Winthrop Harbor: North winds have changed the way salmon and trout have been acting. Some boats have fish closer to shore, others have spoken of fish seven miles out between Waukegan and the state line. Charters will start working more toward Wisconsin waters in the next week.Out of Waukegan boaters are trolling in 60 to 140 feet of water. Best to also start closer to shore early, then out to deeper water. Perch action continues in the harbors and off the South Rocks with soft shell crayfish and Mini Mites. Salmon and trout have been taken on flies, spoons, and some boaters have tried J Plugs.
LAKE MICHIGAN, (CHICAGO) (STAR) (STAR) +
Perch were slow with a three-day north wind at Montrose. More action from Diversey has been verified on soft shells and minnows. Breakwalls are the best places to try south of downtown with soft shells, worms and spinners. Rock bass and some bluegill action is best at Diversey and Belmont Harbors around weeds you can see. Boaters trolling for salmon and trout are getting some good numbers of coho, steelhead and even lake trout in 90 to 120 feet water. Smallmouth seem to be more active early in the morning on both live and artificial baits but wind direction has slowed action at times.
ILLIANA (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Many Illinois anglers continue to work for the perch and smallmouth bass from boats and shore in Indiana. Perch action was better but a whole soft shell on a large hood has been too tempting for some perch. Inside harbors is better with a north wind. Best action is still early in the morning. Watch wind direction.
COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE (STAR) (STAR) +
Busse Lake: Largemouth bass are still hitting above the main dam on minnows, black plastic worms, spinner baits and Ike Con Missiles early in the morning, but slow your baits down. Bluegill and bass are also being found around the weeds in the south pool. Tampier Lake: Catfish on chicken livers and nightcrawlers are still only fair. Maple Lake: Bass on plastic worms were in a little deeper water. Worked close to the weeds and open pockets for some big bluegills. Horsetail Lake: Small bait should bring you better fishing.
DU PAGE FOREST PRESERVES (ILL.) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Mallard and Deep Quarry: Lm. Bass on soft plastic worms, but slow down you presentation. Walleye slowed some but a few have hit aleech. Most lakes reported some form of action this week.
FOX RIVER (STAR) (STAR) +
Water levels came up so anglers need to work the current breaks for flatheads and all other fish. Smallmouth bass have hit a Mepps spinner or a large Mini Mite worked close to shore. A Rapala has also enticed a fish to dart out and strike from the deeper holes.Catfish like stink, nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
WOLF LAKE (STAR) (STAR) +
The bass are willing to hit close to shore but move around to find them. Catfish are the most active with fish being taken in the day and at dusk. The smellier the bait the better the bite . Bluegill are fair, with baits small and close to the weeds.
CHAIN O LAKES, (STAR) (STAR) (STAR) +
Walleye are in the river north of Grass Lake. Current areas in the Chain has also yielded fish. Leeches, nightcrawlers, minnows and crankbaits all took fish. Crappie at the south end on Channel near the deep areas and weeds beds are places to try. Bluegill are in and around the piers. Catfish are king. Most any standard cat baits have worked. Muskie are hitting top water baits early in the morning. Lm. Bass are tight to piers and will hit a plastic worm or a pig and jig but work them very slowly.
HEIDECKE LAKE (STAR) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Smallmouth bass are fair and improving, work along the dikes and out to 6 feet of water. Catfish should be the fish of choice for numbers and size. Hybrids are only fair maybe with better weather action will improve.Walleye are slow this week maybe action will improve soon. Some good size bluegill are holding a few feet off the rocks, small live baits, a Pee Wee Worm, Mini Mite or a small Mepps spinner has taken fish.
LA SALLE LAKE (STAR) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Hybrids, white and yellow bass are all hanging around the pits, humps and foundations. Best to try trolling or vertical jigging. Walleye and sauger are both responding to bright sun and heading for darker water or muddy areas. All day even in direct sun, smallmouth, largemouth bass and even catfish have been taken. Bluegill are better for shore anglers followed by catfish. Boaters are now out fishing shore anglers.
DOOR COUNTY (WIS.) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Lake Michigan was still difficult to fish but if boats hit the Bank Reef did well. Try in 80 to 100 feet of water. Kings and lake trout are hitting Howie flys and spoons. Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor both have smallmouth bass in 6 to 9 feet of water hitting soft shell crayfish.
GENEVA (WIS.) (STAR) (STAR) (STAR)
Heavy boat traffic has fishermen working early and late for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass around weeds and rocky bottom. Bluegill around the piers are super for boaters using a small jig and casting under the docks and boats early in the day.
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Look for Chauncey on CLTV’s Sports Page program on Thursday nights at 9 pm. 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 888.
