MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
LAKEFRONT PERCH: Henry’s: Perch biting sporadically at South Side slips and in Calumet system. Slez’s: Boaters doing well from 105th and up on fatheads. FYI: Security varies on the private-property areas around the South Side slips. Be prepared to be not allowed to fish those areas. Steelworkers Park at the eastern end of 87th is public land. AREA LAKES: Cold should firm up more areas. Henry’s: Marginal ice south, 5 inches in western suburbs. Ken ‘‘Husker’’ O’Malley: Four inches of ice, even south of I-80. Largemouth good on tip-downs with large fatheads from midmorning on or jigging Kenders t-rip tipped with spikes or smaller fatheads. Bluegills excellent from midmorning to late afternoon on weed lines in 8 to 10 feet next to deep water. ICE-FISHING REGULATIONS: Dec. 15 post on chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors for nearby public sites. AREA RIVERS: FOX: Anthony Hoovers: Catching catfish up to 9 pounds, particularly fun on jigs. ILLINOIS: Capt. Mike Hanson: Sauger ‘‘coming alive.’’
CHAIN: Jason Fox: Small crappie at Nielsen’s over the weekend and walleye and catfish from Maria. Arden Katz: Nielsen’s has lots of bluegills on wax worms, with a few crappie mixed in. Some are right under the ice, which is 5 inches. ICE-FISHING ACCESS: Act like an ethical angler and patronize the parking places or pay the parking fee. Most places have a version of $5 parking or patronize. Try Hermann’s Rest-A-While (Nielsen’s Channel), Granny’s Lakeside Diner (Spring Lake Marina), Choppers Bar and Grill (Channel), Sandbar Bar & Grille (Marie, $10 or patronize, park in back), Oak Park Lounge (Pistakee Bay) and Barnacle Bob’s (Marie).
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Mike Norris: BIG GREEN: Smallmouth tough in open water, but pike outstanding. PUCKAWAY: Pike on tip-ups days. Jigging walleye before sunrise or after sunset.
LAKEFRONT: A variety on Chicago lakefront for the few trying. Tom Starcevich caught a nice burbot at Cal Park on Jan. 14 on a jig and 3-inch white tube. Salmon Stop: A few fishing pier at Waukegan for a few trout.
MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA: McQuoids: For walleye, move from 12 to 18 feet in the morning to deeper in the afternoon. Evening bite varies. Fish houses producing best at night. Buck-Shot 360s and forage minnow rigs best. NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Kurt Justice: Lower pressure made for tough fishing, but that should improve this week. Should build some more ice this week.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Slez’s: Sketchy ice. Some coho at Portage Riverwalk up to 249 bridge on squid and jigs. Boaters at Gary Light taking coho and a few browns by casting spoons or small crankbaits. Some steelhead on Voodoo jigs with waxies in area tributaries.
ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN: Tackle Haven: A few steelhead in river. A few walleye evenings at Berrien Springs. Nothing off pier.
SHABBONA: Site hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Concessionaires looking for buyers.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN: FREMONT: Bill Stoeger: Templeton Bayou giving up good perch. Slow otherwise.