, ducksatthetrack.com.