Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Adjusting and adapting after the big snow

Hey dale ! Just finished fishing threw the storm bite was really good for only fishing 4hrs ( 5pm-9pm) we fished the chain , not one other single person out here tonight

Hey Dale, Wanted to update you this week with this massive snowstorm coming through. At all places I visited in Lake County fish were in a terribly negative mood the entire week. Couldn’t find any feeding windows, ended up watching schools of fish suspend on the sonar with no reactions to any bait whatsoever. Was losing hope, right before the snow hit I got out one last time. I thought, Yeah, I’m crazy to fish in a blizzard. I was crazy, because it paid off- big time. All that work during the week for near nothing, now giant gills are flying out the hole as the snow and wind is howling. Two pictured below are 8.5, biggest was 9. Snowstorm really turned things around. I can only speak for my experience right before and during the snowstorm, I will see and hopefully update what I see after this snow goes by. Hope this helps, hope you’re doing well. (Side note: Bangs Lake was packed for the fishing derby. Only a few dinks in 16-18 FOW, bite was very slow compared to last week).

Ken Husker O’Malley emailed the photo above and this before the big snow: Hey Dale, Here is a recap of this last weeks fishing. Area lakes- Before the winter storm hit yesterday, the bluegill bite was decent during early morning hours. Best bait were spikes and waxies on tungsten jigs in the 8-9 foot range with green weeds present. The bite slowed mid morning to early afternoon hours. A few fish could be pulled out of each hole using a combination of live bait and plastics. Staying mobile was important to pull out the aggressive fish from the hole. Once the lookers came in, it was time to move. Changing colors and size on the jigs didn’t seem to matter. A few quality bass were had throughout the day as well. Always fun to catch them on panfish setups. Here is the nature pic of the week [below]. We haven’t seen too many days of sun this month so sunsets are always welcome. — Ken Husker O’Malley Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team

We were out in lake county on a private lake. I just thought it was a unique fish with the heart on it. We ended up with a few northern as well Pikes were 32- and 34 inches. 6’ of water.

Morning Justin Lederer sending a report from Anthony Lederer. Anthony got out pond hopping recently around Algonquin small jigs with wax worms producing good gills. He was able to double up on two nice crappie using small crappie minnows one hit a jig while he was fighting that one another hit a dead stick. He is targeting 10-14 feet of water in areas that are still holding weeds.weeds.Sent from my iPhone

Hey dale ! Just finished fishing threw the storm bite was really good for only fishing 4hrs ( 5pm-9pm) we fished the chain , not one other single person out here tonight Pain in the butt getting to the spot 30 min walk on slush and 6+ of snow! Did a 10 min live on Instagram as soon as I got to the hole . 3 crappies in the first 10min bite was good .

Oak Park Lounge . the best ice fishing parking in the chain! And they also have rental shacks from www.wetnwildoutfitters.com available

Fishing Report – 1/31/2021 Mike Norris Lake Puckaway – Anglers were out in droves last Saturday for the annual Montello Lions Fisheree on Lake Puckaway. Despite the fishing pressure and fierce winds, a handful of anglers fishing live bait on tip-ups scored well on northern pike up to 39 inches and walleyes up to 26.5 inches. Northern pike and walleye remain the main attraction on for anglers fishing Puckaway, but I have also heard of several nice crappies and largemouth bass being caught over the last week. Little Green Lake – Crappies are the main attraction for ice anglers on Little Green. The best action is out over the basin in the middle of the lake. There is a plowed road which runs from The Landing Bait Shop out to where the action is, and anglers are now driving vehicles and towing their shacks out on the ice. Waxworms and small minnows are working well for crappies. You can also catch them on micro jigs tipped with plastics and with a hook and minnow suspended beneath a wind tip-up. Fox Lake – Ice thickness is 10 to 12 inches now and a few anglers are driving their vehicles out on the ice here now. Access the lake from Town Park which is in the northwest corner of the lake. One group of anglers are concentrating on crappies in the deep-water basin with micro jigs and small spoons tipped with minnows, while others are working micro jigs tipped with plastics for bluegills in shallows areas like The Government Area and The Jug. The Fox Lake American Legion is holding their annual Fisheree this coming Saturday Feb. 6th. $10 for adults $5 for youth. 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

Hi Dale, Hope all is well. I enjoy your column and Facebook posts. Just thought I’d drop a line and let you know of some outstanding Chicago fishing over the last couple of weekends. The weather really cooperated (for January standards). Air temps were in the lower thirties and the water was sitting right at 32 degrees with some good clarity. We focused on deeper breakwalls off of Chicago in about 30 feet of water. All fish were caught near the bottom with a mix of crank baits and flukes. When launching this time of year, I always say if we get one bite, it’s a success. Well, to say these last couple weekends exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Every fish we pulled in was a monster, with some of the biggest bellies on any fish I’ve ever seen. All fish were released. Attached is a sampling of some of the catches. . . . Cheers, Dan Cahill

Nothing on Lake Michigan . All ice fishing reports. . . .

Sounds like ice fishing, Aug has had some business, but no one going to the lake the last few days.

Justin Lederer checking in from McQuoids Inn Lake Mille Lacs. This weekend bite was hot from 4pm - 4am with the full moon phase in place. We are looking forward to the next few days of a hot bite. Target the 15-20 foot range for the evening bite bigger suckers on rattle reels or tip ups seems to be producing the best. For a day bite get out to 25-35 feet of water work deep rock piles or rock to mud/sand transitions. Jigs with fatheads or bigger crappie minnows are producing also try just the heads if you are seeing finicky bites. Roads are fully open to drive out and we also have ice castles available for rent if you want to get on a night bite. Tight lines everyone stay safe on the lakes.

As we head into February, with just five weeks of the gamefish season left (closes at the end of the night, March 7th), conditions for ice fishing just keep improving. Not quite so much for the fishing, but that is somewhat expected for mid-winter. Crappies: Fair-Good – Some tough days on the usual spots – weed beds and Flowages, but anglers plying the deep mud flats of 22-30’ finding willing biters using #5 mm tungsten jigs in glow tipped with waxies or wigglers. Tip-downs with rosies also working. Keep a close eye on the locator for depths, many times Crappies cruising 3-8’+ off bottom. Northern Pike: Fair-Good – A few tougher days, probably due to full moon/high pressure. Some big fish were caught (and released!) including a whopping 42 1/2 er. Big shiners and suckers – nothing from the hotdog clan this week! Yellow Perch: Fair – As with the Crappie anglers, best bites over deep mud flats using wigglers as bait on Venom Core spoons, Clam Bombs and Hali jigs. Mud of 18-28’ has been best. Mid-morning through mid-afternoon. Bluegill: Fair – Best action in weeds, but best fish out over deep water. Mixing with Perch and Crappies. If you can find deep wood to hold some fish it will up your odds. Tungsten jigs in black, red, purples tipped with mousses or wigglers. Walleye: Poor-Fair – Best later in the evening for short windows. Walleye suckers, lake shiners and river shiners best. Moon phase and high barometer biggest suspect for slowing down bite. Largemouth Bass: Poor – Very few reports. While we received a little snow this past week, not enough to hinder travel or ice production. Many lakes sporting 14-20 of ice (good truck travel) and with artic blast forecasted for the weekend, should build more. This coming weekend looks rough but if things warm towards the end of the following week, with a new moon and Valentines, could be worth waiting to take your Sweety fishing. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop Like us on FaceBook

Lots of ice fisherman out everywhere best bite has been early am or at sunset. Willow slough fishing on slow side for most Some coho are around portage lakefront and up in the river near 249 bridge squid and beemoth on jigs doing best Steelhead in the area tributaries ok must be willing to move around and cover some water voodoo jigs in black or purple tipped with beemoth doing ok

Well if you want a report from Minnesota (st. Croix river I gotchu) Was just out on the St. Croix river for sturgeon through the ice. Was a fun experience no big fish though. Ice was varying from 10-16 depending on where you are on the river. Still some areas to be cautious of but people are driving out.

. . . Wolf lake nice Gill and crappie on both Illinois and Indiana sides.

Poygan has been giving up some walleye, and Partridge lake is giving up some northerns, perch, and gills. To my knowledge, no one is driving out yet. A few brave soles are fishing the river in the New London area and doing well on walleye, mainly late afternoon.