MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
LAKEFRONT SALMON/TROUT: Weather might interrupt, but coho moving north quickly (St. Joseph, Michigan, and Chicago already). Quinn Wunar: Tried unsuccessfully for steelhead Monday, then limited on coho in Chicago on skein down 2 feet 10 yards off the rocks. Jason ‘‘Special One’’ Le: Coho limit from shore Sunday in Indiana. Slez’s: Coho most days at Portage Riverwalk and Michigan City pier in Indiana. Trollers with Brad’s ThinFish in and out of the mud line at Portage and near Gary Light. LAKEFRONT PERCH: Weather is question. Jeffrey Williams: He and brother did well with jumbos Sunday at North Slip. Slez’s: Some groups night-fishing perch at South Side slips. When wind allows, good perch in 55 to 60 feet out of Portage and west toward Gary Light in Indiana. PASSES: Chicago Park District parking passes ($20, two months) and $10 pier passes may be bought at Northerly Island Visitor Center. Call (312) 745-2910 first. NAVY PIER: North side open for anglers. Discounted angler parking of $9 daily if out by 10 a.m.
STURGEON: Spearing continues on Lake Winnebago. Season ends Sunday unless a cap is hit before. Upriver Lakes closed Saturday.
AREA LAKES: Open or opening to the south; some stage of in-between (a lot depends on whether ice or rain comes today) to the north.
CHAIN: In-between ice. Depends on ice, rain and wind.
FOX RIVER: Dave’s Bait: Lots putting boats in to fish walleye at McHenry Dam. Some catching crappie and bluegills in open areas.
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Mike Norris: BIG GREEN: Center reopened. FOX LAKE: Those walking out finding good crappie in main basin. Walleye active nights off Maple Point.
KANKAKEE RIVER: Bob Johnson: Found smallmouth on Rapala Rocco and jigs in 40-degree water.
MADISON, WISCONSIN: Arden Katz: Good bluegills (up to 9 inches, take sorting) in Monona Bay; try jigging down with waxies or red spikes to green weeds in 5 to 6 feet. Fishable ice should hold for a couple of weeks. NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Bran Athern: Crappie, including his personal best, and rock bass on Sawyer Lake in Langlade County on ice jigs, crappie minnows or waxies. Ice about 14 inches. Kurt Justice: Travel conditions improved, but significant snow in forecast. Ice averaging 22 to 24 inches. Largemouth (tip-ups and medium shiners) and perch (in 25 to 35 feet feeding on wigglers or green cabbage) are very good. Crappie (basin schools in 25 to 40 feet or in narrow leaf cabbage), walleye (best mornings on shiners on tip-ups or jigging spoons) and pike are good. SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Capt. A.J. Cwiok: Twin brother Tommy caught a 30-inch walleye from Grand River. Tackle Haven: Coho very good off
St. Joseph pier when weather allows.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN: FREMONT: Bill Stoeger: Partridge only area lake with truck travel. Overall, pike, perch and bluegills are good.