MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
LAKEFRONT SALMON/TROUT: Coho around, plus bonus browns, steelhead and lakers, most caught tangentially. Nate Torres, 13, caught 29-inch trout on a Marabou jig tipped with shrimp while coho fishing at Montrose. Jason “Special One” Le: He and friends caught coho at Michigan City, Indiana, then Sunday powerlining on the Chicago lakefront. Ian Guen-Murray: Caught a 26-inch steelhead Presidents Day, on a Mepps spinner on North Side. Jim and Casey Shell: Trolling Cal breakwall with crankbaits produced coho. Matt Larkin: Caught a 34-inch laker with his perch rod (6-pound line) and a spoon while coho fishing at Cal Park. Salmon Stop: A few trout at Waukegan. Slez’s: Pier fishing for coho at Portage Riverwalk and Michigan City Pier in Indiana, skein, spawns sacs, squid or shrimp. Trollers in and out of mud line in Portage and around Gary Light with Brad’s ThinFish, J-9s or other shallow crankbaits. Tackle Haven: Weather limiting action at St. Joseph Pier, Michigan, coho there when weather allows access; some coho inside New Buffalo.
LAKEFRONT PERCH: Some night fishing South Side slips with success. Weather is the question. Slez’s: Decent perch for boaters in 50-58 out of Portage and west in Indiana when weather allows.
PASSES: Chicago Park District’s parking passes ($20, two months) and $10 pier passes may be bought at Northerly Island Visitor Center, call (312) 745-2910 first. NAVY PIER: North side open for anglers. Discounted angler parking; $9 daily, if out by 10 a.m.
WISCONSIN REMINDER: Inland gamefish season ends midnight Sunday.
AREA LAKES: Remaining ice not safe. Juan Macias: Caught crappie and yellow bass, minnows under a bobber, over weekend at Busse. Ken “Husker” O’Malley: Working current seams after the rains with a Cordell Spot.
AREA RIVERS: FOX: Dave’s Bait: Trying for walleye below Algonquin and McHenry dams, extra-large fatheads on 1/8th-ounce jig; some channels open, crappies and bluegills being caught. Dicky’s: Walleye below dams, mostly smaller, but a 7.9-pounder caught last week below Montgomery Dam. ILLINOIS: Projected to be in flood through the weekend at Starved Rock. KANKAKEE: High, especially downstream of confluence with Iroquois.
BRAIDWOOD: Reopens today; open daily 6 a.m.-sunset.
CHAIN: Triangle: Most ice gone. If navigating, be aware and cautious of any remaining ice floes.
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Mike Norris: BIG GREEN: Ice only 4-8 inches; winning laker at weekend derby was 37.5 inches. FOX LAKE: 8-10 inches of ice, running four-wheelers.
GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN: Howie’s: Usual ice-fishing spots not accessible for whitefish (probably not happening this winter).
MADISON, WISCONSIN: Arden Katz: Bluegills good on Monona Bay (7 inches of ice), jigging waxies or red spikes down in 5 ft.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Kurt Justice: Variable reports, but largemouth very good on medium shiners under tip-ups or jigging Shad Raps or Rippin Raps; pike good. Travel on ice remains good.
SHABBONA: Site hours go to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. today.
WISCONSIN DELLS: Norris: Good walleye action jigging below the dam.