MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
LAKEFRONT PERCH: Jason Fox took his 4-year-old, David, to Navy Pier. “Not fast and furious, but they were all quality fish. He learned some colorful words and was cheered on by his neighbors.” Adem Tagani, with his dad, caught 19 keepers (averaging 10 inches) on Saturday and 16 on Sunday; before sunrise, there were a few on the wall, once sun rose; casting far out to weed beds. Arden Katz: Smaller perch at 89th, but limited at North Slip, Mini-Mites with spikes. Jim Shell: Lake cooled to 39, best trip perch fishing downtown by boat; big schools north of Navy Pier; very light bite, averaged 12 inches. Park Bait: Minnows, shrimp, worms, jigging spoons or plastics with waxies or spikes; no harbor reports. Salmon Stop: Few off end of Waukegan’s Government Pier. Slez’s: Boaters in 50-60 feet, off Gary Light, minnows on perch rigs; boaters up Cal to 106th and beyond for perch.
PASSES NOTE: Northerly Island Visitor Center closed. Email fishing@chicagoparkdistrict.com. Pier and parking passes may be bought at Park Bait until Sunday.
NAVY PIER: Fishing allowed north side, discounted angler parking $9 daily, beginning at 5 a.m.; must be out by 10 a.m. for discount.
AREA LAKES: Brief ice fishing last week north, back to open water.
CHAIN: Triangle: A few ice-fished last week; now, boaters catching walleye on No. 7 Rippin’ Raps in 17 feet and 3 feet; panfish in first-ice spots in channels; muskie on bigger suckers. GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN: Kyle Tepper: Good walleye, mainly nights, trolling or casting, 12-25 feet.
LAKEFRONT: Anthony Johnson: Nick Winstead caught a good laker at Navy Pier, Perch Pounder with waxies. Park Bait: Lakers mixed with perch. Salmon Stop: A few browns at Waukegan.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Kyle Lamm: 4-5 inches of ice around Hayward; medium suckers caught biggest fish, 20-inch walleye and 33-inch muskie. Kurt Justice: Around Minocqua, Jeff Walz’s 38.5-inch pike topped weekend Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Walleye (jigging Rapalas and spoons, dark or low light, 5-8 feet) and pike (tip-ups and Jaw Jackers) excellent; crappie (green weeds in 6-10) and bluegill good.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Philip Jordan: Good steelhead in Trail. ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: 11-pound steelhead and 7-pound brown Tuesday off pier. Big steelhead 9.46 pounds, Southwest Michigan Steelheaders Winter River Challenge.