SPOT, RATE, QUICK HIT
Lake Michigan (Chicago/Indiana)
** 1/2
Kings still relatively active up and down the lakefront in harbors, but in decline overall. Good reports of silverfish. Snagging season under way but permitted only in Lincoln Park lagoon (south of Fullerton) and Jackson Park harbors.
Lake Michigan (Lake County)
**
Kings on the decline in transition to cooler weather but still being caught near South Rocks and harbor around Waukegan. Browns and steelheads expected to pick up.
Lake Michigan (Southern Wisconsin)
** 1/2
Kenosha harbor anglers catching chinooks and rainbows on spawn. In Racine County a few chinooks and coho have been caught early a.m. in glow in the dark spoons. Good number of chinooks and browns reported near Milwaukee’s McKinley Marina while trollers have been catching chinooks and browns inside the harbor.
Wolf Lake
***
Good crappie action near mouth of channel. Walleyes expected to start picking up.
Chain O’ Lakes
***
Muskies going good near edges of weeds, with southern lakes recommended as cold front hits and northern lakes later in week. Drift fishing for crappies and bass still decent. Catfish slowing.
Illinois River
**
Water temperatures slowly declining, reported 61 degrees in advance of midweek cold front. Poor to fair fishing conditions reported around Starved Rock and LaSalle County areas. Most action reported below dams and around islands.
Fox River
** 1/2
Walleyes still very good in fast waters on white grubs, medium roaches and larger fatheads. Smallmouth also numerous on white grubs and medium roaches. Catfish very slow. Colder weather this week could spark muskie activity.
Kankakee River
***
Smallmouth bass still good from Old River Isle through Momence, Aroma Park and Kankakee River state park, especially Rex and Monica island areas. Catfishing good throughout. Largemouth bass reported good in Indiana.
Shabbona Lake
***
Muskie fishing expected to pick up considerably this week after winds die down following cold front’s arrival. Other fishing reported mediocre.
Wisconsin (Southeast inland)
* 1/2
Wisconsin DNR reports low water levels on Pike River in Kenosha County and slow fishing. Northern pike and largemouth bass were biting on crank and spinner baits on inland lakes.
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Compiled by Jack McCarthy from pro and bait shops and state natural resource reports
