Kings, kings, hopes of kings and summer returns: Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report

Hey Dale been going out to the chain looking for a flathead. I have tried control drifting live and cut gills and only picked off nice channels. Went out yesterday and was too windy to drift so we tried to troll and hooked into this guy. I’m obviously super jazzed up he broke the crankbait. And firetiger does it again it’s got to be the most productive color pattern ever.

Salmon Unlimited’s Kids Derby: Where: Waukegan Harbor in the Waukegan Port District Building Directions When: September 14, 2019 from 7am to 12pm Registration/check-in: At the Harbor Office Patio FREE to all kids, 18 and under. Ages 13 and under must have an adult guardian. Divisions: Kids 13 and under Young Adults (Ages 14-18)

Hi Dale . . . At Braidwood the Anglers Choice tournament series will resume on Sunday September 15th at the North launch. Tight lines Rob

I finally got into some smallmouths on the Fox tributaries. They were low and clear, normal for this time of year. I didn’t even fish there in the Spring due to such high water; Summer wasn’t productive for me, probably because I haven’t yet figured out the smallmouths’ seasonal movements. But I did better last week far upstream than closer to the mouth.

September 8, 2019 Green Lake Area Fishing Report: Big Green Lake – Bass fishing on Big Green is fair right now. I am finding active bass in the shallows, but number of fish caught, and size is down with most bass running from 12 – 17 inches. A slow presentation has worked best for my clients and me. Senko’s fished weightless over weed tops continue to be a good choice and Ned Rigs worked through mid depth rocks are still accounting for most of the catches. I expect the bass fishing to improve as the water temperature drops into the low 60’s. Catching bluegills has also been a hit or miss proposition this past week. There is an extraordinary amount of northern pike cruising the weed edges this year and they are disrupting the bluegill fishing. I’m locating schools of bluegills in 22 – 25 ft of water but once we start catching them the northern pike show up and scatter the fish. . . . Little Green Lake – Muskie fishing is picking up as the water cools. Fish are still deeper in 12 – 15 ft of water though few muskies are still being caught along shore on bucktails. Largemouth bass fishing remains consistent in shallow weedy areas. You can catch all the crappies you want by drifting a split shot and minnow out along the lake basin, but you need to sort through them. For Green Lake area guided fishing trips, please contact Mike Norris, Wacky Worm Guide Service, at 630-842-8199.

Good morning fellas Here is a quick update on the fishing Perch fishing has been going very good as of late and should just stay good right through fall and into ice fishing as it did the past few years. Areas to try include…Downtown Sturgeon Bay, Pot park shoreline, Sawyer Harbor, Rileys Bay and Little Sturgeon. Fathead minnows, leaf worms and crawler pieces still good live baits Walleye fishing has slowed a bit as of late, but fishermen are still catching their fair share of fish, just not the crazy action we had a month ago. Both trolling and casting during the day and at night with crank baits has been good along with rip jigging with shiver minnows, rippin raps and some blades The fishing out on the big lake has been going ok on a mix of mostly 1,2 & 3 year old Kings and some Rainbows. 150 out to 250 feet of water, fishing the top 80 feet of the water column has been the best. A mix of flasher and fly combos along with some spoons has been working. And the big 4 year olds are staging up to take their final swim so there is some good opportunity for shore fishermen along with smaller boat fishermen to get in on some of that action. For the shore and small boat fishermen a mix of spoons, plugs and spawn sacs will work well there. Bass fishing continues to stay good and should stay really good and probably even get better as our water cools. Pretty much the whole peninsula from Little Sturgeon up to Washington Island has some good fishing opportunities. Concentrate your efforts along the steep shoreline breaks, deep channels and offshore structure like the many reefs and shoals we have throughout the county Thanks; Lance LaVine Howie’s Tackle 1309 Green Bay Rd Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 Ph: 920-746-9916

I was out on the Kankakee this afternoon fishing for smallies and got a surprise. After two smallies around ten inches I started hitting very big and aggressive Bluegills. They were hitting everything I through in the water. When I was done I had got 20. The water was very clear and the best bite was between 2pm and 4pm. I was fishing just west of the BNSF rail bridge down from I 55. Victor Blackful

There have been a few salmon and trout being caught seems that there have been more trout than salmon but there’s been all species Kings, Rainbows, Brown trout, & Coho. From my knowledge all have been caught on spoons or crankbaits not necessarily all in the dark some of been caught in the daylight hours even on a few bigger spinners. If you guys are starting to use spawn and medium roach minnows on a bobber. I’ve also been told there’s been a lot of activity with them jumping around the Harbor’s the last couple nights. It seems that we’re going to get some Southwest wind so the water should cool off a few more degrees and I’m thinking that should make them quite a bit more active. There’s been a lot of good activity for Smallmouth in the Harbours some really nice size ones also some guys using artificial bait some guys using soft shells. I used all my word space LOL. I was also going to mention that I had a guy has a boat down by Burnham and he said he’s caught a few nice perch while just fishing off the side of his boat along with some couple big catfish I’ve heard of quite a few can’t fish this past couple weeks but anyways getting back to the perch I’m sure there might be some around but I don’t think anyone’s trying because all these guys want to fight the big guys and catch a salmon. Just thought I’d mention it.

Hi Dale – Waukegan fishing has been good and typical for this time of year. Fishermen have 3 options. All 3 can be good and depend on what people want to catch. Option 1 – casting or jigging for kings in the harbor. It is well known that stocking of chinook is down so that the baitfish population can increase. There are many kings in Waukegan harbor now. It’s probably at the peak of the run as this moment. The kings are already in and the mature, spawning coho should start coming in this week. As the king females begin dropping their eggs brown trout, steelhead and other species will be in the harbors eating them. Casters who have but in their time are taking kings. It’s like muskie fishing, lots and lots of casts to target trophies. Shore fishermen need to be aware of the areas where they are allowed to case and be careful of the high water this year. Casters from boats need to have trolling motors to maneuver out of the way of other vessels. Lake Michigan Angler Custom painted flicker shads are the hot bait for the 3rd year in a row. Wonderbread and Zebra are the best patterns. Option 2 – Trolling the lake trout spawning grounds between the Waukegan South Reef and Gumby’s Reef off Evanston/Wilmette. This is what the majority of the boats and all charters are doing. The lake trout fishing is world class and as good as I’ve ever seen it. Every trip has had laker limits in just a few hours with most fish over 10 pounds. Both Mo rig laker takers and spoons produced about evenly this week. These should be run on downriggers from 70 to the bottom or 200 foot plus copper rods. Best patterns were Jimmy Fly Mo Rigs in Orange Guy, Mystery and Caitlyn Jenner. Best spoons were Warrior standard or XL sizes in Blueberry Muffin UltraGlow, Green Menace, Pink Alewife and Colville Crusher. The fish wanted a quick troll this week, which is probably why the spoons did so well. Option 3 – Running to very deep water, over 250 feet and hunting for 3 year old kings, steelhead and likely getting some immature, non-spawing coho and lake trout in the mix. This is hit and miss where there is a chance to hit a school and do really well and a chance to never hit one and do really poorly. Usually trollers who do best with this pattern troll quick and cover a lot of water with baits between 40 and 100 feet, mostly smaller spoons in Warrior XL and flutter patterns. Chicago has yet to really see the salmon come in. The should be coming in this week with the majority in Diversey and Jackson Park, where they are planted. Trollers have been getting excellent lake trout action North of the city with limits for every trip run this week. The same baits as listed for Waukegan are working for the Chicago boats. Gumby’s ’and the R4 area are especially loaded. We have one charter spot remaining for the 2019 season due to a cancelation, Saturday 9/14 if any reader is interested. Capt. Scott Wolfe School of Fish Charters – Manipulator 630-341-0550

Madison Chain – While most lakes in my area have slowed the Madison Chain of Lakes remains excellent for bluegill and perch. Bluegills are cooperating on both Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. I fished Monona this past week and caught bluegills up to 9 inches long. I’ve also received reports of bluegills over 10 inches being caught. The Lake Mendota bite is equally good. Weeds and rocks are the keys. Fishing vertically near weed edges in 10 -14 ft of water with a jig tipped with a redworm or casting a jig out under a slip float remain two of the best techniques for catching numbers of bluegills. Try fishing out from Tenney Park and around The Rock on Monona. Anglers are catching perch on Mendota in University Bay.

Early September has not been the best for anglers of certain species so far. Walleye and panfish anglers have struggles. Bass fishing has been just so-so, Musky and Pike anglers are reporting good action though, lucky to have so many options! When one doesn’t work out, switch tackle and chase something else. Musky: Good – Still working inside weed edges and shallow flats. Most reports from fish in 4-8’ of water. Bucktails, spinner baits with large fluted or Colorado blades for lift and thump! Top-water still producing well, more subtle baits best. A few anglers already reporting action on suckers as surface temps ranging 60-64 degrees. Northern Pike: Good – Like their larger cousins, Pike working the 4-8’ weeds taking bucktails and spinner baits well. Some nice mid-30 fish reported this week. Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – LMB moved out to deeper weed edges once Musky moved in. Texas rigging plastics helped a local team take 2nd during a Bass tournament this past weekend. Other reports of anglers using jig and creature combos and Tokyo rigs to work deep weeds as well. Smallmouth Bass: Good-Fair – Best drop shotting deep gravel humps. Still getting reports of anglers scoring BIG Smallies on inside weed lines while Musky fishing, top-water and spinner baits, fish to 20+! Crappie: Fair – Usually very good right now. Anglers having hard time dialing in any concentrations of fish. Yellow Perch: Fair – Mostly around deep wood on ½ crawlers. Walleye: Fair – Reports of fish not very consistent and all over depending on lake type. Shallow (less than 22-24’ max depth) work shallow green cabbage with large fats, small chubs or leeches on 1/16 oz weedless jigs. Deeper lakes work depth of 18-30’ using full crawlers or medium chubs or suckers on Lindy style rigs. Bluegill: Fair – Some big Gills (9-10) being caught in local Flowages around deep wood of 14-18’ using crawlers or leeches meant for Walleye. Not a lot of other effort due to recent weather. The uptick in Musky fishing has anglers looking forward to this fall’s season. High water seems to have disrupted some bites (at least that’s my excuse) Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop Like us on FaceBook

100 to 120 straight out of burns ditch and east towards Michigan city some lake trout action close to bottom is were all the action is A few more kings and coho have showed up at the ditch some fish in the dirty water outside ditch and some around #4 marker and down the wall towards the port of Indiana mouth mag spoons and ace hi silver horde plugs along with a variety of crankbaits all taking fish Creeks have some fish in them nothing loaded bye any means but some fish are in and moving thru all creeks now spawn saks and in-line spinners are best Now is the time for night casting at the piers glow spoons and rattling cranks are the baits to try first Crappie starting to bite good in evening thru dark at lake George in Hobart crappie minnows best bait

Member Tim Shelton was Fishing the Pink Salmon run in the Pacific NW 2 weeks ago and caught his limit every day. Fishing on Widbey Island in Washington. Photos included. Chow, Frank Knight

Hi Dale The Salmon unlimited Kids Derby is this Saturday at Waukegan Harbor. My Leyden Bass Fishing Team will be heading there to help with the event. As Recipients of this years Pass The Passion Fishing Grant we have been helping at Salmon Unlimited events. This Saturday the team will be presented with the grant funds from the club. Big thanks goes to Jerry Taylor, Leslie Darling and the rest of The Salmon Unlimited Club members. The Leyden Bass team is very grateful to be the recipients of this award and have enjoyed the experience and opportunity it has provided our club members. The double gig on Saturday went off without a hitch. First it was the Jerk Festival at Park 540 in the South Loop. With the Chicago skyline behind the crowd we were rolling through our set and joined by Ras Idre and Princess Kazayha of the Dove Music reggae Family. The crowd was surging when the MC of the event; in Showtime at the Apollo Sandman fashion came onto the stage giving us the no more signal. We were informed that the Windy City Ramblers dance troupe was still due to perform. It was kinda like being on a fall school of feeding smallmouth bass; catching one or two and the DNR coming and telling you the school is closed. Such is show business. It was then on the road to Morgans in Libertyville where we put on an inspired set for our guitar player Dan Frodo Starks’ birthday. The hot Sofa is ready for this Wednesday when we will be in the Rock Fight Night at The Brauerhaus in Lombard. At Braidwood the Anglers Choice tournament series will resume on Sunday September 15th at the North launch. Tight lines Rob