Midwest Fishing Report: Lakes/areas section

The cooling lakes and the lakefront are the lead spots in the lakes and areas section of the Midwest Fishing Report.

That’s Mike Lynch with one of the quality bass he has caught at Braidwood in recent days.

This is the extended online version of the MFR, which appears on the Sun-Times outdoors page on Wednesdays, well, it is the lakes and areas section.

The rivers section was posted earlier. I am running behind today.

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

I suspect lakefront coho and the cooling lakes should remain good, even with the return of winter.

COHO DERBY RESULTS

Here’s an indication of lakefront fishing, the results from Henry’s 7th annual coho derby on Saturday:

1st place and big fish went to a rod and reel angler Edward Rinkevicius 6lb 8 1/2oz rainbow trout. no other entries were registered for the rod and reel anglers. Powerline: 1st Place Jason Le 4lb 9 1/2oz brown trout, 2nd place: Siemen Sandler 1lb15oz coho, 3rd place: Jef Walczak 1lb 10oz coho. 84 registered anglers about 8 fish taken in this 3 hr event.

AREA LAKES

There’s some crappie starting on ponds and lakes, even a few decent catches of bass. However, I suspect the weather will knock both fish and fishermen back this weekend. NOTE: Spring trout opens April 2. I will do details next week. Be aware that Silver, Pickerel and Grove in DuPage are now closed to all fishing until trout opens.

BIG GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN

For guide Mike Norton’s report, go to www.nortonsfishingandhuntingadventures.com, then click on fishing, then lake report.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN

From licensed guide and trapper Phil Schweik and guide Glenn Moberg of Hooksetters Guide Service:

(Lead): The bite in the Central Wisconsin area is going strong with both open water and ice fishing opportunities for all anglers. Walleyes are the primary target for open water anglers in the Central Wisconsin area. There are many areas of open water below the dams in Central Wisconsin that are providing great fishing for those venturing out. Try vertical jigging 1/8th and 14 ounce jigs in 14 to 16 feet of water on the Wisconsin River. The jigs can be tipped with fathead minnows or plastics. You may not catch as many fish on the plastics, but what you do catch will be bigger. The panfish bite through the ice in the Central Wisconsin area has been phenomenal to say the least. Crappies, perch and bluegills have been very active, and now with the season getting to its end the action is strong all day long. The key to targeting the different species of panfish is to relate them to different depths and structure for the individual species. Perch are holding in shallow, muddy bays associated with wood. Crappies are holding in 12 to 16 feet of water and suspending about 2 to 4 feet off the bottom. The gills are concentrated in remaining green weeds in 4 to 6 feet of water. All the panfish species can be readily taken with small ice jigs tipped with waxies or spikes as well as plastics. The real key to being successful is to figure out the color combination for the individual day. An assortment of colors and styles, starting with whites and purples to reds and oranges have been working. Being versatile is the best advice that can be given. Turkey season in the Central Wisconsin area is right around the corner, and now is a good time to start your pre-season scouting. Look for remaining food sources that the turkeys might be feeding in, and watch for them to roost in adjoining treetops. This will give you an idea of where to start when it comes to setting up for opening morning. HOOKSETTER’S ANNUAL SPRING CHARITY FISHING TOURNAMENT Join anglers, kids and families for the Hooksetter’s and Halfmoon Bar & Grill 2011 Spring Charity Fishing Tournament headquartered at the Halfmoon Bar & Grill on Half moon Lake in Mosinee; to be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 7:00 am-5:00 pm. Proceeds from the tournament go directly to the Kippenberg Creek Kids (www.kippenbergcreekkids.com). Entry fee is $50 per boat of one or two people. Prize money for first through fifth place will be determined by number of entries. Trophies awarded for first through third place. Lots of door prizes, and raffles going on all day. Awards ceremony. The Halfmoon Bar & Grill will be selling its great food and beverages all day. For details, tournament registration, fishing categories, ease out, bait, fishing area limits, and general information, contact Phil Schweik at Hooksetter’s Guide Services: 715-693-5843, or visit www.hooksetters.biz. Don’t miss this great annual charity event. Sign up today. Great fishing, a ton of fun, and a chance to help a wonderful cause. If Halfmoon Lake is still frozen over on April 16th, ease out and fish registration will be held at River Park in Mosinee. The awards ceremony will still be held at Halfmoon Bar.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Open-water fishing is underway. Many channels and creek areas are producing, Triangle Sports reported. Any remaining ice will be gone within a day or so. Crappie fishing is beginning, small fatheads or Yummies. Try main lake flats for walleye, watch for them migrating toward the river.

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

More Chain info at www.foxwaterway.state.il.us. Probably a good idea to check here, because there is the possibility of some limitations from high water, although I don’t think as much rain came as expected.

COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS

LaSALLE: Lynch sent this:

For action Lasalle is the place to be. The water temps were a bit cooler on opening day then the past couple years but the fish are still biting. Lots of fishing being caught on points and very tight to the rip -rap in the warm water chute but you will have to do some sorting for size. The best part of lasalle is you can use just about any technique/lure’s you want and have some success. THE NEW HOURS SUCK!!!!

Those new sucky hours are 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

BRAIDWOOD/MAZONIA: Lynch sent this:

Braidwood : The water temps are also a bit cooler then in previous years. Casting the rip-rap and working the deeper holes with slow/bright baits has been producing some decent bass and cats. If you have never fished Braidwood make sure to get a good map and take your time, there are some very dangerous spots out there if you don’t know what your looking for.

Henry’s also reported customers catching bluegill, too.

HEIDECKE: Reopens April 1.

DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES AREA, WISCONSIN

Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle reported no access to the ice, even with planks. Some have been open-water fishing the Abbey on Geneva.

DOWNSTATE NOTES

POWERTON: Winter hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Boat and shore fishing are open.

EVERGREEN: Site staffer Brad Wood sent this:

Fishing remains about the same as last week on Evergreen. Yesterday there were several bank fishermen catching Crappie with minnows. Also have had a few reports on some Bass being caught. We had a report of a nice Muskie caught by a guy using a tube jig while crappie fishing. I will try to keep you all updated on current fishing conditions.

Any updated fishing report will be posted here.

EMIQUON: Emiquon Preserve near Lewistown is open to fishing. Interested parties may request a permit (remember you need the new one for 2011) 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.

LAKE ERIE: PORT CLINTON

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

LAKEFRONT

Coho are in on southern Lake Michigan. As the FOTW showed, some quality steelhead are being taken, along with a few good browns. Perch are spotty. Weather may toughen conditions.

CHICAGO: Henry’s reported coho much improved, even at places like Casino Pier and 95th. Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters reported outstanding coho around the state line. On Monday, best was the gap at Cal Harbor. Perch are off and on in the river around 95th. WAUKEGAN: Salmon Stop reported some steelies toward the surface, browns on the bottom. The launch is closed for repairs. 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.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Ice fishing has been good, however, a major snow storm whacked most of the area, so I would highly suggest checking on conditions. From yesterday, Minocqua guide Kurt Justice of Island Sports had this advice:

With threat of lots of heavy wet snow coming our way, access on and off lakes could get difficult. Lakes still averaging 24″ (lows of 18 to highs of 30″) but weight of wet snow plus single digit low could mean crust on top of slush. Wear tall boots and be careful driving.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Mik-Lurch reported coho everywhere: Hammond, East Chicago, just about anywhere around the lake with access from Michigan City to Chicago. Poteshman said the best spots vary from Cal Harbor to the shipping channel to the front of East Chicago Marina to Gary Light. He is doing best with Dodgers and Howie peanut flies, but all also No. 7 jointed Rapalas in red or chartreuse or orange ThinFins.

SHABBONA LAKE

For more reports as the lake changes into spring, click here.

WOLF LAKE

Mik-Lurch reported some crappie starting in the corn channel on the Indiana side, while Henry’s reported some starting on the Illinois side, too.

LINES ONLINE

ILLINOIS

www.ifishillinois.org

http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com

CHICAGO AREA CHAT/REPORTS

www.chicagolandfishing.com

www.chitown-angler.com

www.windycityfishing.com