Legend: *-poor; **-fair; ***-good; ****-very good; *****-excellent
SPOT, RATE, QUICK HIT
Lake Michigan (Chicago) ***
Perch catches remain very good up and down lakefront on softshell crabs and minnows. Burnham Harbor action reported particularly plentiful.
Lake Michigan (Northwest Indiana) ***
Coho, chinooks and steelhead active in up to 68 feet of water out of East Chicago Marina, while trout found in deeper waters–greater than 110 feet–on spoons and bodybaits. Productive smallmouth bass catches reported near Hammond Marina breakwater and along Inland Steel Wall in East Chicago.
Lake Michigan (Lake County) ** 1/2
Coho action is slow for boaters, although some success reported in 70 to 80 feet of water off of Great Lakes and in up to 120- foot depths out of Waukegan. Perch are hit and miss for boaters, but much better for pier anglers on softshell crabs and minnows.
Southeast Wisconsin ** 1/2
Perch sporadic for Kenosha shore anglers, but browns are keeping them busy on silver or glow spoons. Boaters having better success with perch, but trollers having less fortune with only a few chinooks, coho and steelhead. Near Racine, good perch prospects near Pershing Park and the DeKoven Center while boaters hitting limits. In Milwaukee, good early-morning perch action off the end of McKinley Pier and the Bender Park rocks.
Chain O’ Lakes *** 1/2
Excellent catfish prospects throughout, biting in shallow waters on prepared bait and night crawlers. Walleyes decent on leeches and night crawlers in wind-driven currents and near bridges. Bluegills reported very good in shallows, while bass fair to good in outer weeds or in shady areas. Muskies best on trolling bite, especially in Lake Marie or Pistakee.
Kankakee River ***
Smallmouth bass fishing remains good on both sides of state line on crawfish, minnows, Rattlin’ Rouge and spinners. Action especially good from Rex Island through Jason Island in Kankakee State Park. Largemouth good at mouths of bayous and ditches where enough water is present, especially in Indiana.
Fox River (Batavia) ***
Catfish biting well on variety of baits, including golden roaches. Smallmouth also hitting. A few walleyes reported in river’s bottom in faster current.
DuPage County Preserves ** 1/2
Shoreline access now clear and Trinity and May Lakes following treatment for weeds. Bass and bluegills reported biting in DuPage lakes, but no notable catches reported.
— Compiled by Jack McCarthy from pro and bait shops and state natural resource reports.
