Lake Michigan (Chicago lakefront)
**
Salmon starting to appear, but better bite is still at least a week away. Perch action slowing, with best action reported near state line. Rock bass biting on softshells and minnows.
Lake Michigan (Lake County)
** 1/2
Late-night action has tailed off, but early-morning hours — between 4 and 4:30 a.m. — are still very good for kings and steelheads in 110 to 120 feet of water north of Waukegan. A handful of browns also reported. Some kings found off ends of piers and shoreline anglers also catching some perch off the end of Government Pier.
Lake Michigan (Northwest Indiana)
** 1/2
Good coho and chinook action out of East Chicago, with best catches in 60 to 80 feet of water along state line. Spoons and dodger/fly combinations in 50 to 70 feet have been productive. Increased number of steelhead reported in upper and lower stretches of Trail Creek. Perch action still slow. Some steelhead reported near Michigan City lighthouse pier.
Southeast Wisconsin
**
A few browns reported in Kenosha harbor, but bite inconsistent. Perch also slow, but trollers catching some chinooks and a few lake trout in 90 to 120 feet of water early in the day. In Racine, good numbers of chinooks found in 90 to 130 feet while browns found in 70 to 100 feet. Shore fishing slow. In Milwaukee, trollers also catching some chinooks and a few coho and rainbows in 100 to 130 feet, mostly in early-morning hours.
Southwest Michigan
**
Good steelhead run reported on St. Joseph River, with best action at mouth of cold-water creeks and river. When water temperature falls below 74 degrees, better action reported near dams at Berrien Springs, Buchanan and Niles. Boaters report salmon in 60- to 80-foot depths.
Chain O’ Lakes
***
Great catfish action in all lakes, mainly in shallows on prepared baits or night crawlers. White and yellow bass hitting a bit, drifting deeper waters. Bass reported good in shallows on plastic frogs or worms. Bluegills biting in shallow and shaded areas. Crappies and walleye have slowed, but walleye still being found in areas with currents.
Kankakee River
***
Catfish biting in Indiana in the Point area north of English Lake on cheesebaits, minnows and night crawlers. Crappie good on No. 2 Mepps Spinners and 2- to 3-inch minnows. Largemouth bass reported along quieter shorelines between Routes 55 and 41. In Illinois, smallmouth continue to be good on streamer flies, live minnows and crawfish.
Fox River (Batavia)
** 1/2
Catfish abound in central Kane County portions of the river, biting on just about anything, including golden roaches. A few smallmouth and walleyes also reported.
DuPage County preserves
** 1/2
Good largemouth bass action reported at Grove Lake, Maple Lake and Round Lake. Best times are early or late in the day. Reports out of Salt Creek near Graue Mill indicate largemouth bass, crappies and the occasional walleye working current breaks.
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Compiled by Jack McCarthy from pro and bait shops and state natural resource reports.
EDITED BY THOMAS L. OUTLAW AND DAMIAN HOPKINS
