Ice conditions are good in harbors along the lake. Always check for safety when venturing out. Montrose Harbor yielded a few brown trout, but numbers have been low along with the fishermen. Perch have been taken from Montrose early in the morning but seem to be in higher numbers at Burnham Harbor when browns are not hitting. Minnows, Custom Jig and Spin’s Ratfinkee’s, and Swedish Pimples tipped with bait have been good at Burnham. Some fishermen are enticing brown trout to hit after dark with Demon Ice jigs that glow in the dark tipped with a minnow. Jackson Harbor has been slow.
LAKE MICHIGAN (WAUKEGAN) (STAR)(STAR)
At the power plant, fishermen at the pier are using spawn on 20- to 24-inch leaders and longer ones with shiners. Alewives strips and smelt are also being used, but a stinger hook is a necessity. We improved our catch rate by more than 60 percent due to fish hitting only back half of bait. Flies in bright colors with a long leader are working, but some fishermen are using a scent spray to leave a scent trail to help fish zero in on lure. All others are slow.
MICHIANA (STAR)(STAR)
Anticipated extreme cold will produce lake-effect snow in many areas from the Indiana shoreline up into western Michigan. Perch activity has been poor. Lake Maxinkuckee: Crappie continue to hit, but numbers are down. Bass Lake: Perch and bluegill have been taken on minnows and Custom Jig and Spins Poppee tipped with a few wax worms. Willow Slough is slow.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
Rock Creek has been steady for crappie and bluegill on minnows. Spring Lake crappie have been fair also on minnows, but strikes are very light. Lighter lines have produced more fish. Boat ramps are still open in Bellevue for walleye fishermen to work the area. Many small walleye are caught, so practice catch and release. Area may freeze with the arctic cold front but will reopen due to local fishermen working at reopening area. Onalaska, bluegill on ice spoons tipped with wax worms and red worms. Crappies have been found to take minnows.
CHAIN O’ LAKES (STAR)(STAR)
Still very spotty; some fishermen are locating active feeding yellow bass while others are not. Move around to find a better locations and ask questions of successful anglers. Walleye are difficult to locate; a good pattern has not been established to report on. Backwater areas are producing some of the best bluegill of the day. Small ice baits and light lines are improving catches. Rat Finkee ice jig in a bright color combination has been very good. Always be careful of ice in narrows.
KANKAKEE RIVER (STAR)
River is iced in. Local ponds and backwaters have been more popular with the fishermen in past week.
MAZONIA LAKES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Most local ice fishermen are now working these smaller lakes. Crappie and bluegill are two most active fish willing to strike. Many lakes have received very little fishing pressure due to construction work being done at the site before winter. Ice fishermen could find fish very aggressive now.
SHABBONA LAKE (STAR)(STAR)
If you want bluegill and perch, find structure and stay there. You must work your bait into structure and close to the bottom to get them to strike.
COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)
Busse Lake: Now open to ice fishing. Few bluegill have been noted but very few fishermen are out on the ice. Below the main dam near the warm water discharge, good numbers of largemouth bass are hitting live bait. Axehead: Perch and bluegill from deeper water locations were found Wednesday morning. Maple Lake: bluegill along 95th Street and off the point. The following lakes are also open to ice fishing: E.J. Beck, Belleau, Tampier, Horsetail, Sag East and West, Wampum, Powderhorn and Flatfoot.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER (MICH.) (STAR)(STAR)
Arctic cold wave and lake-effect snow will keep many fishermen away. With next break in cold weather, look to walleye to hit on minnows and steelhead to become more aggressive.
LAKE POYGAN (WIS.) (STAR)
Northern pike have slowed on tipups dressed with a minnow. Only a few perch were taken; most are small. Fishermen are recording many hours on the ice for only a few fish.
MADISON (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Extreme cold will slow activity on ice. Use a wind break or a popup ice tent to keep you warmer. A few limit of catches of perch are still reported by some fishermen. Few northern pike in Squaw Bay 6-8 feet down. At Mud Lake, bluegill have been noted off the north shore. Monona Bay’s bluegill seem to be more active at dusk. More fishermen are finding better action late in the afternoon.
