Powerliners have started to locate fish along lakefront; nightcrawlers and smelt parts have been good baits. Best times to fish have varied throughout the day. Montrose, Diversey and Burnham Harbors are slow for salmon. Few fish that have been caught are in the one- to two-pound class. Perch slow in Monroe and Burnham Harbors on ice jigs tipped with wax worms, spikes or jig and twister tails. In the Calumet River work 95th and 92nd Street locations for more perch. Even in poor weather fishing close to the bottom will take fish. At State Line Power Plant at Illinois/Indiana border, fishing continues good. Watch wind direction to help your decision. Ogden Slip in Chicago River behind North Pier has had good numbers of small fish. Smelt season opens Thursday along the Chicago Park District lakefront.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
At Bellevue (Dam 12), 75 percent of fish caught are walleye; jig and minnow and three-way rig with a floating Rapalas are preferred baits. Good locations are Illinois side flats and second wing dam downriver. An 8-pound walleye was taken from below Clinton (Dam 13); river has raised and water clarity has dropped, but it will improve by the weekend.
MICHIANA (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Hammond Marina and State Line Power Plant are reporting limit catches of coho and brown trout for boaters. Trollers working between LTV and Inland Steel are working only minimum number of rods because of fast action. Shore fishermen are using nightcrawlers under bobbers for coho and floating jigs close to the bottom for brown trout. At Dean Mitchell, excellent numbers of fish are in the current. Wolf Lake ice is poor. Mazio Channel white bass are small but active. Michigan City Harbor smelt are slow; coho now close in for shore and pier fishermen. Trail and Salt Creek water levels have raised with rain and are muddy; local anglers working deeper holes are having success, but numbers are low. All inland lakes that still hold ice are dangerous for ice fishing.
ROCK RIVER, WHITESIDE AND LEE COUNTIES, ILL. (STAR)
Water level up and current strong. Catfish that were good prior to rains below dams have now moved into creek mouths and slack water areas. By weekend levels should drop and fish will move back into staging areas below dams. Walleye have also scattered with strong current.
CHAIN O’ LAKES, LAKE COUNTY (STAR)
Ice conditions poor and will deteriorate quickly this weekend. Look to bridges with open water and river system that flows into the chain to find fish.
KANKAKEE RIVER, KANKAKEE/WILL COUNTIES (STAR)
River levels are high after rain; levels should be dropping by weekend. Look to areas near creek mouths and large breaks in current to be holding fish. Catfish could be the first active fish with the river settling.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE, WILL COUNTY (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Warmest water temperature is 55 to 58 degrees. Smallmouth were holding close to rip-rap taking jig and minnow with a green color jig body. Largemouth bass fair on jig and pig. Shore fishermen continue to fish better action on south side of the lake. Boat fishermen working weed beds past islands in area known as the flats are taking largemouth bass on jig and pig or jig and minnow worked slowly. Walleye are slow, but will pick up as weather improves.
COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)
Fishermen who will look to lakes fed by creek water will be more successful. At Tampier Lake, work 131st Street culvert and north side portion of the lake above 131st Street. Crappie, northern pike and a mixed bag of fish will come from this area. At Busse Lake, water muddy with rain; better fishing areas will be fish walls and south pool. Wampum and other smaller lakes will settle faster after this week’s rains. Saganashkee where creek inlet is should improve with weather by weekend.
FOX RIVER, ILLINOIS (STAR)
Water level up and dangerous; wait three to four days before venturing out. Prior to recent rains, a few walleye were taken in the Geneva area but fish were small.
ROOT RIVER AND PIKE RIVER, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Brown trout and steelhead have been working flies in the river. The pending warmer weather should bring in a good inflow of fish. A local fishing tip has been to use lightest line possible on leader to fly from three-way swivel.
LAKE ERIE, WESTERN BASIN (STAR)
Shore ice has kept most charter boats from going out. A few boats have worked a couple of areas with fair to good reports. Warm weather will break up floating ice and by the weekend more access will be available.
SHABBONA LAKE, DE KALB COUNTY (STAR)
Ice is almost off lake; water from creek has pushed up most ice and is breaking it up. With weekend’s warm weather, open water fishing will be available.
WISCONSIN RIVER, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Walleye are in good numbers below the Wisconsin Dells Dam; fish in 1 1/2-pound-plus range, with largest one caught being 9 pounds. Most fish can be worked further down from dam near current breaks and pillars in the river. At Prairie du Sac, water level good; one stringer of 36 pounds was registered.
WOLF RIVER, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
River open in Winnecone; excellent number of walleye in the 3- to 8-pound class. Minimum length is 15 inches; many fish being caught are 16 inches or more. Good weather will only improve weekend catch.
LAKE SHELBYVILLE, CENTRAL ILLINOIS (STAR)(STAR)
Most fishermen are looking to find bigger fish under bridges and in spillways. Large minnows and nightcrawlers are good choices for catfish. Crappie near river and creek mouths are taking small jig in green and white bodies tipped with a minnow. Warm weekend has local anglers picking out spots for big crappie.
