Chicago fishing: Crappie, coho, Chinook, sort of Wisconsin opener, opening some IDNR sites

Hey Dale We’re KILLING the crappie Bro.... still dont have my boat out... they haven’t moved any boats out because of COVID19 Forrest Preserve.... South.... and LaSalle fish and Wildlife Area in Indiana...Wolf Lake Indiana too Wampum... twin Lakes and saganaskski

we didn’t have a scale but I measured my fishing rod and it’s just over 17 I am from Lombard and it was caught in the southwest suburbs at a pond This is the biggest crappie I have seen in person. Taken on a 1/2oz chatter bait with a 4 keitech on the back. What do you think it weighed? It’s worth a full length shot.

Caught a few crappie like this, this afternoon on the Plainfield Pond I always fish(only got a picture of this one though). This guy was close to 16 inches. Thanks,

Hey Dale, Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing. Area lakes-bass are good on lipless crankbaits during early afternoon hours on sunny days. Bass are still deep with the drop in water temps. Slowly work the bait over the top of deep weed patches to draw a reaction strike from the aggressive bass. TTYL — Ken Husker O’Malley Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team

Hey Dale it must be my weekend as I got this bass on a rapala shadow rap, it was 19 inches and over 5 lb it was a pond close by my house, stay safe. Rico Cantu Lockport IL.

Well this is a 1st for me at Mckinley Park, never caught Bass this big here

my buddy john fahey got cabin fever asked me if I would go fishing at a pond across the street from his house in Schaumburg he had never fished before and he caught his first fish Sunday on corn on 10 lb line

Got this gem today. It’s a carp. A beat up, leathery mirrored carp.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related Stay at Home Executive Order issued March 20, 2020, the William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock facility on the Fox River in McHenry County will be temporarily closed to the public. The lock will be open for licensed commercial use Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. beginning May 4, 2020. While temporary, this closure will be enforced until further notice.

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.

Catfish reports in the fox river.

Last Sunday I posted that last week and this week were going to be big fish weeks. Monday got my biggest largemouth of the yesr and Sunday my biggest smallie on Lake Geneva. I’m happier about the smallie love those buggers 21@4-1/4lbs

Pier fishing still good, cohos and a few steelies. Give pier is closed today, will re open Thursday a.m. kyack reports, guys getting fish in shallow

Hi Dale Well, even though I’m still not yet in the water I thought I’d share general Waukegan information. Coho fishing has been great. This year’s coho class held in shallow water all winter in Indiana. In my off-season seminars we predicted they were acclimated to the shallows and would hold shallow as long as the water temperature was cold. That is proving true with the coho even shallower than normal years. Boats, kayakers and shore fishermen at Waukegan are doing well. When the winds are west and the water fairly clear fishing in 15 or less feet of water has been productive. When the wind moves to Easterly, it’s is more productive for the boats to move out a little, only to the 30-35 foot range. Red dodgers and peanut flies in Greens and Purple seemed to be most productive, with silvers, golds, blues, less productive. With boats limited to 6 rods and the fish shallow, everything is off trolling boards now. Jimmy Fly Two-Tone and Mardi Gras pattens produced this week. Just a reminder that everyone needs to practice safety first. A kayaker died in Michigan last week. Off Waukegan this week a kayak flipped and there was some difficulty rescuing the kayaker. A nearby boat picked him up. Thankfully that happened in a big pack. Also this week, a close friend of mine happened to see something unusual to the east of where he was fishing. He had just taken his boat’s 10 fish limit and was starting to motor back to the harbor. He saw something moving to the East. It was a guy in a Wave Runner that lost power waiving his arms. A West wind was pushing him offshore and the water temp was 46. He had no radio and he was about to jump in and swim for it. He never would have made it. Radios are absolutely mandatory for safety this time of year. Our boat goes in May 12 now (moved back 4 times). We have reduced rates for the 2020 season to reflect lower fuel costs and to help out in a very challenging economy. The last several bookings have all been from people who have cancelled Canada and Mexico fishing trips so we are also adding multi-day trip discounts to stimulate things a bit. I know it won’t be the same as an offshore Cabo or Canada fly-in, but it will be a good time. Take care Dale. Capt. Scott Wolfe School Of Fish Charters www.schooloffishcharters.com 630-341-0550

Kings coho lake trout from burns ditch to pink house just west of Michigan city Coho with some kings mixed in around Gary light and up and down wall in east Chicago Willow slough good gills and crappie Most area lakes and ponds giving up fish when weather stays stable a lil while Slezs open 5 to 5 everyday will go to late spring summer hours in 2 weeks that is 5 to 7 daily

Hi Dale I was in Buffalo Grove last Tuesday to pick up a TC Electronics Flashback X4 looper delay pedal for my keyboard to help along my home music production, so I stopped by Lake Arlington and Twin Lakes for a few casts. Again the water seemed cold and lifeless. Several baits went untouched so it was time to head home and play some music and test my new pedal. Hopefully with the warmer days things will pick up. I will be headed up to my home in Merrill Wisconsin this weekend for the official opener to do some fishing on the river at the Alexander Flowage. It will be a welcome getaway for sure! Being home this Spring I am enjoying having the time to really work in the yard. However the struggle to contain the creeping Charlie, dandelions and our great state flower the violet is real! More and more bird species are coming to the feeders; and some Robins are re-building a nest, or taking the materials from an old nest on my garage light to build a nest somewhere else. Plenty of time to watch the process. Tight Lines and Good Health Rob

Hi Dale, though I’d give you a shout. Till limiting out on walleye every day, anchoring in deep water with rigs, or drifting with jigs tipped with minnows or crawlers. White bass numbers are coming up, 25 Wednesday, 63 Friday, and 77 today Not sure if our Governor’s want people traveling, but there’s a lot of Illinois fishermen up here.