MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
LAKEFRONT PERCH: During the July closure, only those 15 and younger may fish for perch (10 perch daily) in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan. Around the reciprocal waters of Cal Harbor, Mike Starcevich of Mik-Lurch reported good jumbos by trolling spinners and soft shells over the weed beds (18 feet or less) or jigging minnows for smaller fish. North winds could slow it.
AREA LAKES: Ken “Husker’’ O’Malley of Water Werks Fishing Team reported largemouth are best on southwest ponds morning or evenings on Texasrigged Senkos pitched into weed pockets. ‘‘Johnny Sunshine’’ Pajak reported good largemouth on Texas-rigged Zoom flukes on outside weed edges or Scum frogs near sundown in DuPage ponds.
AREA RIVERS: CHICAGO: Jeff Nolan of Bridgeport Bass said largemouth are good on a football jig around the sunken bowling balls off Diversey River Bowl. DES PLAINES: Marcus Benesch waded for catfish (tight to current) and gar (among slack areas and end of riffles) in Joliet area. FOX: With high water and current, fish are out of the holes. SS Minnows in Elgin reported good flatheads on medium suckers, good catfish on crawlers and decent smallmouth and walleye. ILLINOIS: Time on the Water Outdoors reported catfish and drum on the bottom remain the top bite on shad or crawlers. KANKAKEE: Bradley-Bourbonnais basketball coach Alex Renchen tweeted his sons caught 20 smallmouth Monday near Rock Creek. Norm Minas reported rock bass and smaller smallmouth around water willow beds.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA: Triangle reported very good walleye around bridge areas or main lake points on leeches or crawlers. Bluegills (stay shallow, shade), carp and catfish (stinkbait or crawlers) are good.
COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS: With clouds, Mazonia lakes are prime. Heidecke launches are open. As of Tuesday, LaSalle concessionaire was on hold because of an electrical issue.
DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES, WIS.: DELAVAN: Guide Dave Duwe said bluegills (15 to 18 feet) and largemouth (main lake points with scattered weeds) are
best bites. GENEVA: Duwe reported lakers (105 to 110 feet) and bluegills (12 to 13 feet).
LAKEFRONT: More regular 20-pound kings showing. CHICAGO: Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters reported good lakers in 120 to 130 feet, with coho (30 to 60 feet down), steelhead (higher in column) and kings (30 feet to bottom). Some fish coming on spoons and Leadcore now. WAUKEGAN/
NORTH POINT: Fish are scattered. Poteshman reported some lakers as deep as 200 feet and spotty big kings on the hill. Find a little spot and hold.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: EAGLE RIVER: Chamber of Commerce reported
good-to-excellent pike, bass and panfish. MINOCQUA: Guide Kurt Justice of Kurt’s Island Sport Shop reported walleye (best on larger, deeper lakes), perch (weeds in 12 to 14 feet) and muskies (holding to weed cover) as good.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Trail and Salt are loaded with steelhead. Trollers are doing well before dawn at the mouth of the Ditch. For perch, see top. For salmon, it is 110 to 150 feet.
SHABBONA LAKE: Lakeside reported top three bites are bass, catfish and
walleye.