Perch began popping at Montrose, Belmont and Diversey Harbors at dawn. Fish were taking minnows, crabs, nightcrawlers and Cubby Mini Mites. Salmon good and improving for shore anglers. Glow Traps, Shad Raps and live bait have taken fish. A few steelhead were taken off the Horseshoe. Kings that are taken are in the upper-20-pound class.
LAKE MICHIGAN (WAUKEGAN) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Lake trout in good numbers for boaters. Steelhead and kings will make up the balance of your catch. Work 40 to 90 feet down over 100-150 feet of water. If you’re looking for steelhead only try 250-330 feet of water. Brown trout and largemouth bass are feeding in Winthrop Harbor on nightcrawlers and slip bobber rigs. Brown trout and salmon improved at the pier and near the power plant. Perch are slow.
LAKE MICHIGAN (KENOSHA) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Brown trout are in both harbors taking live bait on slip bobbers. Few kings have taken on bait intended for brown trout in Racine Harbor.
MICHIANA (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Whiting/Gary: Big king salmon are being taken by boaters now. Fish have been in the 26-to-30-pound class. Burns Ditch 40 to 50 feet down has been the place to run lures. Michigan City: Creeks are still holding skamania, and now kings. Perching has been the best this year for boaters. Minnows and nightcrawlers preferred.
WOLF LAKE (CHICAGO) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Largemouth bass along the shore near weeds, taking Rapalas, large minnows and nightcrawlers. Bluegill and perch very good on small ice jig tipped with a minnow or a red worm. Catfish on stink and chicken livers right on the bottom throughout the day. Walleye on the Indiana side near tollway have moved up into the shallows for minnows and Rapalas.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER (MICH.) (STAR)(STAR)
Perch have improved off the pier in Lake Michigan. Skamania and kings are working lures below the dam and at creek mouths. Flys and Wobble Glows are good choices.
TURTLE CREEK RESERVOIR (IND.) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Catfish excellent at times, then the next day poor. Stay with stink baits, nightcrawlers and chicken livers. Largemouth bass on larger minnows have been mixed Artificials are working but casts must be right on target in weedbeds. Bluegill on waxworms and nightcrawlers fished near shoreline.
ROCK RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
You need to work the deeper holes to find the fish. Better locations are below the dam and behind sand or rock bars. A quality dip cheese bait will work the best on the bottom.
CHAIN O’ LAKES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)+
Yellow bass in Pirates Cove have been very good. Some fish taken near bridges and current areas have been in the 22-24 inch range. Bluegill are suspending deeper on small live baits and jigs. Catfish are good on standard baits.
COOK FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Busse Lake: Bluegill and largemouth are the most active in the south pool. Early and late in the day are the best times. Beck: Crappie and bluegills are taken on slip bobber rigs with live bait. Tampier Lake: Largemouth bass chasing minnows with water temperatures cooling. Crappie activity good on waxworms and redworms but size is small. Sag Slough: Catfish taken on nightcrawlers and chicken liver very good.
DU PAGE FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Pratt Wayne: Largemouth bass on roaches and topwater baits. Fish are small but numbers are high. Mallard: Northern Pike on topwater baits, spinners and large roaches. West Branch: Catfish are very good and in the 8-10-pound class.
KANKAKEE RIVER (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Wilmington Dam: Catfish in the 15-36-pound class have been taken below the dam and behind the island. Go with large golden roaches or dip baits all day. Largemouth bass in the backwaters have improved along with crappies in the Des Plaines Conservation Area. Rock bass fair below the dams.
ILLINOIS RIVER (STAR)(STAR)+
Below Starve Rock Dam, drum are in excellent size and numbers in areas you would look for whites and catfish. Ottawa Pool: catfish are good all over. Walleye and white bass are fair; best to try minnows, jigs and crankbaits. Marseilles Locks: Smallmouth, largemouth bass spotty.
FOX RIVER (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Channel and flathead catfish have been good. Fathead minnows and stink bait are the two top choices. Work the holes or breaks in the current. Smallmouth fair on medium crankbaits or on Mini Mite jigs (white and chartreuse are the two best colors to use). Walleye are better below the Dayton Dam. Catfish are active with the walleye.
MAZONIA LAKE (STAR)(STAR)+
Bluegill taking jigs tipped with waxworms or work under a slip bobber. Largemouth bass improving.
LA SALLE LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)+
Smallmouth are good on the east side, on Big OUs. Fish in the 14-18-inch class are common. Bluegill and catfish are fair to good near weeds.
SHABBONA LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Muskie taking Suicks, Rapalas and Bucktails. Work the weed edges and trees for the most action. Largemouth bass are schooling under the shad. Bluegill along shoreline on live baits. Walleye on the deep dropoff on the dam and the flats.
MADISON CHAIN (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)
Monona: Bluegill off the rock pile and walleye near Law Park. Waubesa: Perch and bluegill near the weed edges and rocks.
EAGLE RIVER (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)
Water temperatures are dropping quickly. Lakes are getting close to turn over. Better muskie action is reported at night on the eagle and Three Lakes Chain on the surface.
LAKE GENEVA (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)
Northern pike at Fontana, 25-30 feet of water, on golden roaches and Mepps spinners. Trinkies and Cedar Point are holding largemouth bass and northern. Crappie and bluegill near the Abbey Harbor on small baits and Mini Mites.
WOLF RIVER (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)
Winnecone: White bass numbers are up for shore and boaters. Walleye are on a strong bite but they are all small.
