The recent storms impacted the rivers some, but I am posting a rivers section report of the Midwest Fishing Report as usual this morning.
This is the extended online version of the MFR, which appears on the Sun-Times outdoors page on Wednesdays.
Well, this is the rivers section for rivers around Chicago fishing. The lakes and areas MFR will follow shortly.
Normally, I post the online MFR, both the rivers and lakes/areas sections, by Wednesday morning.
I will probably separate out the rivers section like this until the fall.
If you have suggestions, post in the comments section or let me know at straycasts@sbcglobal.net.
Let’s lead with the reopening of the Indiana streams tomorrow.
AREA RIVERS
For an overview of nearby river conditions, click here. This is a spring where this is important.
CHICAGO RIVER
Jeff Nolan of Bridgeport Bass sent this:
Chicago river fishing report Just got in missed the storm by minutes! WHEW ! Large and small mouth bass slamming at Ogden slip on deep cranks slow trolled and chigger craws on jigs temp 69 , south branch ;big big blue gills hitting beetle spins and small cranks some small bass also temp 78 . Ogden slip the place to be from shore or boat best bet.
DES PLAINES RIVER
Andrew Ragas, Counsellor of the Fish Parliament www.fishing-headquarters.com, sent this a couple hours before the storms rolled through last evening, but levels looked passable this morning from what I saw. Here’s his report:
River is back to good shape, and being enjoyed by waders, shore anglers, and some boaters. USGS in Riverside is at a 3.5, water clarity is moderate at 6 to 12 inches, and temperatures are around 75 degrees. Action has been best in early mornings and evenings for northern pike, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. Be sure to spray with mosquito repellent before thinking about coming to the river. Northern pike have been on the small side (around 20 inches), but abundant everywhere. Fish are being caught from deeper pools and eddies near shore, and out in mid-river current, and off shore weedbeds. Some larger fish are present in deep current areas but take some work to find. Best baits are #5 Sims Spinners, Mepps Inlines, white/gold spinnerbaits, shallow running crankbaits and shad imitators, and swimbaits. Feeding windows short with best opportunities early in mornings before sunrise and hot weather. Some late afternoon and evening action also reported. Largemouth bass are active throughout the middle and lower stretches of the river in Cook and Will counties. Fish are holding along the channel edges, rip-rap, downed wood, weedlines, bridges, and deeper pools. Sims inlines, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jig and craws, plastic worms, and topwaters are picking up fish. Smallmouth bass are also mixed together with largemouths though more fish are expected to be found from rocky stretches with more current. Average sizes 12 to 14 inches, but healthy. Channel Catfish are active and hitting everything from artificials meant for bass and pike. Fish up to 5 pounds being reported by bank anglers fishing with live baits, cut baits, and livers. Locate deeper pools with rock and wood. Mornings and late afternoons offering best opportunities.
FOX RIVER: WESTERN SUBURBS
I didn’t see anything from Ken Gortowski, rumination or report wise. I suspect the creeks will be the primary target again.
ILLINOIS RIVER
The river rose above flood stage again at LaSalle and is near flood stage at Ottawa. Time on the Water Outdoors reported sauger fishing improving before the latest rise on Monday.
INDIANA STREAMS
Mik-Lurch reported steelhead on Trail as good, with fish all the way to Johnson Road.
KANKAKEE RIVER
The river watershed was blasted Monday, but escaped most of Tuesday’s weather, so conditions might be decent by the weekend. On Tuesday, Norm Minas did well on smallmouth and a few walleye in the near-bankful state park area by working a deep-diving Wiggle-Wart against the current seams very slowly. “Catfish” Dave Bradigan reported good bluegill in the backwaters east of Momence on Sunday, before Monday’s downpours. Before the downpours, Ed Mullady reported catfish good throughout, catfish and pike good around Wilmington and pike to nine pounds in The Point near English Lake, Ind.
MAZON RIVER
Morris Wetlands is open for fishing that stretch of the Mazon. Hours will 6 a.m. to sunset.
ROCK RIVER:
OREGON: Jan Prose at TJ’s Bait/Tackle & Canoe Rental sent this:
River is clearing up, and around 7′ in our area. The sand bars are starting to show. A lot of nice channel cat are being caught. Worms, shrimp, liver, just about anything you throw! A few nice flathead have been caught in the deeper holes on blue gil and goldfish or suckers. Smallmouth bass are hitting on crank baits, or small spinners along the rocks and mouth of the creek. We’re finally getting some good weather on the weekend, hope to see you on the Rock!
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, MICH.
Tyler Harmon Facebooked pier fishing was good for a few days, but “one day a bunch of steelhead may be hooked, the next day only one.”
LINES ONLINE
ILLINOIS
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com
CHICAGO AREA CHAT/REPORTS
http://www.foxlakefishing.com/
CHICAGO AREA INFO
DOWNSTATE
MICHIGAN DNR REPORT
www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364-34956–,00.html
WISCONSIN DNR REPORT
dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/or/
IOWA DNR REPORT
www.iowadnr.com/news/currentfish.html
INDIANA DNR REPORT
http://www.in.gov/apps/dnr/fishing/dnr_fishingreport?display=Lake+Michigan
MIDWEST
NORTH AMERICA