MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
SHORELINE SALMON/TROUT: Quinn Wunar: Coho good near rocks with northeast winds, skein or spawn sacs, down 5 ft. under float. Coho being caught on North Side, too. Salmon Stop: In Waukegan, some coho, even by casters. Slez’s: In Indiana, when weather allows, trollers working in 35 ft., East Chicago to Michigan City, top 10 ft., Brad’s ThinFish, J-9s and other small crankbaits; shore fishing with skein, spawn sacs, squid and shrimp, hit-and-miss with recent muddied waters.
BRAIDWOOD OPENER: Packed opener last Wednesday. Brandon Troupe: Slow but steady bite for largemouth and hybrid striper (buddy T.J. Andres). Pete Banach: His boat of four caught 47 bass, eight stripers and catfish; hot side, 80 degrees, mid-pool, 68-70, cold, 58. Bob Johnson: With Joel Wilson, boated largemouth, a smallmouth, hybrids and bluegills; jigs/trailers, crankbaits, including lipless, jerk baits, spinner baits, and Ned rig. James Baranski: With Steve McClone of Moonpie Outdoors, caught largemouth, including a 5-pounder by McClone, best on spinner baits, ChatterBaits and plastics. LaSALLE: Cooling lake south of Seneca reopens to fishing next Wednesday, 6 a.m. to sunset daily. Daily updates on boating at (815) 640-8099. Fisheries biologist David Wyffels emailed no notable fish kills last year, blue catfish and hybrids will be the main draw, but largemouth and smallmouth seemed better last year.
LAKEFRONT PERCH: When weather allows, some perch continuing at South Side slips and Calumet; boaters catching some off Gary Light. Slez’s: Boaters in Indiana catching in 55-60 ft. northwest of Burns Ditch, extra-large fatheads and perch flies.
PASSES: Chicago Park District’s parking passes ($20, two months, anglers’ lots at DuSable and Burnham) and $10 pier passes may be bought at Northerly Island Visitor Center, call (312) 745-2910 first.
AREA LAKES: Kiernan Aiston: First largemouth of year, slowly dragged green pumpkin ChatterBait. Juan Macias: Crappie in rain with bobbers and minnows. Ken “Husker” O’Malley: Green weeds key to active fish; largemouth and a few crappie on jerkbaits.
CHAIN: Triangle: All lakes open, even with cold water, some crappie, white bass and channel catfish.
CLINTON LAKE: Thomas Jones: Crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and a blue Monday.
AREA RIVERS: DuPAGE: Scott Oglanian: Good smallmouth, including 20-incher, on Rat-L-Traps (yo-yo retrieve) and Ned rigs (dragging with a pause between) in slack water near current. FOX: Dave’s Bait: Walleye at McHenry Dam, jigging extra-large fatheads; panfish (mostly crappie) in channels. Dicky’s: Some walleye below Montgomery with large fatheads.
LAKEFRONT: Jason “Special One” Le caught a whitefish and laker same day with bottom rigs. Park Bait: Reopens 6 a.m. Saturday at Montrose Harbor.
N. WIS.: Kurt Justice: Gamefish closed. Bluegill: Good-very good, weeds in 7-10 ft., No. 3 Fiskas tipped with plastics.
ST. JOSEPH, MICH.: Tackle Haven: Weather slowed access, but nice steelhead caught off pier on Tuesday; river high, debris and muddy.
WOLF RIVER, WIS.: FREMONT: Bill Stoeger: Landings open, Gill’s Landing to Lake Poygan; walleye slow, improving daily.