Midwest Fishing Report: Perch at Gary Light

It’s no secret, the monster school of jumbo perch in deep water off Gary Light leads the Midwest Fishing Report.

This is the extended online version of the MFR, which appears in the Sun-Times on Wednesdays. Normally, I post the online MFR by Wednesday morning.

If you have suggestions, post in the comments section or let me know at outdoordb@sbcglobal.net.

BOAT FISHING FOR PERCH

The hot bite remains the school of jumbo perch in deep water (48-52 feet) off Gary Light. On Sunday, several perch bigger than 16 inches were caught.

On Saturday, Jim Giglio reported catching keepers of 12 to 16 inches while fishing with “the armada on the clay flats.” There were at least 75 boats out in that area from Inland Steel to Gary Light. On Sunday, Mike Starcevich of Mik-Lurch counted 95 boats.

On Friday, Capt. Chuck Weis of Ace Charters took his accountant Pete Kozlowski of Cedar Lake, Ind. fishing and Kozlowski landed a 16 3/16th-inch perch with a girth of 10 3/8th inches, weighing 1 pound, 12 ounces. It was one of many pound-plus perch caught on Weis charters (above).

On Monday, Weis found good perch off Inland too. “Fish are out there for miles. I fished a different spot every week,” Weis said. “At about 48 feet, start watching your graph and fish piles of fish.”

Others have found decent perch off the breakwall at 95th, but the deep water bite off Gary Light is tops. Weis and Starcevich think the deep-water bite will survive all but the worst of northeast blows.

Weis said,

The only thing that would screw up it is a really bad blow. But in 50 foot of water it takes a lot. It would have to be a really big flow to muddy that water up. If that happened, just drive out to got clean water again.

CLINE AVENUE NOTE: The best way to access East Chicago Marina is off Cline Avenue, but because of the bridge issues, drive east on I-80 into Indiana, then take Cline Avenue back north.

AREA RIVERS

For an overview of nearby river conditions, go to this NWS site.

BIG GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN

For guide Mike Norton’s report, go to

www.nortonsfishingandhuntingadventures.com, then click on fishing, then lake report.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

With the winter drawdown, use extreme caution when launching and navigating. Triangle reported muskie are the best bite. With water down, panfish are pushed out deeper on the weed lines. Some good walleye reports on Marie. Guide Darrell Baker took good walleye on Monday.

For more reports, see http://www.foxlakefishing.com/

More Chain info at www.foxwaterway.state.il.us.

COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS

Only Monster Lake at Mazonia South is open for fishing.

DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES AREA, WISCONSIN

Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle said walleye are good at night shallow on crankbaits from boats. Perch are the best bite (though it takes sorting) on Geneva, especially in places like Geneva and Williams bays.

DOWNSTATE NOTES

EMIQUON: Emiquon Preserve near Lewistown is open to fishing. During the duck season, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, fishing is closed in the mornings. Otherwise, interested parties may request a permit and list of rules between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown. There is no fee. No gas powered motors are permitted, and bank fishing is not allowed. For more, call (309) 547-2730. SHELBYVILLE: For more, call (217) 774-2020.

FOX RIVER: WESTERN SUBURBS

Ken Gortowski sent this:

I believe I sent you a link to Saturdays outing. Sunday got out in the morning with SpecialEd and T Wade from my site. Hit the crap plant stretch around Montgomery. A little slow but we each caught a few smallies, mainly further down stream. I was fishing the warmer water that flows along the shore and Ed was fishing the slightly colder river water. He was still catching them out in the colder water. Didn’t take a measurement, but based on experience it felt in the upper 40s. Slower water was the key in the colder water. Don’t forget, anyone can read the reports now without registering.

His posts and those of friends are open for viewing at

http://www.wadauwant.com/wd_journal/index.php?sid=35edc7deb2df868049fd5842e76ee046

ILLINOIS RIVER: STARVED ROCK AREA

Cajun’s reported good sauger (takes sorting for keepers) up and down the river at the usual fall spots. White bass are holding in the same places. River is in good fall shape.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Karen Sass was at it again. On Nov. 17, the Momence woman cemented her place as fisherwoman of the year on the Kankakee. As Ed Mullady reported it from Mike Lee at Frank’s Bait, Sass caught a 10-3 walleye, a week after she caught a 9-14, then thought to be the big walleye of the year on the river. Both were caught on jointed crankbaits.

Mullady sent this:

Smallmouth Bass good, River Guide Matt Mullady caught a 4 lb. and 4 1/4 lb.smallmouth bass last Sunday. His client, Mark Anderson, Kankakee, also caught a 4 pounder. Best bait was a jig and soft plastics. Good in Momence, Kankakee, Kankakee River State Park and Wilmington Island Park. Walleye fair to good east of Momence* * Kankakee River Dam* *Wilmington Dam around Island Park. Good on jointed lures *Rattlin’ Rogue *jig and medium golden roaches.

KENOSHA/RACINE, WISCONSIN

Root River Report is at dnr.wi.gov/fish/lakemich/rootriverreport.htm

From the Wisconsin DNR:

Water and flow conditions Water levels remain at or near normal levels and clarity is very good for the root. For up to date river conditions, check out the USGS web site of stream flow conditions [exit DNR] in Wisconsin. Just click on the river that you want to see. Fishing Report Chinook numbers are finally starting to disappear and coho numbers are now getting low as well. Brown trout numbers, however, are good. Steelhead numbers, while still low, are beginning to slowly rise. The river is now in great shape for both fly fishermen as well as conventional fishermen. Fly anglers should be concentrating on the faster water, where the fish have been actively spawning on redds. Whooley buggers and egg sucking leeches have both been very productive. Black and olive have been the best colors. Small egg imitators will also work well, especially for the males. Those casting or drifting spawn sacs should be concentrating their efforts on the deeper pools, where the fish not spawning are holding. Spawn sacs have been effective, especially in the early morning hours before the sun warms the water slightly and the fish move out to the gravel redds to spawn. Angler numbers have begun to drop, but due to the nice weather this weekend, the river saw plenty of action. Fish numbers are consistent throughout the river and no one area has been better or more consistent than another

For Kenosha, check the latest at Harborside.

LAKE ERIE: PORT CLINTON

For Ohio DNR report go to wildohio.com and or call (888) HOOKFISH.

LAKEFRONT

CHICAGO: Henry’s reported perch starting at 92nd and sporadic catches at Montrose, slower at Belmont and Burnham. Park Bait reported sorting perch for keepers at Montrose. North Side angler Arden Katz said, “Perch are in the weeds. If you’re not in the weeds, you’re not catching.” He uses Mini-Mites and spikes on a drop-shot rig. Navy Pier has been very on and off, but sometimes Thanksgiving is the unofficial start date. Park Bait reported bluegill at Diversey. SALMON SNAGGING: It’s late in the year, the fish are getting dark. Snagging for chinook and coho salmon is open at select areas on the lakefront: inner and outer harbors at Jackson Park, Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon, Winnetka power plant discharge area and Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). No snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted. Salmon snagging season ends Dec. 31. CHICAGO’S FISHERMAN’S PARKING: The $10 parking passes for the small fishermen’s lots at Burnham and DuSable harbors are available at Henry’s.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

For D&S Bait, go to dsbait.com

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Guide Kurt Justice of Island Sports said ice fishing is “a long ways away.” In the meantime, muskie remain very good (fish to 50 inches), especially on suckers. Season ends Monday. Walleye are doing well, some deep, others from shore in evenings.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

For boat perch, see top. Mik-Lurch reported Capt. Ralph Steiger continues to do well for lakers on the reef off Portage. Lots of good perch in the river at 92nd. Some steelhead, including some bigger ones, are up the creeks.

ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN

BJ Sports reported some whitefish and the occasional steelhead off the St. Joe piers. Charters are taking some steelhead on the lake. A decent mix of browns, lakers and steelhead are at Berrien Springs.

SHABBONA LAKE

For reports, click here.

WISCONSIN DELLS

River’s Edge reported good walleye (take sorting) some smallmouth, and decent crappies. River is in good shape.

LINES ONLINE

ILLINOIS

www.ifishillinois.org

www.prairiestateoutdoors.com

CHICAGO AREA CHAT/REPORTS

www.chicagolandfishing.com

www.windycityfishing.com

angling101.com