MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
AREA LAKES: Trout getting most effort. Ramon Martin caught a pair of golden trout in Cook County. Henry’s: Crappie are OK in the forest preserves. Ken ‘‘Husker’’ O’Malley: Focus on outside weed lines with Maki plastics for crappie, bluegill and occasional small largemouth. TROUT: Nearby sites include Cook (Axehead, Belleau, Busse North, Green, Horsetail, Sag Quarry East, Wolf); DuPage (Silver, Pickerel, Grove); Kankakee (Bird Park Quarry, Rock Creek); Kendall (Big Lake at Silver Springs SFWA); Lake (Sand Lake at Illinois Beach SP, Banana); McHenry (Spring Grove Hatchery Pond); Will (Lake Strini, Van Horn Woods). Fishing license and inland trout stamp required; daily bag is five.
AREA RIVERS: CHICAGO: Capt. Pat Harrison: Bite is mainly largemouth and bluegill, some quality fish; water holding in 50s. DES PLAINES: Tim Baker: High and muddy south, but pike being caught and some crappie along brush piles. KANKAKEE: Kyle Lund: Low, “Great fall fishing report.’’ Low, clear, in 50s; for smallmouth Ned rig working best in deeper faster water; walleye starting to ramp up.
CHAIN: Triangle: Water level low, navigation possible, but caution needed; white and yellow bass continue fair around main lake points in 8 ft.; crappie fair, but scattered with drawdown, look around current areas; try for walleye around main-lake points in 6-15 ft.; muskie are fair. LOCKS: Beginning Thursday, the locks are closed.
DELAVAN/GENEVA, WIS.: DELAVAN: Baker: Water dropping into 40s; “moderate success’’ on walleye (drift fishing deep weed lines, some perch mixed in) and crappie (either shallow relating to docks or suspended deep). GENEVA: Could use regular reports in cold weather.
GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WIS.: Ed Bohn (with Mike Nega): Big smallmouth, including two over 6 pounds, Friday all on tubes, nothing shallower than 16 ft.
LAKEFRONT: Waiting on perch. Henry’s: Still some salmon and trout around the harbors. SNAGGING: Snagging for Chinook and coho only is permitted at four locations: Jackson Harbor (inner and outer), Lincoln Park Lagoon south of Fullerton, Waukegan Harbor north basin only and Winnetka power plant.
N. WIS.: MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Muskie on suckers remain the top bite; walleye are fair to good, slow jigging and Lindy rigs; most piers removed so bring boots to launch.
NW IND.: Slez’s: Lakers near shore keep getting better. When weather allows,some trying for perch in Cal Park area; large fatheads best.
ST. JOSEPH, MICH.: Tackle Haven: A few kings at Berrien Springs, a few steelhead in the river.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: Muskie (thick fish) picked up, including three this week, best trolling; crappie hitting in either trees or cribs, better ones deep as 20 ft. Lakeside goes to 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday. Boat rentals by appointment only in November. Beginning Thursday, park hours are 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.