Perch: Montrose Horseshoe, rocks and harbor yielded fish from predawn till midmorning. Planetarium north into Monroe Harbor near the Shedd Aquarium near weedbeds has been good. Try softshell crayfish or a Mini Mite tipped with a piece of crayfish or maggot. South of 31st Street, perch and smallmouth bass are active. Run lures in the top 15 to 30 feet for coho, deeper for lake trout and chinook.
WOLF LAKE (STAR)(STAR)
Carp and catfish taking nightcrawlers and processed baits, largemouth bass on plastic worms and Rapalas. Crappie, perch and bluegill taken on minnows and red worms near concession stand and railroad tracks.
LAKE MICHIGAN (WAUKEGAN) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Water along shore is cooling with the proper winds. Boaters from Winthrop Harbor are in 30-40 feet of water working from top to bottom. Waukegan: Salmon are to the south from the harbor, in 60 to 95 feet of water for coho and 120 to 140 feet for steelhead perch.
MICHIANA (STAR)(STAR)
Perching off Whiting slow. Boaters working closer to 95th Street breakwall have found better numbers. Gary: Some steelhead in Salt Creek now taking spawn and nightcrawlers. Perch are slow, steelhead and coho are in 80 feet of water. Michigan City: At Trail Creek work spawn, spinners and nightcrawlers for steelhead and drum. Perch are poor with only a few taken off the piers.
TURTLE CREEK RESERVOIR, IND. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Catfish are hot in the five- to seven-pound range. Shrimp and nightcrawlers most productive baits on the bottom. Largemouth bass action consistent, with most fish undersize. Plastic worms, Slugos and buzzbaits worked near weedbed edges have taken fish.
PINE LAKE, IND. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Bluegill are hungry and in excellent size. Nightcrawler pieces on a single hook under a slip bobber very productive.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, MICH. (STAR)(STAR)
Walleye taking nightcrawlers on the bottom just off the current. Smallmouth fair but you need to work for them with spinners and small crankbaits. Skamania taken first thing in the morning from the piers, some up by the dam.
WILLOW SLOUGH, IND. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Bluegill in size and numbers are most active. Stay with small jigs and live bait for highest numbers. Catfish are fair but will improve with stable weather.
ROCK RIVER (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Channel and flathead catfish are popping. Almost any bait used for catfish has worked. Walleye activity improving. Six pounders have been taken below the Dixon Dam and downstream. Best at dusk or after dark with live bait. Drum and carp taking baits from catfishermen.
CHAIN O’ LAKES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)+
Catfish working in most lakes on the bottom. Yellow bass on Bluff eating small minnows or spinners. Bluegill in areas with trees hanging over the water or under piers. Largemouth bass fishermen casting Ike-Con Lures Missiles have taken many bluegill. Northern Pike have been strong for the last few days on golden roaches and large spinner baits. Walleye have been found off rocky points on Pistakee.
COOK FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Busse Lake: Bluegill on small jigs and waxworms. Largemouth bass on live bait and plastics worms on the deeper sides of the weedbeds. Catfish good in size and numbers. Flatfoot: Bullhead and bluegills taking pieces of nightcrawlers. Wampum: Largemouth improved with smaller plastic worms and crankbaits. Tampier Lake: Bluegill have been taken on waxworms on small ice jigs tipped with bait. Walleye slowed, largemouth bass on plastic worms and Rattle Traps. Maple Lake: Bluegill and bullhead taking nightcrawlers.
DU PAGE FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Mallard Lake: Northern pike in the 18- to 24-inch class taking golden roaches and spinnerbaits in fair numbers. Topwater baits at dusk are good for bass. West Branch Forest Preserve: Largemouth bass taking soft plastic worms and nightcrawlers. Blackwell: Bluegill biting live bait or small crankbaits near shade or weeds.
KANKAKEE RIVER (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Catfish throughout the river taking stink baits, nightcrawlers and cut bait. Rock bass and bluegill on current breaks and just inside bayous. Largemouth spotty on plastic worms and spinnerbaits in the Des Plaines Conservation Area.
ILLINOIS RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
Catfish are scattered through the river on cheese dip baits. More fish are caught in the main river channels instead of the holes.
FOX RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
Catfish can be taken below the dams on chicken liver, nightcrawlers and shrimp.
HEIDECKE LAKE (STAR)(STAR)
Catfish on the north side, taking chicken livers and processed baits. Bullhead, bluegill and drum from both sides of the bridge have been fair for shore fishermen.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Largemouth and smallmouth bass biting golden roaches, Shad Raps and Rattle Traps. Some crappie action on small jigs and Mini Mites tipped with a waxworm.
MAZONIA LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Largemouth bass taking plastic worms or Rattle Traps; catfish on nightcrawlers, stink bait and chicken livers; bluegill on small jigs in bright colors tipped with a waxworm under a small slip bobber.
SHABBONA LAKE (STAR)(STAR)
Catfish along the dam and points taking nightcrawlers and stink baits. Perch all over the bottom on nightcrawler pieces. Largemouth bass biting weedless bait dragged across the tops of weedbeds.
BIG GREEN LAKE, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Lake trout are being taken in good numbers from the deep portions of the lake. Vertical jigging reportedly successful.
DOOR COUNTY, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Salmon are good in 40-70 feet. Thermoclines are changing every day; search for them to locate big salmon. Baileys Harbor reports good salmon catches for most boaters.
EAGLE RIVER, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Warm weather turned on muskies all day. Walleye are in 20 to 25 feet on Butternut, Franklin and Anvil. A Lindy Rig with a nightcrawler or leech is best. Bluegill best on Deerskin and Black Oak.
LAKE GENEVA, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Northern pike and smallmouth taking larger golden roaches, and Mepps Spinners have been working well but use a light steel leader due to northern pike. Lake Delavan: Walleye active, but keepers are still hard to find.
LAKE WINNEBAGO, WIS. (STAR)(STAR)
Walleye at night are being found on the mud flats by trollers using leeches and crankbaits. Perch hitting hellgrammites during the day. Catfish all over the lake
LAKE ERIE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Eight to 11 miles out for walleye in the two- to four-pound class. Smallmouth bass improved around American and Canadian islands.
