While the wave action has slowed down the lake, it is still muddy. Anglers working with live bait off the pier by the power plant and the rocks have taken some brown trout. Weekend could be good with expected west and southwest winds. This should help clear up the water and pull more fish closer to shore. Powerliners might try Saturday, keeping the baits close to the surface. No smelt have been reported taken.
LAKE MICHIGAN (CHICAGO) (STAR) +
Protected harbors along the lake have still yielded a few brown trout on live bait. Powerliners, watch the wind and weather. If weather can hold for two days you might have success with lines close to the surface and nightcrawlers.
COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES (STAR) (STAR)
Busse Lake: Crappie and bluegill are popping around the middle dam off the rocks. Yellow bass have also become active the last two days. Small chartreuse jigs tipped with bait has pulled a lot of fish. Below the main dam four keeper walleye were taken. Tampier Lake: Lake is closed for boating for a few weeks but shore anglers can do well working the north side of the peninsula and south of 131 Street. Water temperatures are rising quickly.
DUPAGE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES (STAR) +
Keep bait small and closer to the surface. Many lakes are warming up with better weather moving in.
ILLIANA (STAR) (STAR) +
Streams are high and muddy. Lake Michigan trollers are picking up brown trout and coho in the top six feet in good numbers.
WOLF LAKE (STAR) +
Indiana anglers were popping crappie and the beginning of northern pike movement is also being found. Shallow water on the Illinois side is pulling in bluegill for shore fishermen. Very light fishing pressure is noted.
CHAIN O’ LAKES (STAR) (STAR) +
Crappies are suspended hitting small feather jigs and small straight plastic jigs. Walleye are improving on Petite; look to current areas in channels and by bridges to hold walleye. Muskie anglers are reporting some action on Catherine and Channel. Most action has been on bass size baits; remember wire leaders. Catfish are working well on set lines on Fox, Petite and Nippersink.
KANKAKEE RIVER (STAR)
Water levels are starting to drop but it is muddy. Best bets have been the backwaters and areas off the main current flow. Anglers who have tried reported some action. When levels drop, a bright-colored jig tipped with live bait could be your best option.
LAKE SARAH (SOUTHERN ILL.) (STAR) (STAR)
Water levels are normal but fishing pressure is light. Largemouth bass have taken roaches fished under a bobber. Water needs to warm up a little more.
REND LAKE (SOUTHERN ILL.) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Some crappies not many have been taken. With warmer weather moving in weekend could be good. Channel catfish are active and could be rated as good now.
LAKE OF EGYPT (SOUTHERN ILL.) (STAR) (STAR)
Crappie and bass are improving daily. Plastic worms for the bass and minnows for the crappies. Fish are suspended in 20 feet of water.
ILLINOIS RIVER (STAR)
The river is up and dirty and will continue to be that way for more than a week. But when the river levels comes down, fish will be on a scent.
DES PLAINES RIVER (WEST SUBURBS) (STAR) (STAR)
River levels have come down and fishermen should start returning to Hoffman Dam, off the bike paths of Salt Creek and mouths of the feeder creeks.
FOX RIVER (STAR) (STAR)
River has come down and anglers are coming back to wade the river. A few walleye have been taken below the dams and at creek mouths. Look for areas with hard bottoms with deeper holes nearby.
SHABBONA LAKE (STAR) +
Light fishing pressure this week. Water temperatures are beginning to warm now so fish should move closer to shore. Anglers need to try the northern cove by the campground and the area along the dam when the water warms up.
SHELBYVILLE (STAR) +
Water levels are up and lake is muddy, which has slowed fishing some. Local guides are estimating a week or so for crappie to begin to pop in the trees and brush.
EAGLE RIVER (WIS.) (STAR) (STAR) +
Northern Wisconsin has plenty of ice but watch the warm weather moving in. Bluegill, crappie and perch are hitting live bait the best, followed by small jigs.
WISCONSIN RIVER (DELLS DAM) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Water temperature is 39 to 42 degrees. and a few more larger fish are being boated. You will have to catch a number of smaller fish and throw them back, but keep going and you can find them. River levels are a little lower than normal but it’s no problem. Use a bright-colored jig and live bait.
HAYWARD (WIS.) (STAR) (STAR)
Ice, as with most far northern Wisconsin lakes, is good. Grindstone still produced the highest number of perch and also the biggest in size of most area lakes.
ROOT RIVER (WIS.) (STAR) (STAR)
River levels have come down. Spawn and tube jigs are starting to pull in more steelhead. With river warming and clearing up action will improve.
MILWAUKEE RIVER/HARBOR (WIS.) (STAR) (STAR) +
Brown trout have really started to feed again in the river and the harbor. Spawn and minnows are your better choices in baits. Most are in the 3- to 8-pound range, with one 19.6-pound fish verified by the state DNR.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER (MICH.) (STAR) (STAR)
Little muddy and levels are raised but steelhead and brown trout are being taken on live bait.
RABBIT RIVER (WESTERN MICH.) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Suckers have moved into the Rabbit in big numbers. Anglers are reporting fast fishing and a lot of fun.
KALAMAZOO RIVER (WESTERN MICH.) (STAR) (STAR)
Steelhead are doing well in the river this week. Water levels are raised but fish are active.
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Look for Chauncey Niziol on CLTV’s “Sports Page” at 9 p.m. Thursday. Additional outdoor information can be found in the Great Outdoors section of Digital City Online on your America Online service (keyword: COL Outdoors) or call 976-HOOK, the fishing information line. e-mail at ChaunceyN @aol.com
