Midwest Fishing Report: Rivers and lakes around Chicago fishing

(Head): Walleye, northern, crappies and bluegills all hitting; in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin¹s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau). With recent cold temperatures ice conditions on area lakes is very good. Most area lakes have 5 to 8 inches of good solid ice and guys are accessing their favorite locations by both foot and ATV/snowmobile travel.The walleye bite in the central Wisconsin area has been very good with some nice fish being caught under the presence of night fall and during low light periods. A lot of action is in less than 5 feet of water by walleyes taking large golden shiners and medium sized sucker minnows. Northern in the central Wisconsin area have been particular aggressive and have been showing a presence during the daytime hours. Most of the action has come from fish striking large golden shiners set directly below the ice in less than 6 feet of water associated with still green weeds. Crappies and bluegills in the central Wisconsin area have been seeing a lot of attention and duly so. With great numbers and their willingness to strike it is no winder why most sportsman consider them the bread and butter of the ice fisherman. Most of our action is coming form deeper mud flats in 8 to 12 feet of water associated with any type of wood structure. Tiny tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or spikes is all you need but don’t hesitate to try out the new Impulse plastics by Northland. These baits stay on your hook longer and at times will out-produce live bait.

– ANDERSON LAKE is CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING for the season– BANNER MARSH IS CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING AND AS OF OCT. 31st, BANK FISHING ONLY ALLOWED AFTER 1PM but NO FISHING ALLOWED in EAST POINT ACCESS AREA , which is CLOSED TO ALL FISHING to provide a GOOSE REFUGE AREA during season till Feb. 1st– DOUBLE T STATE FISH and WILDLIFE AREA IS CLOSED TO FISHING for the season and remains Closed till APRIL 1st, 2014– EMIQUON PRESERVE during waterfowl hunting season fishing is allowed only between Noon and sunset.– EVERGREEN LAKE – A SOUTHERN PART OF Lake AROUND DEER ISLAND and ALL OF SIX-MILE CREEK BAY IS CLOSED TO GAS MOTORS from Oct. 15th through JAN. 1st to allow for resting areas for migratory waterfowl. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STILL RUN A TROLLING MOTOR IN THESE AREAS ONLY. – Also, the ENTIRE lake and park, with the exception of the campground, is CLOSED to general use Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8 for the Deer Management Program.– RICE LAKE is CLOSED to boat fishing till end of Duck & Goose season– SNAKEDEN HOLLOW including McMASTER LAKE IS CLOSED TO FISHING for the Season till Feb. 1st– SPRING LAKE (South & North) IS CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING in Waterfowl Hunting Area with BANK FISHING ALLOWED ONLY AFTER 1pm– And Closed to shore fishing in hunting areas on Oct. 26th.. AREAS THAT REMAIN OPEN TO BOATS ARE NORTH OF MAPLE ISLAND with ramp at north end at the Sky Ranch Road launch and IN PIKE HOLE with carry in boats -On December 25th boat fishing and shore fishing in the waterfowl hunting area will be allowed after 1:00 p.m. through the end of Canada Goose season.– CLINTON LAKE the easterly area of Clinton Lake between the DeWitt (CH14) and the 48 bridges is CLOSED FROM OCT. 10th through MARCH 31st to protect fish and wildlife. It will Re-OPEN April 1st..– POWERTON LAKE IS CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING and CLOSES TO SHORE FISHING and ALL FISHING ON OCT. 26th (Last day for Shore fishing is Oct. 25th) and REOPENS TO SHORE FISHING ONLY ON DEC. 23rd AND NO BOAT FISHING till FEB. 15th– SANGCHRIS LAKE THE WEST and EAST ARMS OF LAKE and Small AREA NEAR DAM Are CLOSED DURING WATERFOWL SEASONto boat traffic through Jan. 31, 2014 (during this time fishing boat traffic is permitted in the center hot arm only).And the Entire lake will be CLOSED Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8th due to firearm deer hunting on adjacent properties.The exception will be for hunting programs with restricted usage during this time period.For more info, contact site office at 217/498-9208 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

river is below normal flow rates, a lot of ice on shore and way too much flowing out in the rest of the river. water temps low 30’s. with the air temps below freezing not much hope for any change for the better. access is tough twixt the lack of plowing by most of the responsible governmental units and all the shore line ice. If one is willing to put in the effort and the time it is possible to get to a few areas where you can still cast and not have it immediately blown down stream in a clump of ice. Unfortunately the catching part of the equation has been even less than what could be expected under these conditions. one smallmouth on a crankbait retrieved upstream next to an ice shelf.

Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: — Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon, — Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only), — Winnetka Power Plant discharge area, — Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors)

Good afternoon, The Minocqua area fishing report from Kurt’s Island Sports: More super cold held most anglers at bay last week. A break in the weather (temps over 0 degrees) brought anglers out on the ice Friday and Saturday before chilling down below 0 degrees Sunday & Monday (lows of -20degrees) kept all but the crazies off the ice. Ice thickening. Large lakes such as Trout, Fence have 8 (safe for A.T.V.) most others in the 12-13 range. Fishing tailed off as high pressure moved in on Sunday/Monday- yet picked up considerably on Tuesday as the barometer dropped and temps were a bit warmer. Walleye: Very Good-Fair-Good. Best reports on Friday. Best on tip-ups with suckers/chubs at dusk. Some anglers on Flowages experiencing good morning bite. Jigging raps good on top of humps after dark- yet action with super cold has been slower. Pike: Good. Nicer pike on large suckers, chubs; shiners. Fish in upper 20-lower 30 range hanging around weeds of 8-12’. Mid mornings best. . Crappies: Good-Fair. On warming days use meat (tip-downs with minnows, teardrops with waxies) on cold, high sky days finesse with small tungsten jigs and tiny plastics of red, purple or black. Most action weed related in 10-12’. Dusk and dawn best for larger crappies (12-14), daytime fish have been smaller. Bluegills: Fair. If warmer, action improves. Too cold on some days to hole hop. Small #12-#14 tungsten jigs with single spike or Moussee best. . Perch: Fair-good. A few big fish caught by walleye anglers. Not a lot of attention here yet. Use medium fatheads in 6-8’ weeds adjacent to 10-14’ drops. Largemouth Bass: Fair. Typically a warming water bite- yet on the Chain, good numbers taking shiners on tip-ups. This week weather warming (if you want to call single digit/teens warming) some. Noticeable improvement with above 0 temps. Access very good and should be full on truck travel by weekend with exception of biggest lakes. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sports 715-356-4797

(Head): Walleye, northern and panfish all putting on a good to excellent bite in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area. Ice is steadily growing in the Eagle River area. We’re seeing 4 to 8 inches, depending on the lake and area, and increasing daily. There are some reports of ATV’s and snowmobiles venturing out. Use caution and discretion. Foot travel is still strongly recommended. We continue to urge visitors to always hire one of the Eagle River area’s top-flight guides. You’ll catch fish, and you’ll be safe doing so. Walleye in the Eagle River area are off of weed and break edges in 10-25 feet of water (ice anglers are now able to get out to these areas). The walleye are tight to bottom. Use a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow, or a small to medium walleye sucker or shiner under a tip up. All day action, with peaks in the evening. Good to excellent bite. Northern in the Eagle Rvier area are in 10 feet of water or less in and around dead, standing weeds. Use a medium to large shiner or northern sucker under a tip up. All day action. Bite has been good to excellent. Panfish (crappies, bluegills and perch) are in 15 feet of water or less on mud flats or remaining weeds. The perch are tight to bottom. Crappies and gills are suspending up and down the water column. Use electronics to locate the fish and depth. Small jigs tipped with waxies or spikes are your best bet. Action is good to excellent.

Got some mixed reports in on ice condition. Ive seen first hand one guy go for a dunk, and heard of others falling in as well. Some lakes are completely locked up others are not. Steelhead fishing was still decent last week, but quite a bit of ice flow on the river.