MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
AREA LAKES: Anticipating ice. ICE-FISHING REGS (public sites): Ice-fish at your own risk unless noted. Ice fishing is not permitted at Chicago Lagoons, FPD of Kendall County, FPD of Will County and FP of the Kankakee River Valley. FP COOK: Ice-fishing lakes are Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South, Bullfrog, Busse main and south, Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee Slough, Sag Quarry, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum. FPD DuPAGE: Permitted most sites. No ice fishing at Spring Creek Reservoir. Late-night fishing allowed at Deep Quarry but must be out of preserve by 11 p.m. FPD KANE: Permitted only at Lake Patterson (Hampshire South FP), Oakhurst FP, two ponds in Paul Wolff Campground and Grunwald Farms FP.
LAKE FP: When conditions allow, ice fishing permitted 6:30 a.m. to sunset at Banana and Independence Grove south bay and 6:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset at Sterling. McHENRY CCD: Ice fishing at The Hollows (west lake only). SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Must use the east entrance.
CHAIN: Triangle: Back channels should have ice fishing by weekend.
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Mike Norris: FOX: Excellent pike on tip-ups. Crappie and bluegills improving. LITTLE GREEN: Ice anglers catching pike (tip-ups, weed edges), walleye (after dark) and crappie (middle of lake). PUCKAWAY: Pike and occasional walleye on tip-ups within 10 feet of shore. BIG GREEN: Ice fishing at Beyer’s Cove and T-Channels, but much of lake open.
LAKEFRONT: For perch, blow knocked back fishing. Otherwise, still some steelhead (Sey Jay caught a 29-incher at Fullerton), plus a few browns and lakers. Haven’t heard of whitefish in recent days.
MADISON, WISCONSIN. D&S: Monona Bay and Cherokee Marsh best for ice fishing. More areas will have fishable ice by the weekend.
MAZONIA: Lakes open daily for fishing. If ice fishing comes, it’s at your own risk.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Kurt Justice: High barometer made for tough fishing, but ice and slush conditions improved.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Slez’s: First boats back trying for perch around the Calumet before the cold. TOURNAMENT: Northwest Indiana Steelheaders’ Coldest Day Tournament is Saturday. Weigh-in runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chief’s Bait in Michigan City.
POWERTON: Bank fishing daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: Some coho limits off St. Joe pier Monday. Some coho at New Buffalo. Spawn on bottom.
SHABBONA: Clint Sands: Lake 100 percent open Tuesday. He figures two weeks before ice fishing and Lakeside reopens. Park hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.