MIDWEST FISHING REPORT

OVERVIEW: A bit better perch and hoping on some fishable ice this week around Chicago.

LAKEFRONT PERCH: Reports are steadier, especially South Side slips, but variable weather keeps perching hit and miss. Steadiest is boaters in Cal and shore fishing at South Side slips; Navy Pier spotty; North Side harbors dead. Arden Katz: Found perch stacked ‘‘8 feet thick’’ by boat around South Slips one day, then did well from shore next day. Jeffrey Williams: Relative got into them Monday at Navy Pier. Ken ‘‘Husker’’ O’Malley: Perch good at South Side slips on crappie rigs with minnows and shrimp. Slez’s: ‘‘Seems like the perch are creeping up the [Cal] a little more everyday.’’

NEARBY ICE-FISHING REGULATIONS: In case fishable ice forms again. Ice fish at your own risk, unless noted. Ice fishing is not permitted at the Chicago Lagoons, FPD of Kendall County, FPD of Will County and FP of the Kankakee River Valley. FP COOK: Ice-fishing lakes are Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South only, Bullfrog, Busse main and south, Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee Slough, Sag Quarry, Tampier, Turtlehead, Wampum. FPD

DuPAGE: Permitted most sites. No ice fishing at Spring Creek Reservoir. Late-night fishing allowed at Deep Quarry, must be out of preserve by 11 p.m. FPD KANE: Permitted only at Lake Patterson (Hampshire South FP), Oakhurst FP, two ponds within Paul Wolff Campground and Grunwald Farms FP. LAKE FP: When conditions allow, ice fishing permitted 6:30 a.m. to sunset at Banana and Independence Grove south bay; 6:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset at Sterling. MAZONIA SFWA: Monster open for open-water or ice fishing. McHENRY CCD: Ice fishing at The Hollows (West Lake only).

CHAIN: Triangle: Ice held on back channels, some will be fishable later this week.

GREEN LAKE, WIS.: Mike Norris: Caught bass to 78 ft., a personal deepest; in general live-bait rigging in 16-78; a few others trying for suspended walleye; cold front will change accessibility.

LAKEFRONT: Perch at top. Park Bait (now closed): Some nice steelhead at Diversey and steelies and browns at Montrose.

N. WIS.: Kurt Justice: Ice should set up better with intense cold; bluegill (bays in 5-8 ft.) and pike are good; crappie and perch are fair to good.

NW IND.: Perch at top. Slez’s: Voodoo jigs in black and purple tipped with butterworms taking steelhead in all tributaries; some lakers from shore in Portage and Michigan City on spoons and crankbaits.

SW MICH.: Tackle Haven: Some steelhead (midriver up to Berrien Springs) and a few walleye; when pier is accessible, a few whitefish caught.

SHABBONA: Lakeside closed until ice fishing. Park hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.