MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
PERCH: Perch fishing on Lake Michigan in Illinois is closed through June 15. Closure also includes the Chicago River system and the Calumet River. AREA RIVERS: Henry’s: Even with high water, lots of drum and catfish in the rivers. KANKAKEE: I waded it Monday, up slightly, fast, fair fishing. CHAIN: Triangle: Top bite is bluegill on Loon, but bluegill are going all over; catfish are particularly good on the upper and lower river; walleye are still working around bridges and current areas. COOLING LAKES/ STRIP PITS: MAZONIA: The lakes should be nearing or in their peak periods. BRAIDWOOD: Rob Abouchar: Early morning best bite for bass; slows as temps rise. DELAVAN, WIS.: Dave Duwe: Bluegill ‘‘ excellent’’ in 4- 5 ft. or suspended in 14- 15; crappie very good on weed line in 12- 15; largemouth still spawning shallow ( 3- 5); smallmouth spawning on hard- sand bottoms in 12- 14; pike good in shallow weedy bays. DOWNSTATE: EVERGREEN: Bait shop and boat rental open daily 6 a. m.- 6 p. m.
LAKEFRONT: Henry’s: Sean Mulheron said, ‘‘ Fish are biting left and right, and the lakefront is on fire!” Capt. Bob Poteshman: Out of North Point, ‘‘ Tremendous fishing, but different every day’’; key is moving around to find the bait and fish every day; mainly coho with a smattering of steelhead, kings and lakers. Chicago was difficult through the weekend, but bait started showing on Monday and so did more coho in 40- 70 ft. Capt. Scott Wolfe: Off Waukegan, ‘‘ fish and bait everywhere’’ and trollers doing well; most going to 170 ft. or deeper, but he worked well shallow with good coho catches, occasional king, steelhead and brown.
N. WIS.: MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Bluegills (‘‘ shallow and voracious!’’), largemouth ( topwaters shallow) and smallmouth are excellent; crappie are very good away from bedding but not deep. Water reached upper 70s, look for early mayfly hatches.
NW IND. Slez’s: Some steelhead off Michigan City pier; Willow Slough good for boaters with crickets, red worms or bee- moths; salmon good out of Burns Ditch and east; catfish going in Burns Ditch and Deep River.
ST. JOSEPH, MICH.: Tackle Haven: Catching some kings and a little bit of everything in 80- 125 ft., some out past 200.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Lots of catfish over the weekend, shallow, on crawlers or liver; weeds coming up; some walleye starting shallow on crawlers and leeches; crappie are back in deeper cribs and brush; bass finishing spawning; water is in upper 70s. Lakeside is open 6 a. m. to 7 p. m. Park hours 6 a. m.- 10 p. m. As of this weekend, the restaurant is open daily.