SPOT, RATE, QUICK HIT
Lake Michigan (Chicago/Indiana)
** 1/2
Cohos, steelheads hot at Burnham Harbor and 31st Street. Baits: night crawlers, medium roaches and squid. Also try throwing crankbaits (bright or white colors) on light lines under a small float (put crawlers/worms under float). Little cleos in green/blue also work well.
Lake Michigan (Waukegan)
***
Brown trout outstanding at Johnson’s Motor Pier using shiner minnow, spawn sacks any time, ranging from 4 to 12 pounds. No sign of cohos.
Cook County preserves
**
Bass strong on spinner baits or bass jig with pork or plastic trailer. Busse Woods good for crappie. Rainbow trout starts Saturday at Axehead and Belleau: try power baits.
DuPage preserves
** 1/2
Rainbow trout (Deep Quarry, Silver, Grove lakes) strong in first week: small spoons and spinners are most consistent. Also working: minnows, power baits, blade baits. Big walleye (around 8 pounds) caught at Deep Quarry on fathead minnow under slip bobber. Bass good on crankbaits.
Chain O’ Lakes
** 1/2
Back waters for crappie, bluegills and perch on minnows or spikes. Try for catfish on minnows too. Walleyes on main lake flats on jig/minnows.
Mazonia, Heidecke, Braidwood Lakes
**
Mazonia: Smallmouth close to shorelines on golden roach/bass minnows, night crawlers or leeches. Heidiecke: walleye (golden roach minnows) and yellow bass (bass minnows). Braidwood: some bass, lots of catfish (night crawlers).
Fox River
**
Fish below McHenry Dam for white bass on small spinners, or jig/plastic twister tail) and crappie (minnow on small hook).
Kankakee River
**
Walk the shoreline for smallmouth on minnow/twister tail combo. Catfish showing up in Momence on chicken liver or cheese baits.
Lake Winnebago (Wisconsin)
** 1/2
Jumbo perch and walleyes in river (Oshkosh area) on minnows. With warmer weather, try worms for walleye and crawlers for perch. Eureka good for crappie and perch on small minnows.
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akaschube@tribune.com
