Fish are all but gone.
Lake Michigan (Waukegan/Winthrop Harbor) **
Only a few boats are out looking for lake trout. The power plant will be the best choice for shore anglers and small boaters. Look for trout and salmon on the edges of the cool lake water and the warmer water from the plant discharge. Emerald shiners are always a good choice this time of year.
Lake Michigan (Chicago) **
Trout and salmon have been picked up from Montrose, Belmont, and Burnham Harbors. Stay with minnows or spawn sacs, but a couple of fish were taken on nightcrawlers under a bobber. Late-season perch are in the area. Minnows set from a few inches off the bottom to a few feet below the surface could entice a strike. Boaters returning to breakwalls also picked up fish.
Illiana (Illinois and Indiana Lake Michigan) ***
Perch! Plenty of fish at the Hole in the Wall at just outside of Pastrick Marina. The shore anglers around 95th Street and the breakwall are also reporting good numbers. Fish were slamming minnows fished on a crappie rig. Glow jigs and chartreuse jigging spoons worked vertically also did very well. Lake trout: Work the reef outside of the Port of Indiana on top of the structure 13 to 15 feet down and on the edges of the reef. Lakers have started to show up around Buffington Pier.
Wolf Lake (Indiana) **
Walleye still being taken by trolling or casting Husky Herks or a Rapala in a blue and silver colors. All the action is at night on the Indiana side of the lake.
Cook County Forest Preserves *+
Downsize your hooks and line and watch your catch increase. At Saganashkee Slough we took yellow bass on a minnow and 10-pound test line, but when we switched to a small jig and 6-pound test our numbers jumped. Joe’s Pond: A few bluegill on small baits; no catfish or carp were taken. Skokie: Very light fishing pressure Tuesday, but a few more anglers were out Wednesday afternoon on Lagoon #3.
Kankakee River (Ill. and Ind.) **+
River is very low and clear and fishing is pretty good. Smallmouth bass continue to pop baits in Indiana from Rte. 4 to 104 and Rte. 55 to 41. Illinois smallmouth action was found from the Aroma Park Dam through Baker Creek, the Washington Street Bridge through Helgeson Park, Mick Island through Jason Island and Wilmington Dam through Luther Islands.
Chain O’ Lakes **+
Weekend pressure is much higher then midweek. The few anglers out Tuesday were working Catherine and Channel Lake for muskie with suckers. Anglers going in the late afternoon took a few crappie and pike. A few walleye have come from bridges and the river on live minnows, but action was very light.
Shabbona **+
Conditions remain ideal for muskie. Suckers should be your best option on a quick-strike rig. Some bluegills and crappies are hitting minnows and waxworms under a bobber by the fish cribs.
Illinois River **+
White bass have been hitting 1/8th-ounce jigs and minnows on 6- to 8-pound test. Most action is in 10 feet of water or near the deep edges of the channel. Most of the action has been below the dam near Starved Rock and in Peru. Sauger action is pretty good.
Fox River **
White bass slowed a little, then picked up again and are active in the main current, hitting a jig and minnow or a small spinner. Small walleye seem to be hungry, while the slightly larger fish are looking baits over before they strike.
