SPOT, RATE, QUICK HIT
Lk. Michigan (Chicago/Ind.)
***
Perch best at Montrose, Belmont harbors; try baby roaches, large fatheads or soft shell crabs.
Lake Michigan (Waukegan)
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Bigger kings and cohos, but very sporadic — look in 40-to-200 feet of water using spring-colored flies, dipsy divers. In 80-100 feet, use downrigger 40-to-80 feet with monkey puke, orange crush and purple spoons. Perch consistent in 50 feet of water with large fatheads or jigging castmaster spoons off bottom. Ends of south rocks, Govt. Pier great for perch with large fatheads.
DuPage preserves
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Pratt’s Wayne: crappie (small minnows or spinners), channel cats (stink bait) or flatheads (large minnow) good. Mallard, Deep Quarry: largemouth (medium shiners), walleye (leeches/minnows) or pike (minnows or shiners). Watch out for turtles.
Chain O’ Lakes
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Catfish strong in shallows on leeches, crawlers or livers. Try for muskie on overcast days with suspending jerk baits. Bluegills in shallows at Loon Lake. Walleye best in current on leeches or crawlers. Largemouth biting in shallows on leeches, small crankbaits or small plastic worms.
Braidwood Lake
** 1/2
Use larger bait for channel catfish — shrimp, chicken livers or medium/large roaches.
Heidecke Lake
** 1/2
Walleye turned on with good water temps; look in deep holes using crawlers or medium roaches.
Fox River
** 1/2
Fish mouths of creeks for flathead catfish on medium suckers. Smallmouth in currents.
Kankakee River
***
Smallmouth in creek mouths on white twister tails; largemouth in backwaters on plastic worms or buzz baits. Use cheese baits for catfish.
Shabbona Lake
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Bass and walleye hiding in weeds; try live bait (crawlers or leeches). Also try plastic mouse or worms for bass. Catfish are in bays; use stink bait with warmer temps. Throw bucktails 4-to-6 feet down for muskie. Crappie in standing trees or deep cribs on minnows.
Lake Winnebago (Wisconsin)
Walleye excellent on upper lakes; use leeches, crawlers with slip bobbers or lead-head jigs. Big walleye tournament at Fond du Lac this weekend. Use fresh cut bait for big catfish. Bluegill action in beds on wax or panfish worms; large/smallmouth bass are there too.
akaschube@tribune.com
