LEGEND: ***** – excellent; ****– very good; ***– good; **– fair; *– poor
Lake Michigan
**** – Steve Palmisano (Henry’s Sports) reports perch up to 11 inches being caught off shore, mostly on minnows off the bottom. Navy Pier and harbors are improving. Trollers are getting some coho and steelhead in 70 feet of water.
Fox Chain o’ Lakes
**** – Greg Dickson (Triangle Sports) says bass are taking plastics near banks. Gills are being caught on ice jigs tipped with waxies or piece of crawler near shore. Walleyes are in current areas taking leeches or crawlers.
Evergreen Lake
**** – Crappies are taking small roaches on a split shot rig in 30 feet of water across from the pump house. Saugeyes are on points being taken with the same rig.
Braidwood/Mazonia Lakes
*** – Eagle Lake gave up an 111/2-inch redear sunfish this week and many 8- to 9-inch gills. Most all Mazonia lakes are good for panfish. Main bite at Braidwood is catfish on all baits.
Shabbona Lake
**** – Water is near 70 degrees but still a bit dirty, says Jay Angel (Jay Angel Guide Service). Bass are on the inside edges of weedlines taking plastics. Wacky worm rigs are best.
Illinois River
* – Starved Rock ramps will be closed this weekend. The Barto Landing in Spring Valley is open. River is more than two feet over flood stage, says Tom Matejewski (Time on the Water Outdoors).
Des Plaines River
**** – Dan Sims (Sims Spinners) reports that water levels are getting back to normal in the Riverside area. Bass are taking inline orange or white spinners coming out of new weed growth near current.
Delavan Lake, Wis.
**** – Crappies are in about 10 feet of water taking minnows, says (Brian Gates) Geneva Bait and Tackle. Gills are starting to go on their beds. Bass are good on wacky worms or nightcrawlers. Northerns are smaller than average taking suckers or spinnerbaits.
Boulder Junction, Wis. lakes
**** – Smallmouth bass are in pre-spawn on many lakes and are being caught on plastics and live bait along warm banks, says Janie Harpster (Northern Highland Sports). Bass cannot be kept until June 18. Walleyes are taking minnows, leeches and crawlers in rocky areas where green weeds are nearby.
Compiled by Don Dziedzina from bait shops, avid anglers, and local and state resource reports.
