Lake Michigan
???Rainbow and Skamania trout are taking small bring jigs tipped with waxies or spikes in Jackson Park Harbor, says Steve Palmisano (Henry’s Sports). Other harbors are doing well for perch. Perching at Navy Pier is still good, but you need to break the skim ice. Light mushroom anchors on a rope work well to break and clear ice.
South suburban ponds
???Ken O’Malley (Mokena) reports the bluegill bite is good on spikes or Gulp maggots on a jig in 8 feet of water. The afternoon bite is best up to about 5:30 p.m. Bass are also active near dark, taking medium roaches below a tip-up. The ice is a solid 10 inches thick. Cory Yarmuth (Legend Outdoors) fished near Plainfield and did well on gills using small No. 12 horizontal jigs tipped with waxies. Bass action was good in 6 feet of water.
Kankakee River
?Ice has locked up most banks on the river, keeping anglers from fishing open water, according to Ed Mullady (Sportsman’s Letter).
Illinois River
?Tom Peterson (Time on the Water Outdoors) reports fishing is slow because of little access to the river. The Barto Landing is frozen in. Some small boat anglers are using the Allen Park ramps in Ottawa and fishing the mouth of the Fox River for sauger.
Southern Illinois lakes
????Jason Johns (Todd Gessner Outdoors) reports bass are being caught at Lake of Egypt using jerk baits, jigs or plastic worms on Carolina rigs fished very slowly. Crappies are being caught by casting small jigs by brush piles found near the power plant. Big crappies have been caught in deep water at Kincaid Lake using jigs. Rend Lake is frozen over as of Sunday.
LaSalle Fish & Wildlife Area, Ind.
???Ice conditions are good, and many bluegill, bass, crappie and pike are being caught. Small jigs and waxworms or spikes are catching the panfish. Medium golden roaches below tip-ups are getting the bass and pike.
Mississippi River, Wis.
????The backwater area by Lock No. 7 is producing nice-sized gills and perch on spoons tipped with waxworms. Pike are taking large shiner minnows below tip-ups. The bite is best in early morning or after 4 p.m.
Compiled by Don Dziedzina from bait shops, avid anglers and local and state resource reports.
