Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Kings, catfish, smallmouth, largemouth, bluegill, lakers

Declan Walker (age 11) fishing at a private pond with his family [caught] his PB big bass.

Took my godson fishing at a friend’s pond near LaSalle

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Area lakes-crappie and bluegill have been very good. Pay attention to the winds. If the winds are blowing the same direction for a couple of days, work those outside weedlines with plastics. Best bait has been the IJO Plastics seducer. A few smaller bass can be taken as well with this presentation.

Here is the nature pic of the week courtesy of TJ O’Malley [below].

TTYL

—

Ken Husker O’Malley

Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team

Hi Dale,

Not much to report this week. I fished a local park district pond after all the rain on Friday. Good numbers of bluegills and bass, all on a foam popper. The next afternoon my daughter and her friend fished our retention pond with tenkara rods. No photos to include because I was too busy unhooking fish and extricating flies from trees. It’s important to remember that for kids, quantity is more important than quality: they’ll enjoy catching one stunted bluegill after another rather than wait for a big bass or trout. I expect that we’ll be doing that again soon.

I hope to have a moving water report for you later tonight. If time permits, I’ll spend some time casting on the Fox.

Pete

So we decided to do sum bass fishing at a lagoon and not a bad day, i caught 16 small LMB and my brother got in 2 nice size bass, biggest was 2 pounds both caught on a KVD chill Craw

Dale Bowman.... Blue Catfish are on FIRE...but you must Locate them 1st.... they’re not on the BOTTOM.

This morning at Braidwood.... KILLED EM...40 Blue Catfish... Ready for the Funky Fingers Production Picnic... ya Digg!!!..... Thank to Wayne Wonder of Team Krappie Inc.

Delavan Lake 7/18/2022 through 7/26/2022

Overall fishing has remained very good even with the hot temperatures. Boat traffic continues to be the most difficult part of a fishing day.

Northern Pike fishing has been excellent. The fish are in 18-23 ft of water right off the weed edge. They can be caught lindy rigging suckers or speed trolling spoon plugs. The larger fish have been coming off of the larger suckers. The best locations have been by Willow point or by the gray condos.

Walleye fishing has been almost non-existent. I haven’t caught a walleye in several trips out. I haven’t even heard of anyone having success with walleyes lately.

Crappie fishing has been good. The fish are in the medium depth of weeds in 12-14 ft of water. They ca be caught on small fat head minnows or casting small plastics. The best color plastics have been purple or yellow for me. Some good success has come in front of the Village Supper Club or by Browns channel.

Perch fishing has been all right. The fish are in 12-15 ft weeds. They can be caught on green hellgrammites or night crawler pieces. The best location is by the west end island or by the Yacht Club point.

Largemouth bass are on the deep weed line. They can be caught casting deep diving crank baits or by fishing night crawlers. I caught several bass last week over 18 inches and one close to 6 lbs. The best location is by the gray condos or by the Village Supper Club.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

We had a good outing with the extended overcast day. Rains brought up water levels but visibility was good. Best one just short of 17 inches. Topwater was golden and a few on soft jerkbaits.

Brian J Athern

Darien IL

My buddy Ricardo and I got a little pucker factor moment when an old dead standing sycamore tree fell into the deep pool where I pulled the big fish from. We were safely out of the drop/damage path.

Brian

HI Dale,

A quick note about the Fox: levels have dropped back to normal Summer flows after all the rain last week, but things looked much different. The green glow was gone; I’d guess much of the algae build up was flushed downstream in the higher water levels. The river was running pretty clear, at least by the standards of the Fox in mid-July. I could count rocks on the bottom in thigh-deep water. Smallmouths should find conditions agreeable.

Pete

Lake Geneva 7/18/22 through 7/26/22

Fishing on Lake Geneva, remains a very consistent bite. Most fish species are very active and able to be caught.

Northern Pike fishing has been the spotty. The fish are now positioned from 32-35 ft. Most of the fish are averaging around 26 inches with several legal fish taken throughout the week. I’ve been using small suckers fished on a lindy rig. The best location has been in Williams Bay and Fontana.

Walleye fishing has been very good this last week, with both size and numbers being caught. All of the fish are being taken at night. Most of the fish have been caught on lindy rigs fished with either leeches or nightcrawlers. The best depth has been 14-17 ft. right on the weed line. Look for the fish by Abbey Springs and Fontana Beach.

Largemouth bass have been very active. Most of the fish are in the 10-13 ft. range. They are very catchable in the morning and late afternoon. Most of the success is coming on top water lures. The best choice is either a chug bug or a Pop-R. The best location has been Williams Bay or by Trinkes. With the warming water, they can also be caught on the deep weed lines using Carolina rigs. I prefer a 2 ft. leader fished with a ½ oz weight. Either use green pumpkin lizards or an Arkie salty crawling grub. The best location has been the narrows or by Colemans Point. I position the boat in about 20 ft of water and cast in toward the structure.

Lake Trout fishing has been very good. Basically the same pattern as last week. The fish are located 3-4 ft. off bottom in about 108-112 ft. of water. The best location is by Yerkes Observatory or Uhline’s Creek.

Pan fish have been biting well. You will have to sort through a bunch of fish to catch the ones with decent size. The bigger fish seem to come from deeper water, the 15-18 ft. range. The most active specie has been the bluegill. Rock bass fishing is becoming a bit more limited. Look for the fish by the Elgin Club or in Geneva Bay, outside the buoys.

Good Luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063

Fishing Report – 7/18/2022

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake - With cooler temperatures last week bass fishing remained good on Big Green Lake. I am finding largemouth bass in water as shallow as three feet in and between piers where vegetation exists. Smallmouth bass are just a little deeper along hard bottom and rocky areas eight to twelve feet of water. Try using a Bass Pro Shops Stick O worm rigged wacky style for largemouth bass and Ned Rigs for smallmouth bass. Northern pike fishing is also good outside of weed lines and along primary drop offs. Live bait rig a three to four-inch sucker for the pike. Warmer weather expected over the Midwest this week and that could drive both the bass and pike deeper.

Fox Lake – Water clarity is improving and so is the largemouth bass and northern pike fishing. Try fishing. Try casting wacky worms along rocky stretches of north shore, and along Chief Kuno Trail. Also try fishing artificial frogs in the lily pads and heavier vegetation in The Jug. A local angler caught a fifty-inch muskie on Fox Lake this past week.

Sorry for the delay fellas, it’s been crazy around here

Salmon fishing out on the big lake is on fire right now from Sturgeon Bay up to Washington Island. Lots of fish getting caught and some magnum sized Kings are being brought to the scales pretty much on a daily basis during the 9 day Kewaunee/Door County salmon tournament. 100 to 180 feet of water has been a great depth and fishing the top 75 feet of the water column. Flasher and Howie Fly combinations have been hot, but the spoon bite is also turning on a bit more in recent days

Bass fishing is getting back rolling again after a bit of a lull as we were dealing with massive amounts of alewives in the bay which made it a bit difficult to catch those bass. 7 to 15 feet seems to be a good depth to focus your efforts right now and still fishing transition areas. Senkos, shorty tubes, Keitech swim baits and spy baits just a few of the top baits right now

The Walleye fishing is also starting to pick up again as the water warms which is par for the course this time of year. Crawler harnesses, flicker minnows and a box full of Moonshine Shiver minnows is what should be packed in your boat for the Walleyes

Perch fishing is still going very well throughout the area from Sturgeon Bay and south down to Chaudoirs Dock. Fathead minnows, crawlers and leaf worms are definitely the best baits

Thanks;

Lance LaVine

Howie’s Tackle

1309 Green Bay Rd Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 Ph: 920-746-9916

Had a magical day Wednesday the 13, my lucky number. Met you many years ago at Burnham at a Henry’s ice derby. Memorable since the ice started sinking until we spread out. Been a fan ever since but first time emailing.

Bug Lou

Hi Dale - Heidecke lake water temps up to 80 now and weeds are all around making it a bit tough fishing sub surface baits. The top water can really be good if fishing a non pressured area if water. Some good largemouth are rolling on frogs in spots. Smallmouth bite is good using finesse baits mixed in rip rap and natural side. Crappie fisherman are on the spots and the Walleye trollers are always present.

Hi Dale, kkk up and stained after weekend rain, fish close to banks where water is clearing. 18 smallie!

Fish of the day, a 12 1/2 rock bass they don’t get much bigger. Hit a # 2 mepps spinner. G. Peters

Hi Dale, I just wanted share this photo with you of a classic Chicago smallie with the view! Hope all is well.

on my way to Icast but Perch is slow Smallmouth ok sheephead off and on a few nice Steelhead at Diversey

The kings are in at Waukegan. The catch was dominated by kings this week with some lakers, steelhead and a occasional coho mixed in. Despite lots of NE and North winds, which usually move the fish deeper, 75 to 110 was the best depth all the way from the Illinois Beach Hotel to Highland Park. Standard size spoons From Warrior Lures in Two Face, Blueberry Muffin, Loki and Spoiler run on 200 to 300 copper lines and downriggers 45 to 75 were solid producers. Flasher/Fly combos on downriggers in those same depths and wire diver rods 90 to 140 were very good. Best combos were NBK or Cornfed flashers with Jimmy Fly or Smokin Fish Bullfrog or Aqua flies. Boats targeting lake trout instead of salmon did well in those same waters using chrome dodgers and white Mo Rigs or White flys just off the bottom.

A few boats explored deep waters out to the shipping lanes and did well on coho and steelhead. So if the shallower kings won’t cooperate and the weather is good, deep waters over 180 feet could be a decent plan B.

The weather again looks stable this week so I’d be surprised if the fish move much.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

schooloffishcharters.com 630-341-0550

Mazonia report for you. Water temps have touched 80 degrees now.

I am targeting bluegills in 20 to 24 foot of water, using hand tied mini spinner rigs, much the same as a walleye spinner rig, tipped with small to medium leeches and longlined with appropriately weighted bullet sinkers. The larger fish has been relating to the mid-lake humps and normally hanging on the sides of the structure.

Crappies have been consistent at the base of any weed-walls in depths of 18 to 22 foot of water. Casting 1/32nd ounce jigs in plastic or hair tipped with nothing but a crappie nibblet does the trick just fine.

Largemouth bass like the weed-walls as well, so they let me know.

I went on a hunt for the elusive redears the other day and found a few on the bottom in 24 foot of water and the fish I caught all came on Mini Mite jigs tipped with medium leeches

Some hot weather has our Lakeland area lakes heating up, temps topping low 80’s in the afternoons. Best choices during these times are larger, cooler lakes. Certain species thrive in this heat, (air temps topping 90’s), others not so much.

Bluegill: Very Good – Try NOT to catch some off weed edges of 12-14’. Live bait meant for other species hard to keep away from schools of suspending Gills. Use leeches as your first choice followed by waxies, crappie minnows, then worms, as the Gills are ripping worms to pieces!

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Deep weed edges with sandgrass skirts in 12-16’. Ned rigs, Wacky Worms. Very nice Smallies with reports of fish to 22 ½. Tubes, jig and creature rigs also producing very well.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Better tucked into weeds, try heavy cover with Sweet Beavers on heavy jigs, Senko Wacky Worms and early /late day top-water Whopper Ploppers. Good #’s and size.

Musky: Good-Very Good – Some exceptional fish this past week including a 50 river fish boated from a canoe and a 44 Tiger boated by guide Jake Smith on a Smity Jerks, had 5 in two days guiding, 4 of which were Tigers.

Crappie: Good – Tough to find, mostly deeper fish reported, but very nice fish, including a pair of 15 SLABS caught by our own Dave Peterson. Medium fatheads and Mini-Mites reporting best catches.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Most Perch coming from sandgrass flats in 14-18’ of water using ½ crawlers on Lindy Rigs. Some incidental Perch located around cabbage flats on leeches while targeting Walleye.

Walleye: Fair-Good – Working full crawlers or the biggest leeches available along rock, gravel humps of 20’26’ or 14-18’ weed edges has been best. Casting #7 & #8 Shad Raps along 10-14’ cabbage edges early AM also scoring nice Eyes in the 17-22 range.

Northern Pike: Poor Don’t you know their teeth fall out in the summer and they quit biting? Digging way back for that excuse, but personally had a tough time enticing Pike this week. Not many good reports except for those using live bait, but even those were few.

Hot water temps will actually speed up metabolisms of fish, unfortunately, hot water equates to low oxygen. Be careful playing and releasing fish when temps on the surface hit into the 80’s. This can be a very stressful time for caught fish.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop - Like us on Facebook

Fishing in 65 to 90 ft of water straight out of burns ditch has been steady since last report. 40ft to the bottom is the action zone. Spoons best but fish on flasher flys and dodgers spin n glows on bottom.

Perch fishing and steelhead fishing up close in the 20 to 40ft of water area has been slow.

Hopefully the hard south wind this week will cool the water down a little up close and start the perch and steelhead action back up.

Catfish in burns ditch good on triple s stinkbait and cut skipjack at night.

Wolf lake in Hammond giving up a variety of fish for boat fisherman. Not uncommon to catch 4 or 5 species in a few hours of fishing moving around the lake both Indiana and Illinois sides

Hi, Dale. With the recent heat wave & steady temperatures, fishing is heating up pretty well also. Here’s what’s been going on…

Trolling on Lake Michigan has picked up in depths of 80-140 with spoons working best; a good number of Salmon are being caught.

Perch continues to be on fire on Lake Michigan in the slips near the Illinois/Indiana border, Burns Ditch, & Gary Lighthouse. Crickets, beemoths, & minnows are all working excellently.

Walleye are fairly steady on both the rivers & at Wolf Lake; leeches & nightcrawlers are still the faithful go-tos.

Smallmouth Bass are doing moderately well on the rivers & at Hammond Marina; baits of choice have been nightcrawlers & medium golden roaches.

Catfishing is on fire, with anglers at hotspots like the Kankakee & Little Calumet Rivers, Dowling Park, & Pine & Stone Lakes using mealworms, nightcrawlers, cutbait, & stinkbait.

My nephew, John Ciscato of Steiger, with a nice 20 lb King from Port Washington WI. His first king salmon.

Dale, the giant Kings are showing up now from Sturgeon Bay to Milwaukee. Fish over 25-30 lbs are caught daily. Tons of alewives have been in Green Bay and northern Lake Michigan, in many cases dieing off and creating bad smell on the beaches, reminicent of the 1960s, but not as bad. Good news is the baitfish are flurishing, bad news for Green Bay walleye anglers the past 3 weeks since the alewives gave the walleyes and bass all the food they wanted. Also, the perch up there are unusually large, which bodes well for the future. I spend most weekends up there fishing.

my daughter Genesis Gibbs 10 years old missed the free fishing weekend but made up for it today and caught her first flathead catfish 8lbs 24 inches, she wants to enter it into the fish of the week. She was scared to touch it a first but she managed.

Today at Wolf Lake, IL and she used her rod her grandfather got her on a big juicy worm

Wolf lake in Hammond giving up a variety of fish for boat fisherman. Not uncommon to catch 4 or 5 species in a few hours of fishing moving around the lake both Indiana and Illinois sides

So hard to get a great picture when you fish alone. 27 inch . Fat girl. Still swimming. Caught on salmo.

The walleye bite in the river has picked up. Dragging jigs with 1/2 crawler during the day, and some casting shadraps early and later in the day. Gills are starting to show up in the wood along the shoreline