MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
SHORELINE SALMON: Sporadic Chinook, and occasional coho, from shore, especially at Waukegan but also in Chicago (officially closed but people may walk or bike in). In Indiana, Slez’s recommended glow spoons on the lakefront spots and spinners or floating spawn sacs in the creeks.
DERBY: Northern Illinois Anglers Association’s 37th Kankakee River Annual Fishing Derby (kankakeefishingderby.com) runs through Sunday. Notables on the Big Board included Jeff Dummer (10-pound, 11-ounce pike) and Darrell Powers (9-9 channel catfish).
STURGEON: Hook-and-line sturgeon season, below Dells dam, runs through Sept. 30. Permit needed if you plan to keep fish, minimum length 60 inches; dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/sturgeon/SturgeonInlandFishery.html. River’s Edge at Dells reported lots of smaller ones.
AREA LAKES: Before cold snap, Anthony Lederer caught good largemouth on frogs in north suburbs. Ken “Husker” O’Malley: Decent bass on Texasrigged creature baits on outside weed lines.
AREA RIVERS: FOX: Pete Lamar: Levels are holding, even before rains. ILLINOIS: Before rains, Bill Meyer found fish (nine species, 60 fish) stacked in a tributary. Closures continue for Dresden Island, Marseilles, Starved Rock, Peoria and LaGrange locks for repairs. KANKAKEE: Derby at top. O’Malley: Smallmouth good early on topwaters; after that, work bottom with craw imitators and TRDs around faster water above riffles or current seams.
CHAIN: Triangle: Try crappie early mornings in 6 feet; with rain, walleye picked up around current at bridges; pike good shallow on roach under a float; for bluegill, try in 8 feet; catfish continue great on crawlers, stinkbait or cut bait. NOTE: Stratton Lock closes for the season Monday. DELAVAN/GENEVA, WISCONSIN: Dave Duwe: DELAVAN: Perch best of the year in 15-17 on green hellgrammites; crappie improving in 12-15 on weed line; walleye good at dusk or dawn on crawlers. GENEVA: Rock bass excellent (big ones in 15-20); perch improving daily in 10-12; walleye consistent nights trolling weed lines in 15-17; smallmouth just off weed line in 18-22.
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Mike Norris: PUCKAWAY: Bluegill moved into shoreline coves. FOX: Largemouth picking up with cooldown in Government Area and The Jug; trolling walleye in 12-14 in the basin. LAKEFRONT: Shoreline salmon at top. Chicago lakefront remains officially closed, but people fishing by walking or biking in. Fisherman’s parking passes are not being sold while the lakefront remains officially closed. Capt. Bob Poteshman: Decent lakers out of Chicago in 110-160. Out of North Point, lakers good with a few steelhead, a couple of coho and an occasional king, too. Capt. Scott Wolfe: With cooler water in Waukegan, casting at night with glow lures in harbor improved. Boaters find lakers excellent in 125-175.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Kurt Justice: Muskie (very shallow); largemouth (deeper with muskie shallow) and pike are good; cooldown should help muskie and pike as well as fall patterns for walleye and crappie. SHABBONA: Lakeside: Nice crappie off handicapped pier; otherwise a few largemouth, some catfish.
WOLF LAKE: Stan’s: Crappie starting with cooldown; walleye good; panfish “moderate-good.”