Absurdly early ice fishing creeps toward Chicago and into the Midwest Fishing Report

Hey Dale, Here is a recap of this past week’s fishing. Area lakes-some skim ice encountered during the week. Crappie bite slowed some. Ice plastics were still taking some. Might be time to switch to minnows. Bass have been slow. Decided to work a jig and pig during the snow. No takers were to be had. Plenty of Sandhills flying south that kept my interest. TTYL

Well the weather hasn’t been a friend for us. This quick change is hard on People and Animals ask my Dog Roxie. The fall turn over is going to be quick there is ice on some water as I write this. . . . The other was a little shore pond hopping a few spots up by me. The Desplaines is high and rough, Axehead 2 little tiny Gills, a couple condo ponds produced a few small Bass. I think our summer to winter change has the fish thinking what the heck is happening, the turnover to them is like fall to us and it happened way to quick. Good Luck out there

Hows it going So my goal coming into 2019 was to hit 1k pounds of Carp and as of Today i have passed my goal. Put in 7 hours today and as cold as it was, managed to get in 4 nice ones. In Total i officially caught 1,078. Other than Carp i really didn’t have luck with any other fish. Im just glad i had shelter under wacker drive.

Well the weather hasn’t been a friend for us. This quick change is hard on People and Animals ask my Dog Roxie. . . . The Perch season is a bite slow some Perch being caught out south but no Perch so far on the Lake Front or the River. I was out 2 times last week once on the river a little south out of downtown I got a few Crappie and Gills nothing big but better than 0. . . . I think our summer to winter change has the fish thinking what the heck is happening, the turnover to them is like fall to us and it happened way to quick. Good Luck out there

Fishing Report – 11/11/2019 Mike Norris Big Green Lake - We had a break in the weather in south-central Wisconsin last weekend. Highs last Saturday reached into the low 40’s and into mid-30’s on Sunday. Wind speeds were lower also. This combination allowed a small group of diehard anglers to get back out on Big Green Lake and for those that did, the rewards were there. With guide trips on Big Green both Saturday and Sunday last weekend I found big smallies were back on the feed bag. Big Green’s water temperature is down to 45 degrees now and the smallmouth bass know it is now or never. I was able to spot little irregularities along hard bottom sand flats in 10 to 18 ft. with my Humminbird electronics. These irregularities turned out to be groups of smallmouth bass which eagerly attacked any live bait offering I or my clients presented to them. The results were spectacular with big bass between 4 to 5 lbs. dominating our catches on both days. Walleye anglers are doing well on Big Green fishing from sunset through the first three hours of dark. Best technique for catching walleyes continues to be trolling #7 Rapala Shad Raps or #8 Countdown Rapala’s over deep water weeds which rise to within 10 ft of the surface. The weather forecast for this week isn’t good with highs only reaching the mid-20’s and low’s in the single digits, but there is a chance for moderating weather for late next week and into the following week. I’m not ready to store the boat yet and plan on getting in a few more guide trips when weather permits. Contact Mike Norris, Wacky Worm Guide Service, at 630-842-8199 for Big Green Lake and other south-central Wisconsin guided fishing trips.

Browns off the south rocks, frozen roaches on the bottom, other than not, not many reports, business slow

4) Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon. B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors). d) Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged salmon and paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly, in accordance with Article 5, Section 5-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY!! We are so grateful for your service and sacrifice for our country. Fishing Report It’s ON! But not quite like Donkey Kong! We have fishable ice (2½-3+) on lots of area lakes, yet still open water on the larger lakes for the Musky anglers trying to get one last try at a monster. Wind has been the biggest factor in keeping ice from forming (yea from the Musky anglers/ boo from the ice anglers). But enough calm has occurred to allow the single digit nights to lock up many of the smaller lakes and bays. Musky: Good – A few hearty anglers took advantage of the warmest day in over a week to soak suckers and cast big jerk baits and gliders on Saturday when temps hit nearly 40 degrees. Cold returned and not as many on Sunday. Good, heavy fish in the upper 40’s being caught! Walleye: Good – Only reports are from ice anglers fishing the safe ice of bays and flowages. A light snow has covered ice. As always be cautious. Take along a spud bar, creepers, rope and a good friend (no brothers-in-law). Floating suits are a must or at least a life vest and throw cushion. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop Like us on FaceBook

Perch decent and decent amount of groups out until yesterday with wind now cold as heck xl fatheads and baby golden roaches best baits The crappie and gill bite around 249 bridge still good over weekend jigs with waxworms or crappie minnows best Some steelhead action around the bass pro hole stretch of the river park in the lil parking area next to 395 ironworker hall building and walk in voodoo jigs with butterworms or waxworms or spawn saks on plain hook floating the holes best And yes still have musky suckers in stock

An amazing weekend (Nov 1 & 2) in Baldwin MI on the Pere Marquette river. The steelhead bite is most definitely on (as well as a number of healthy Kings still in the system). The recent rains have helped push them into the system, and they’re aggressively striking - not phased by the colder weather pattern. Kudos to Johnny Matson from M-37 Meat Shack for his guidance and patience. Pattern was simple and effective - chuck and duck on 7 weight rods with an egg pattern - the in fly section of the river. Can’t wait to get back!

Hi Dale It was the outing that comes at the end of the season assuring one that the season is over. The waters on the Alexander flowage were rapidly freezing and the launches were closed. In town at Otts Park the launch was open but the water was fast flowing and frigid. Myself and Joe Schatz floated a sucker drowned some minnows and threw some crankbaits and spinnerbaits. All of these presentations went un touched by a fish. A double eagle sighting in the back channel and an otter frolicking in the frigid water convinced us it was time to pull the boat out one last time for the season. My neighbor mark across the street in Merrill has invited me to do some first ice tip up fishing on the Alexander Flowage when the ice becomes thick enough. With the temps the way they are it may be sooner than later. Also could you fit this into your outdoor column someplace? The Salmon Unlimited Club will be looking for High School fishing teams to submit letters of need to be candidates to receive the Pass The Passion Fishing Grant given each year to a high school fishing program. If coaches are interested they can contact Mr. Gerry Taylor at runninbare@comcast.net or Ms. Leslie Darling at lmdarling6@comcast.net. This is a great opportunity for any fishing team to receive and participate in. Tight Lines Rob