MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
AREA LAKES: Most lakes are snow-covered with slush; time for rubber boots and cleats. Weekend looks sloppier. Marcus Benesch on Independence Grove (mandatory catch-and-release): Found good jumbo perch one day (small fatheads). Decent pike in shallow weeds.
CHAIN: Triangle: Plenty of ice generally, but stay away from current areas. Crappie are decent on Channel or Catherine on glow or pink jigs. For bluegills, Channel or Catherine are best. Pike fishing is very good in most northern Lake County lakes, especially Loon and Deep; try tip-ups rigged with large or medium roaches. Perch are fair on Channel; start in 11 feet and work deeper looking for weeds. ICE-FISHING ACCESS: Hermann’s Rest-A-While (Nielsen’s Channel), Granny’s Lakeside Diner (Spring Lake Marina), Choppers Bar and Grill (Channel), Sandbar Bar & Grille (Marie), Oak Park Lounge (Pistakee Bay), Musky Tales Bait Shop (near the old Mentone’s), Famous Freddie’s Roadhouse (T-Channel), Barnacle Bob’s (Marie) and Jack & Lydia’s Resort (Deep). COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS: BRAIDWOOD: Reopens March 1. HEIDECKE: Reopens April 1. LaSALLE: Reopens March 15. MAZONIA: Both units open to fishing. Ice-fish at own risk.
GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN: Ice fishing for whitefish is going, but it is variable from reports of those returning.
LAKEFRONT: Ice pack cleared out quickly on the lake side. A few powerlining for early coho at Montrose (might as well, they’re catching a few in Indiana). Catching a few steelhead (see FOTW) and browns ice-fishing the harbors.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Snow making difficult travel (more snow forecast through weekend). Plenty of ice (22 to 28 inches), just 2 feet or more of snow on top.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Slez’s: Decent coho at Portage on skein or small roaches on floats. Good bluegills (take sorting) on Willow Slough on spikes or bee moths on tungsten jigs. Good bass on tip-ups. A few steelhead in Salt and Little Cal, mainly on Voodoo jigs tipped with butterworms or waxworms. POWERTON: Shore and boat fishing open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. SHABBONA: Ken ‘‘Husker’’ O’Malley: Ice to 12 inches. Crappie decent (stay mobile, catch a few from each hole). A few bluegills, too. Focus on brush piles, cribs and traditional areas with gold-and-white jigs tipped with multiple spikes or Wack’em and Stack’em plastics. Lakeside — (815) 824-2581 — is open 8 a.m.2 p.m. Park hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
WINNEBAGO SYSTEM: Sturgeon spearing ended Monday on the upriver lakes. It continues on Winnebago, possibly until the final day Sunday.