With weather improving this weekend, brown trout and steelhead will make up most of catch in harbors. Nightcrawlers under slip bobber or spawn better choices. A large school moved into Navy Pier midday Wednesday and took powerliners by surprise-half a bucket in three hours. In Burnham Harbor, perch scattered; minnows and Mini Mite tipped with spike are best.
LAKE MICHIGAN (WAUKEGAN) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Power plant with bright color flys on 40-inch leaders, tipped with piece of worm or spawn. Pier fishermen finding brown small kings and steelhead close to bottom on floating jigs, tipped with alewives, shinners and spawn. Stinger hook a must. South Rocks steelhead have been taking spawn and nightcrawlers.
MILWAUKEE HARBOR (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Brown trout active on nightcrawlers, alewives and minnows. A few steelhead have also been noted.
MICHIANA (STAR)(STAR)+
Weather permitting, try Burns Ditch/Port of Indiana for lake trout. Perch poor due to weather. Weekend could show improvement for boaters working schools of perch.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER (MICH.) (STAR)(STAR)
Six- to nine-foot waves have kept most fishermen away from the pier. Boaters in lower stretches of river have taken a few salmon, steelhead and brown trout. Fluctuations in river levels from dam have turned on fishing and also shut it off in same day.
ROCK RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
A few walleye below Dixon Dam; keepers hard to find. A 3-pound northern was also caught below dam. A 15-pound muskie was caught at Oregon Dam on jig and minnow rig from walleye fisherman. Live bait best.
CHAIN O’ LAKES (STAR)
Very slow. With improvement in weather, anglers will be working deeper cuts for muskie with live suckers.
COOK FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)
Busse Lake: Clearwater Bay for a few crappie and bluegills. Try downsizing all your gear for better results. Axehead: Perch slowed from last week. Small minnows or powerbait have taken fish, with one fisherman taking three trout along with bluegills and perch for a couple hours of fishing. Tampier Lake: A few northern pike have been taken off south shore of peninsula and southwest corner.
DUPAGE FOREST PRESERVES (STAR)(STAR)
Mallard Lake: You’re working hard for only a few northern pike on medium to large minnows. Crappie poor. West Branch: Crappie will take a minnow, but go with lighter lines and smaller equipment.
KANKAKEE RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
A few northern pike, rock bass and walleye are hitting live baits. Below Wilmington and Kankakee Dams are most popular areas.
ILLINOIS RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
Sauger and walleye are making up most of catch, but fish are all short. White bass are small and scattered. A jig and minnow should be bait of choice.
FOX RIVER (STAR)(STAR)
Light fishing pressure has a few anglers doing well at backsides of islands and major current breaks with minnows and nightcrawlers. If weekend is warmer, river could turn on for late-season pre-ice bite.
REND LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
50-degree air temperatures have crappie and largemouth bass active on medium to large minnows. Try to locate shad schools for bigger largemouth bass.
KINCAID LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Muskie still on fall feeding frenzy. Numerous legal muskie were caught and released. Large baits are a must, live or artificial.
LAKE OF EGYPT (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Crappie in weeds and brush. Largemouth bass hitting deeper diving crankbaits off points and dropoffs. Late afternoon most active feeding times.
CRAB ORCHARD LAKE (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Crappie fishermen taking fish with smaller baits and ice-fishing bobbers. Shore and boaters are both recording fish in size and numbers. Largemouth bass spotty.
LAKE GENEVA (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Northern pike in narrows and dropoffs in 20 to 30 feet of water. Walleye are in a winter pattern of feeding. Panfish and bluegill are catchable on jigs and small slip bobbers.
ROOT RIVER (WIS.) (STAR)(STAR)
Steelhead in river, but numbers vary. Most local anglers going with dark-colored flys or spawn. More rain will start another run of fish.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER (BELLEVUE) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Sauger most active, 1 1/2 pounds as average size. Work Illinois side flats with Rapalas and jig and minnows. Wing dams and current breaks need to be fished thoroughly.
WISCONSIN RIVER (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Walleye below Dells Dam, on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jig tipped with minnow. Rock Pile has also produced a number of fish. Size improved. Crappie poor.
