Ice report: Ice is poor over many lakes. North shorelines have opened up very fast with the angle of the sun. Open-water anglers are trying for early-season crappie and northern pike on live bait in the open water next to ice.
Lake Michigan (Waukegan/Winthrop Harbor) **
Anglers are taking brown trout, a few steelhead and even perch on minnows worked close to the bottom. Pier anglers are reporting action a little slower than they wanted. Power-plant anglers are using a wide variety of baits with a wide variety of success. In one day we found large minnows, frozen alewives, smelt, squid, spawn and nightcrawlers all being used.
Lake Michigan (Chicago) **
Anglers are still finding perch at Navy Pier. Fish are still on the smaller size with a few larger ones mixed in, so weed them out before you keep them. Crappie rigs dressed with two minnows or a piece of belly meat from a perch (cut bait) took fish. Parking is available for fishermen early in the morning on the pier from 5-10 a.m. for $3, but you must have a fishing license and show it for this discount. In the harbors a few anglers are working open spots along the shore. Montrose was slow, but some anglers have reported finding a few more fish closer to sunset. Schools seem to be moving around a lot, so either move along or wait for the next group to move in.
Illiana (Ill. and Ind. Lake Michigan) **
Anglers still report improved action for perch in the river. But trout are making an appearance on the state line, with weather and wind making access difficult. On good days when weather allows boats to launch, coho action is reported all close to the surface.
Cook County Forest Preserves *
Many lakes are opening up very quickly with the better weather. Tampier, Busse and Saganashkee Slough will start to see more crappie and small northern pike action in the open-water areas.
Chain O’ Lakes **
Local anglers are working at night for walleye, with good-size minnows on a tip-up. During the day the few people who have done well on good ice said bluegill are willing to hit a small jig and wax worm, but they are not sure how much longer it will last.
Illinois River *+
The melting snow and rain still has the river a little dirty, but clarity is slowly improving. With the water temperature about 38 degrees, look for the sauger to move out of the deeper cuts and into 12 to 14 feet of water nearer the dams. A jig and minnow will work well, but fish them slowly. Ramps look good and are all open. Weekend might be fair if the weather holds.
Kankakee River (Ill./Ind.) **
The river is still up considerably but clearing nicely. Area creeks and ditches are very close to normal, and water clarity is good. Northern pike are fair in both the Indiana and Illinois sections. Better spots in Indiana have been the “Point” north of English Lake and Rt. 41. In Illinois it’s best to try Lazy Livin at the State Line through Glorydale Resort. Fish seem to want bigger bait, so go with a 5- to 8-inch minnow, large spinner baits or a Johnson Spoon & Pork Rind, but work them slowly. Walleye are slow, but some of the smaller stocked walleye are being caught closer to the dams.
Fox River *+
Below the dams we were seeing a few small walleye hit a jig and minnow. But action and fishing pressure is very light. Remember to work your bait very slowly.
Shabbona **
Fishing hours were extended to 10 p.m. Saturday to allow ice fishing at night for that day only. Reports were that action for crappie and mixed-size walleye was good, and many anglers said they had a great time. Park is back on normal hours, which mean it closes at sunset–not that fishing ends at sunset.
Kentucky Lake **
Water temperature is 50 degrees at the dam. Sauger are being taken off bars in main lake with jigs tipped with a medium minnow. Crappie are being caught in 10 to 15 feet of water on jigs and minnows. As water clears and warms up, action will improve. Some anglers are working in shallow water and reporting fair numbers of crappie. Catfish are being caught on the flats next to main river channel. Use nightcrawlers or large minnows.
Kalamazoo River (Mich.) **+
Steelhead slowed over the last weekend, but action could return if weather holds. Spawn would be my bait of choice.
White River (Hesperia, Mich.) **+
Steelhead action was quiet for a day or two, but then–bam! Fish are all over. So if you put in the time, the fish will find you. Spawn sacs will be one of the better baits.
Lake Delavan (Wis.) **+
Northern pike action has been fair. Some crappie were being taken on small plastic bait tipped with a wax worm or minnow. Perch aren’t biting.
Eagle River (Wis.) ***
Ice conditions are 8 to 16 inches, which is thin for this time of year but safe. Walleye are working on deep jigging spoons. Late in the day is best when fish are moving up onto structure and into weeds in the evening and after dark. Tip-ups with medium shiners worked along the weed edges are the best. Northern pike fishing is good in one area–just the weeds. Don’t look anyplace else.
———-
Chaunceyn@aol.com
