Summertime: Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report

The variety of summer fishing is here for this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.

The MFR appears in a condensed form Wednesdays on the Sun-Times newspaper outdoors page. The sprawling raw-file report is posted here online on the Sun-Times outdoors page.

Bill Lanham posted this shot of panfish from one of his favorite spots in northeastern Illinois. It’s that time of year.

LAKEFRONT NOTE

America’s Cup World Series is this weekend, centered around Navy Pier. There will be crowds on land as well as water there, and Blues Fest is this weekend, too, in Grant Park.

PERCH REMINDER

Perch fishing in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan is closed through June 15.

AREA LAKES

Bluegill are bedding or close to it in most places; largemouth are in various stages of pre-spawn, spawn or post-spawn, depending on the lake.

AREA WATER LEVELS

Go to http://water.weather.gov//ahps2/index.php?wfo=lot to check area water levels and projection, depending how much rain comes, that might matter. To get to more specific gauges, even on creeks, in Illinois, go to http://waterdata.usgs.gov/il/nwis/current/?type=flow

BRAIDWOOD

Site staff reported water at 88 degrees on the north end, 93 on the south, on Monday. Tournament bass fishermen continue to do well; otherwise, the best bet is smaller catfish.

Site fishing hours are 6 a.m.-sunset daily.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Staff at Triangle said bluegill are bedding; catfish are good on the north end of Channel and Catherine and around the Route 12 and Grass Lake bridges on Sonny’s; clam beds are producing walleye; some bass are bedding, some are in wolf packs; some white bass on Marie, Pistakee and Fox; bucktails are taking some muskie.

Check updates at Fox Waterway Agency or by calling (847) 587-8540.

CHICAGO RIVER

No update.

DELAVAN/LAKE GENEVA AREA, WISCONSIN

DELAVAN: Dave Duwe sent this: Delavan lake Fishing report 6/5/16 through 6/12/16 Delavan has been overall very good. The only bite not really available yet is the northern pike. There are loads of bluegills and perch in the shallows currently and they are heavily feeding. Bluegill action has been great in 3-4 ft of water. The fish are now spawning so be selective in harvesting the catch, avoid keeping the spawning fish as they are the future of our fishery. Look for them in the scattered weeds around sand pockets. The best bait has been leaf worms fished with a Thill bobber. The best location has been by Browns Channel, West of willow point and around Assembly Park. Yellow perch action has been fantastic. The perch have been in 5-6 ft of water. The best location has been by Assembly Park or by Browns Channel. The best approach is hellgrammites fished beneath a bobber. You need to sort to catch the larger fish. I’ve been averaging one keeper for every 5 caught. The biggest fish last week was over 12 inches. Largemouth bass have started to conclude their spawn and are moving to deeper water. I’m starting to get them on the weedline in 15-17 ft of water. They’ve been concentrating around the main lake points. You can either catch them on a split shot rigged nightcrawler or a drop shot rig. Use a small 4 inch green pumpkin worm. Crappie fishing has been good in the 7-8 ft weed flats. The best success has come off of purple plastic fished on a 1/32 oz jig head. The best approach has been long cast with a stop and go retrieve. The best location has been by Browns channel or a few piers west of the Yacht club point. Last week I caught only a couple Northern Pike, they were in 15 ft of water. I caught them lindy rigging medium suckers. With the cooler water the fish haven’t positioned on the deep weeds yet. Fishing for them will be spotty until the water warms. Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050 GENEVA: Arden Katz had an outstanding day on Tuesday with three of them catching big bluegill, pumpkinseed and rock bass with a few bass thrown in, primarily with drop-shots with white tails and spikes in 10-13 feet. Duwe sent this: Lake Geneva Fishing Report 6/5/16 through 6/12/16 Lake Geneva fishing is starting to pick up with the warming waters. The smallmouth bass have almost completed their spawn and remain near their spawning flats. Next to spawn will be the largemouth bass which will happen in the next week or so. Smallmouth bass are near their spawning flats such as Elgin Club, South Shore Club and Belvidere Park. They are located in 10-12 ft of water. They can be caught on a drop shot rig with a green pumpkin Houdini worm or fishing a white with pink head hair jig in 1/16 oz. For live bait fishermen, using the tried and true split shot rig always works. Rock bass are everywhere in the 10-12 ft range. Right now is a great time to take a kid fishing as there is a lot of action. They are being caught on nightcrawlers and small fat head minnows. The biggest concentration of fish that I’ve found has been by Colemans Point. Largemouth action has been good by Trinkes, Abbey Harbor or in Geneva Bay. They can be caught on green pumpkin Senkos or small Rapala’s. This action will continue to improve over the course of the next week due to the spawn. Bluegill and Pumpkin seed action has been fantastic in the 4-5 ft water depths. The best location has been by the Riviera Pier or near Trinkes. They can be caught on bobbers fished with leaf worms. Once you can find a pocket of them, it isn’t difficult to catch a whole bunch. Some walleyes are being caught at night. The best location has been by Maytag Point and Trinkes Bay. Like always, the time to fish for them is midnight to 4 a.m. and if there is a light chop the fishing will be better than if it’s calm. Northern Pike action has been slow. The pike are still hunkered down in the shallow weed flats. As a rule by the 4th of July, the thermocline will form and the pike action will improve. Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

DES PLAINES RIVER

No update.

DOWNSTATE NOTES

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: The Wetlands Initiative will have the fishing season at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge (Hennepin-Hopper) through Sept 5, except closed Mondays (open on holidays). Regulations will be the same as last year, with an emphasis on reminding fishermen there may be no large motors on boats. Click here for detailed information. LAKE OF EGYPT/REND LAKE: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing. POWERTON: Summer hours are 6 a.m.-8 p.m. EMIQUON: Because of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s shutdown, fishing and boating permits will be done at the launch. Call (309) 547-2730. SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Ken Wilson Guide Service.

EVERGREEN: Mike Steffasent this earlier and I did not get the hours update yet:

EXPANDED HOURS BEGINNING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND! QUESTIONS? CALL THE COMLARA PARK VISITOR CENTER AT (309) 434-6770.

DuPAGE RIVER

No update.

FOX RIVER: WESTERN SUBURBS

No update.

FOX RIVER: WISCONSIN

No update.

GREEN BAY/STURGEON BAY

No update from Lance LaVine at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay, but the

Wisconsin DNR Report had this stuff of note:

Green Bay Fishing Report: June 6, 2016

Brown Co.

Suamico: Suamico River walleye anglers had decent catch rates through the week using both flicker shads/minnows and crawler harnesses. Rougher weather over the weekend led to low catch rates during this period. Most walleye being caught this week were in the 14-19 inch range. Moderate side catches of freshwater drum were landed as well.
Duck Creek: Carp bow fishermen heading out onto Duck Creek are landing fish at decent rates. Garbage cans full of carp are not uncommon from this group. Bow hunting carp into the night is producing the best rates. Musky anglers launching from Duck Creek and fly-fishing the lower bay reported moderate success this week. At least one 50+ inch musky was landed by fly fishing in this group.
Fox River: Fox River catfish anglers were catching the highest rates on the piers, across from Titletown Brewing, off the Main Street Bridge. Fishing live bait 12-24 inches off a sinker, on the river bottom, has been a very effective approach. The majority of catfish caught have been around 12-15 inches. A lesser rate of catfish are being caught throughout the river system. Smallmouth bass anglers are landing solid rates of fish on the Fox River, primarily at Voyager Park. Jerk baits, tubes and live baits are attracting fish. While most have been around 12 – 15 inches, a few in the 20-inch range are also being caught. Other fish being caught by shore anglers and boaters alike include lots of freshwater drum, a few walleye, crappie, white bass, round goby, gar (mostly long-nose) and carp.
Green Bay Ramps: Walleye anglers launching from Green Bay Metro caught fish at high rates. Crank baits and crawler harnesses are both landing fish. Walleye measured this week ranged from 15.4 to 23 inches and averaged 17.2 inches. Very high side catches of freshwater drum are also being landed. Other incidental catches included decent numbers of yellow perch and white bass plus channel catfish, suckers, white perch and northern pike. White bass measured this week averaged 14.1 inches. Fisher-folks looking for musky had good success this week. Throwing large spinners and cranks in 4-10 feet of water has been successful. Fifty-inch muskies have been caught by multiple anglers.
Bay Shore Park: Catch rates are on the rise in the Northeast section of Green Bay. Bayshore Park anglers toward the end of the week and into the weekend were finding some good numbers of hungry walleyes and the occasional yellow perch. Many of the anglers are reporting that catch rates are on the rise with many of the fish being short of the 15 inch size limit. But anglers were still coming in with 2-3 keeper fish per person. The people catching fish have been trolling in shallow water up to 6ft. They are primarily trolling flicker shad/minnows with the occasional boat catching a few walleyes on crawler harnesses. Water temperatures continue to be on the rise with boats saying they were marking 70 degree surface water temperatures. Water clarity has fallen due to the heavy rain towards the later part of the week, and are now around 3-4ft. Anglers are reporting bycatch of freshwater drum and round goby.

Door/Kewaunee Co. – Bay side from Sturgeon Bay area south

Chaudoirs Dock: The catch rates at Chaudoir’s Dock are beginning to become much more consistent and are increasing. Anglers are finding a moderate bite launching from Chaudoir’s Dock with a few reporting getting their limits. Successful anglers have found the key to catching good numbers of walleyes is to target the active fish in the shallow water by trolling flicker shads/minnows and or crawler harnesses. Along with the walleye, yellow perch and channel catfish have been taken by anglers targeting walleyes with some of the channel catfish being around the 12 pound range. A few anglers have been targeting yellow perch and have found a low-moderate catch rate. The majority of the yellow perch being caught were in the 8 inch class with the biggest being measured at 13 inches. Water temperatures (surface) are increasing and hovering around 68-70 degree mark. Water clarity fell and is now around the 2-3 ft. range.
Red River: No anglers have been interviewed from Red River Park, although two trailers were recorded.
Fish Haven: No trailers or anglers counted.
Little Sturgeon Bay: Catch rates for smallmouth bass are also on the rise, with some anglers reporting catches of 30+ in a morning of fishing. Most of the anglers are running towards Sturgeon Bay and fishing the flats off of Quarry Point. I have been getting mixed reports about what stage the smallmouth spawning season is in. Some are stating that there are only males left on the beds, indicating that the females have already spawned and went back to deep water. But others are saying they are seeing females and males still on beds. With the water temperatures rising (66-69 degrees) I would say that the spawn is nearly, if not already over. Most anglers are finding success using tube jigs and other soft plastics for the smallmouth bass. Some bycatch of anglers fishing for smallmouth have been a few muskellunge and the occasional round goby. Of the anglers that have tried for walleye out of Little Sturgeon Bay they have reported no fish being caught. A few anglers have been out targeting muskellunge, which opened on May 28th. The report has been that anglers have been seeing a good number of fish but can’t seem to get them to bite. This is most likely due to the muskellunge’s spawning season. Fish are focused on spawning at the moment and not feeding. But a few anglers caught muskies but none that were actually trying to catch them.
Sawyer Harbor: Fishing in Sawyer Harbor has been very high the past week. Interviews have been tough to get, but of the interviews obtained fishing has been moderate. A few anglers targeting smallmouth bass have been finding a few fish but can’t seem to find the big numbers. Most of the anglers are using soft plastics including tube jigs and swimbaits.

The Wisconsin DNR Lake Michigan Report, typically updated on Tuesdays, includes reports from both the bay and lake sides.HEIDECKE LAKE

Depending on the day, good reports on walleye, hybrids and crappie (as the FOTW will show), this is a lake near its peak. Fishing hours are 6 a.m.-sunset.

ILLINOIS RIVER

Thom Matejewski at Illinois Valley Outdoors said that catfish are good on cut herring or Asian carp or bullheads, smaller catfish are going on Sonny’s; sauger are “pretty good’’ on flats by pulling crankbaits; smaller white bass are being caught around the mouth of the Vermilion and up inside it.

Illinois Valley Outdoors–(815) 663-1000–is open in Spring Valley.

INDIANA STREAMS

Access points for Trail Creek can be found on the Trail Creek Access Map.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Norm Minas sent this:

I had some time to kill this morning so I did what comes naturally to me, I went fishing . I met a fellow ISA member and he reported that he saw very few smallmouth and none on beds in the tributary he was fishing . I had planned on hiking down a ways to fish a spot I had not been to in about 3 weeks. After hearing that report , I changed my plans as I figured if the smallmouth had recently moved out of the tributary they most likely had not gone far . I fished the downstream side of the riffle the point bar made as the upstream side was inches deep . Working a rattlebait across the area were the riffle dropped I picked up enough fish to make me happy . Looking over the area downstream , I noticed that there was a mudline were the river and creek water were meeting and that there was a deeper slot off the downstream end of the point bar . Why not try, I’m already right by it . I started making short downstream casts with the ratlebait and making longer casts to follow . Way more than enough smallmouth to make me happy . It is fun when your hunches pay off .Not only that but I saved myself the longer hike and had more time with a lure in the water .PeaceNorm

NOTE: The Route 102 bridge over Rock Creek is undergoing work, which means access to the state park and Warner Bridge will require some driving around.

LAKE ERIE

The Ohio DNR has general Lake Erie info and a fishing report.

LAKEFRONT

Remember the perch closure on Lake Michigan runs through June 15 on the Illinois waters.

CHICAGO: Smallmouth are the top bite in the harbors. Staff at Park Bait noted that drum are the top bite; a couple coho were caught from the Montrose Horseshoe Monday. Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said there are scattered lakers, some coho and the occasional Chinook in 80-100 feet straight off Chicago and north.

WAUKEGAN: Ted Boska sent this:

Hello and good morning Dale.Middle of the week fishing continues to be good for many people who fish around 90 to 120,mostly nice size coho,but mother nature had different plans for weekend. Rainy weekend, windy makes fishing brutal. Fish were scared all over from top to bottom, but no takers, very limited catches only.Many comes back with 1 or fish only. Lakers and big kings occasionally, but extremely deep in the water column over 260′ of water. Many day’s are coming with west wind’s, and first 90 plus for incoming weekend, should improve fishing. Thanks Ted ( diehard angler ) BOSKA

Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop texted that fishing is tough in 100-300 feet and south, mostly lakers, some beauties, with a few kings and steelies, too.

She also texted the photo.

NORTH POINT: Poteshman said that fishing is changing rapidly, he suggested that you find a pocket of fish (mostly salmon and a few lakers) anywhere from the beach to 200 feet.

LAKE KOSHKONONG, WISCONSIN

No update.

LaSALLE LAKE

Blues remain the top bite. The cooling lake south of Seneca is open daily, 6 a.m.-sunset.

MADISON CHAIN, WISCONSIN

Go to Facebook for the latest updates from Gene Dellinger at D & S Bait.

MAZONIA

This would be my pick, especially for panfish. I am pretty sure it is Bill Lanham’s, too. Open daily, 6 a.m.-sunset. Conditions should be near perfect.

MENOMINEE RIVER, WISCONSIN

Check with Mike Mladeik at Mike Mladenik Guide Service.

MILWAUKEE HARBOR

Check the Wisconsin DNR Lake Michigan Report, which generally comes out Tuesdays for updates.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Ken “Husker” O’Malleysent this:

Hey Dale, Fishing up in Northern Wisconsin has been very good. Water temps are 60-62. Little cooler than normal. Some smallmouth are on beds. Smallies have been good on Midwest rigs and top water (Strike King top dawg) during evening hours. Largemouth are good on senkos pitched to shoreline cover. Pike on Mepps bucktails worked over the top of weeds has produced good numbers.TTYL — Ken Husker O’Malley Huskeroutdoors Waterworks fishing team MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice of Kurt’s Island Sport Shop sent this:Minocqua Area Fishing Report 06/05/16 Early June starting out a bit wet and windy. Water temps have settled into the mid 60’s and many species have settles into their late spring patterns. Walleye: Very Good. The cloud cover has benefitted day time walleye anglers. Casting diving cranks (ShadRaps, Flicker Shads, and Smash Shads) over and through cabbage beds of 8-12’ has produced very well again this past week. Opportunities come during lowest light periods or cloudy patches that are turning the fish on. Jig anglers finding very good success using minnow, leeches and crawlers. The night bite has not been as good yet, but will improve as the water warms and after the impending Hex hatches occur. Northern Pike: Very Good. Good pike weather! Pike taking spinnerbaits (Boonies, Booyah), weedless spoons (Silver Minnows, Jawbreakers), and swimbaits. Live bait anglers very successful on chubs and suckers, 6-12’ weeds. Largemouth Bass: Very Good! In an aggressive mood! Spinner baits (Boonies, Booyah) and chatterbaits are hot! A 22er on a Booyah 6/5! Faster moving swimbaits as well as pre-rigged plastic worms ticking weed tops of 5-8’. Top-water action is slow due to mid-60’s water and a lot of wind/rain. Bluegills: Very Good. Surprisingly, lots of signs of bedding gills already. Small leeches, Thunderbugs, and worms are working. Tiny tubes and twistertails. Once beds found, play nice- catch a bunch, but keep only a few; leave some for the next time out. Smallmouth Bass: Good. Post spawn. Best on twitch baits such as Shadow Raps and X-Raps. Fish moved away from shallow spawning areas to next breaks. Plastic craws and cranks that dive to 8-10’ in craw patterns are working. Musky: Fair-Good. Most reports of fish in upper 30 to lower 40 class on smaller bucktails and 3/8 oz. Spinner baits. Yellow Perch: Fair-Good. A few good reports coming from flowages. If fishing drowned wood areas, chose Thunderbugs (dragonfly larvae) for bait- perch being cleaned picked with these bugs. Crappie: Fair. With spawn over, this species has fallen off the radar a bit- maybe to recover. The few reports are of scattered fish taking jig/spinner combos (Beetle spins, mimic minnow spins eat). Despite water temps averaging mid 60’s, spawning fish seem to be ahead of schedule. When anglers could fish (Rain/wind) reports were good. With temps forecasted into the 80’s for the coming weekend, expect more from our bass, musky and pike reports and with some top-water coming into play.

EAGLE RIVER: B+L, from interviews with guides George Langley, Muskie Matt and Colin Crawford, sent this as part of an update for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce:

Musky: These fish are using the new weed growth looking for smaller fish to chew on, so small bucktails such as Mepps or Buchertails will work well, but nothing larger than 500 series. Maybe small jerkbaits that have a bluegill or crappie profile. Northern Pike: Keep your arsenal loaded with multiple options: small jigs tipped with a minnow, bass style (safety pin style) spinnerbaits, and spoons. Walleye: Jig and minnow combos on weed edges or a slip bobber rig with minnows or leeches above the weeds will bring in the fish. Bass: These fish are in pre-spawn, spawning, or post-spawn depending on the lake. Jigs or slip bobbers will catch fish. For anglers experienced with plastics, a Carolina rigged lizard is wonderful, as they are a natural predator of bass. Remember, Largemouth Bass are open and Smallmouth Bass are only catch and release until June 18 in the northern zone. Panfish: Bluegills are getting ready for spawn and will be in the shallows on the beds, so slip bobber rigs are the way to fish them. Crappies will be in the weeds and a slip bobber rigged with small minnows will bring in these fish. Perch are in the weeds, too, and using a selection of small leeches, red worms and small minnows on slip bobbers are the ticket.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Willow Slough is hit and miss for panfish, bluegill are bedding some lakes. Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station said the weekend was good for kings and coho in 60-80 feet out of Burns Ditch, good lakers around, too, but he was not sure how the north wind Tuesday would change that bite; few trying perch and even fewer catching; catfish are going on stinkbait in the river; at Lake George, go out and throw it out and catch all kids of fish.

ROCK RIVER, WISCONSIN

No update, I did not get to call Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin DNR Lake Michigan Report is generally posted on Tuesday and includes a Root river section. Click here for the stream flow update, which can be really important for how good the fishing is.

ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN

Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said some kings and steelhead are in 80-140 feet or 220 and deeper; no perch reports (a smattering north out of South Haven); some quality walleye in river; mostly drum and catfish off the pier.

ST. JOSEPH RIVER, INDIANA

Click herefor reports from the Indiana DNR.

SHABBONA LAKE

Staff at Lakeside said the fishing has been slower, but catfish are picking up; some walleye are along weed lines; bluegill are bedding; crappie moved to deep trees.

The restaurant is open every day. Lakeside is now open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information and reports from Lakeside, go to shabbonalake.com or call (815) 824-2581.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin DNR posts a report at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/OutdoorReport.html. It is usually posted by Tuesday afternoon. Stream flow info is at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/current?type=flow.

WISCONSIN DELLS

No update.

WOLF LAKE

No update.

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

No update.

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