Chicago fishing: Coho/surprises on L. Mich. and largemouth/crappie inland lead Midwest Fishing Report

I caught this 20 inch about 5lb bass on a crankbait at a local Orland Park pond on the second cast. A guy ran out of his house with a tape measure. 20 inches. Thanks lost count after 10 bass

Throwback to when it was warm out at the lagoons . . . like a week ago. That time is coming again

5.2 caught in cook county. Hope all is well.

Ned Rig always gets the job done

Hey Dale, Here is a recap of this past week’s fishing. Area lakes- timing is certainly everything. The end of weeks temperatures and spring snow crashed water temps. The reaction bite slowed for bass. There today and gone the next. Winds didn’t allow for finesse presentations or twitch baits. The bite should improve later in the week with more stable temperatures. The pairing mallards certainly didn’t mind though. TTYL — Ken Husker O’Malley Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team

Hi Dale With a renewed fishing license and new rod and reel combo staring at me I had to sneak out on Monday. I hit Twin Lakes rec Area in Palatine and Busse Lake. At Twin Lakes the water was crystal clear, cold and seemingly lifeless. Ducks, a Blue Herron and a Coopers Hawk were enjoying the windy sunny cool conditions but I could not coax a bite. A walker who was on the deck overlooking the water said he could see some giant fish in the water. I looked and there were a couple big bass locked to the bottom and motionless. Time to move on. Busse was no more active with the milky cool water having no baitfish to speak of. A muskrat swam across, and a Bald Eagle soared overhead. The first Redwing Blackbirds were present as I headed to the lot up the marshy boggy hill. Weather permitting, in the next couple weeks I will have to go to the house in Wisconsin to cut the grass...and fish a bit. I am doing some of my Home Ec. Class recipes on Video and posting to Facebook. Quite fun! And on the music front I have started posting some of my original songs, and cover songs on You tube. kinda hard to believe for a guy who thought computers would not catch on in High School...yes i’m that old. In closing; the Bulls documentary is pure pleasure. Hearing from all the people involved with no bleep outs is really great. Especially hearing it from the GOATs mouth while sipping brandy and getting ready to fire up a stogie. Tight lines and good health Rob

Definitely a step back this week. It was difficult to cast in the high winds of the last few days. The only fish I caught were some small bass and nice bluegills in a somewhat sheltered corner of a small pond. No action at all on a much bigger forest preserve lake. . . .

Hey dale ! Had some really good action at the chain today , went out to try and get some eyes but no luck , but the crappies were eating today !

Very strange 2 days in a row not another boat on the entire Chicago River

Due to the COVID-19 issue, for the time being, we are not requiring people to obtain a liability waiver/permit to boat/fish Thompson Lake at the Emiquon Preserve. All other regulations, including no gas motors, remain in effect and are being enforced.

Definitely a step back this week. . . . As far as the Fox tribs, I found normal-to-low levels for this time of year and crystal clear water. But no smallmouths that I could find. There were some big suckers cruising around. All the water I tried was really cold. I’m looking forward to some extended warm weather so I can try some topwater flies.

Cohoes have been on fire at the government pair all week, power lining minnows and worms and bottom fishing minnows and worms. guys are also talking about spoons, all the different flavors and colors. I tried to put pictures on the salmon stop Facebook page if you jump on that.

Not so much of a Fishing Report, more of a Status Report on fishing here in the Lakeland Area. While most know by now, Wisconsin’s stay at home order has been extended through the 26th of May. State campgrounds are closed through April 30th. Here in the Lakeland Area, boat landings remain open. Guiding is considered Non-essential (except for those of us that do it for a living), so unless otherwise notified, we won’t be taking any bookings for trips between now and May 26th. It is NOT legal to operate a motorized boat on the Michigan side of any Michigan/Wisconsin boundary water (i.e. Cisco Chain, Michigan side). So know where you are at all times when fishing this area, until the stay at home in this state is lifted. We will be setting up our shop to open, for a limited number of customers at a time, here shortly. We have remained open for curb side business with the OK from our local police chief and on the premise that our business was deemed essential due to ammo sales. As we know, things can change day to day. This report was written on 4/21/20. We will try to keep you updated. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop Like us on FaceBook

Fish of the week? 29 brown caught from shore at the Hammond Marina. My personal best brown. Caught it on squid. Barely fit in the net. My uncle Greg [Peters] almost lost his phone netting it. Hit next to shore on a jig n squid. Thought it was a northern at first because I’ve caught some nice ones out there, then thought it was steelhead when it started jumping out of the water. My uncle was lying on his stomach to net it. Not sure who was more excited at that point once it was finally in the net lol

Kings in decent numbers have showed up from Gary light to Michigan city in 40 to 55 ft of water some big ones too Mag spoons and spin doctors and Flys best fishing 20 to 35 down best Coho action at Gary light to cal park still good dodger flys brads thinfish and rapalas j9 doing best Crappie bite is on pretty good in all ponds and lakes find some structure ul find some crappie Rufus jr jigs tipped with beemoth or minnows on plain gold hook is the starting point When the wind isn’t blowing ther is lots and lots of groups fishing Open 5 to 5 daily come join the fun