Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Ice pushing south, lakefront perch

They bite best on the heavy overcast days.

Perch still good for boat fisherman fishing 105st area and farther xl fatheads best

Hey Dale, Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing. Area lakes-the mid-week warm up and rain allowed for the long rods to maybe make their last appearance of 2020. Bluegill were decent on J and S custom jigs ice mites. Crappie were also decent on gulp emerald shiner minnows. Both were found fishing the weedlines off the first drop to the main basin. Key was staying mobile as fish were scattered. Here is the nature pic of the week [below]. It’s time to get ready for winter. TTYL — Ken Husker O’Malley Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team

Fishing Report 12/13/2020 Mike Norris Big Green Lake – Anglers took advantage of warm temps late last week to fish Big Green, but results were mixed. I guided Big Green on a cold and blustery day early last week and my clients and I caught several smallmouth bass, lake trout and walleye. All fish caught were immediately released. But on a guide trip later in the week when the weather turned nice, we found it difficult to catch any gamefish. We experienced snow and strong winds out of the northeast this past weekend and now with lighter winds I am seeing ice reforming back in the bays. Open water angling season on Big Green is not over though. With Green’s surface water temp registering 42 degrees and no deep freeze forecast for the immediate future, there should be more open water angling days ahead. Fox River in DePere, WI. – The Fox River is drawing a lot of attention right now. Numbers of walleyes ranging from 16 – 18 inches have moved upriver from the Bay of Green Bay to the dam in DePere and anglers are catching them with Jig and minnow combinations. Regulations implemented in the spring of 2020 allow for the harvesting of three in total, with only one being a sauger. For information on guide trips reach out to me via my Facebook page at mike.norris.7773 or email me through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

Hello fellas Here is a quick update on the very little fishing that is going on right now The weather is really starting to cool now and with-in days from this report I imagine most launches will have some kind of ice forming on them which will make it nearly impossible to launch. But, up until this week, the fishermen that did get out did very well and if fishermen can still get out and are willing to freeze their butts off will definitely have some really good fishing. This is what we’ve got… Perch fishing has been unbelievable the past two months and will continue to be good via open water if possible and for sure once we get hard water. Little Sturgeon, Riley’s Bay and Sawyer Harbor the hot spots right now and will be the go-to spots during early ice season as they are year in and year out. Fathead minnows the best live bait to have in the boat. Pike fishing has been equally fantastic when able to get out there and again that will be good when the ice forms. Right now, the Pike will pretty much eat anything as they are really putting on a feed bag right now (especially the perch) Large crank baits, jerk baits, plastics, spinner baits along with medium and large sucker minnows. Walleye fishing also very good, again when you can get out there. And right now the day and the night both productive with the night bite a bit better right now as it usually is this time of year. Howie tubes, blades, rippin raps, jerk baits and Flicker shads all good options Soon we will have ice, hopefully safe ice and there should be more to talk about Thanks Lance LaVine Howie’s Tackle 1309 Green Bay Rd Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 Ph: 920-746-9916

Hi Dale, warm spell just before the weekend got a few fish moving on the Kankakee, but the bite is slow. No ice yet. G. Peters.

Rare 9 1/2 Rock Bass from the Kankakee in December!

Morning Dale Justin Lederer checking in from Mcquoids inn Millie Lacs lake. All the bays are holding 6-8 hopefully by the end of the week we can get the machines on. . . . Thanks

The Northwoods may finally get the ice fishing conditions us anglers have been waiting for. Good ice making temperatures and little to no precipitation has produced some great early ice fishing! Walleye: Excellent-Very Good – Sure that the New Moon period is helping, but accessibility and for the most part great conditions have put lots of anglers and Walleyes on the ice! Shallow (2-8’) water with green weeds are seeing good bites on medium shiners and suckers with some anglers reporting bites starting at 2-3 PM, others out past mid-night still scoring. Aggressive Walleyes also being caught on Jiggin Raps, Rippin Raps and Shiver Minnows. Crappies: Very good – Lots of good reports from anglers using minnows on tip-downs. Also slow-dropping waxies on plastics on rocker jigs or Lethal Cecils! Depending on weather Crappies of 10-14 being caught tight to bottom all the way up to 2’ under ice in 7-12’. Northern Pike: Very Good - Popping flags in bays with good green weeds of 6-10’. Big lively bait in the form of shiners and suckers best. Bluegill: Very Good – Anglers presenting mousses and waxies on VMC tungsten fly jigs and Kenders Akua jig flares having good action. Reports with photos of fish over 10 (up to 11 ¼) coming in! Yellow Perch: Good-Very Good – Anglers targeting fish in shallow weeds catching nice Perch on Northland Forage Minnow Spoons and small buckshot spoons loaded with waxies! Largemouth Bass: Good – Good reports from anglers using medium shiners on tip-ups or jigging Slender Spoons tipped with waxies or a minnow head. Conditions on the ice have really improved following two consecutive nights of lows below 0 degrees to single digits. Expect to find ice thickness of 8-9 on many lakes by the weekend. Reports of an ATV that broke ice on a smaller lake (no one hurt) means caution still required. Lack of snow means slippery conditions (ice skaters are loving this!). Be sure to wear creepers when venturing out, safety spikes, rope still important. With little to no precipitation in forecast we should have great ice barring any unforeseen weather through the new year Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop Like us on FaceBook

Perch still good for boat fisherman fishing 105st area and farther xl fatheads best Steelhead action in trail creek and salt creek voodoo jigs tipped with beemoth doing well some on spawn sacks also Lakers outside of burns ditch around the port of Indiana wall jigging spoons and blade baits best