Midwest Fishing Report: Lakes and rivers around Chicago fishing

(Head): Walleye, crappies and bluegills all hitting strong; in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin¹s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau). This past week has been very good for walleye action on central Wisconsin area lakes with some very nice size fish being caught. Most of the action is coming on tip-ups baited with large golden shiners. Along with the great walleye action we are also catching a lot of nice crappies and bluegills. Most of the fish are being caught early and late in the day but we are seeing some good action all day long when it has been overcast.

– 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.– 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 (reopening for boats on Feb. 15), but reopened to shore fishing.– 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). For more info, contact site office at 217/498-9208 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

As can be imagined, not much for fishing participation this past week with either high winds through Saturday or brutal cold temps (down to -31 degrees including 2 days of school closings) through Tuesday. A few people did get out and actually caught fish, but, if you didn’t have a permanent shanty with a good heater, you stayed home. Perch: Fair-Good. The few anglers who had perch dialed in reported good catches using Flasch Champ, Kastmaster and Lindy Frostee spoons tipped with wiggler or red spikes. Depths of 22-30’ on Flowages, 10-12’ using Rosie Reds. Bluegills: Fair-Good. Surprising considering the conditions. Nice gills of 7 ½-81/2 in 10-12’ on #10 rockers tipped with waxies. Most fish presently holding close to bottom. Crappies: Fair. A few mixed in with bluegill catches over the weekend. Too cold for tip-downs. Most on jigs and waxies. A few on slip-bobbers inside a heated shanty using minnows. Walleyes: Poor-Fair. Not many risking staying out after dark in this cold – one angler did ice a 29 ½ Sunday night, unfortunately couldn’t release due to eyes and fins freezing so quickly – something to think about when tip-up fishing in extreme cold. Pike: Poor. Too cold to keep tip-ups out for long. Largemouth Bass: Poor. No reports. As cold as it has been, there is relief in sight. Weekend temps should top out above freezing, this will make fishing far more comfortable. Fish should be ready to feed after warm up. Most lakes reporting 15-17+ of ice. A few such as Fence and Trout only 11-13. Travel is very good. Some slush on east sides of lakes (where wind blown snow has insulated moisture) and sure to be some in spots still, yet overall paths and tracks have firmed up nicely. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop www.kurtsislandsports.com

(Head): Walleye, northern and panfish all putting on a good to excellent bite in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area. Ice conditions in the Eagle River area continue to improve. Ice varies from 10-14 inches – -and more in some spots. There is some snow cover and slush, but all-in-all travel isn’t bad. Anglers are using snowmobiles and ATV’s, as well as foot travel to get out. There are some trucks going out, but our guide sources are generally not doing so as yet, and advise extreme caution. Walleye: Walleye in the Eagle River area are off of break edges in 6-25 feet of water. Use a medium shiner or walleye sucker under a tip up. A jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is working, too. The walleyes are tight to bottom. All day action, with peaks around sunset. Bite is good to excellent. Northern: Northern in the Eagle River area are in 10 feet of water or less in and around remaining weeds. Use a larger shiner or northern sucker under a tip up. Set your tip up half way up in the water column, or just under the ice. All day bite, and the action is good to excellent. Panfish (crappies, bluegills and perch). Panfish are locating off of break edges and over mudflats in 15 feet of water or less. Use a waxie, spike, wiggler or crappie minnow under a small jig or under a slip bobber. Perch are tight to bottom, with the crappies and gills suspending up and down the water column (day and lake dependent – -use a flasher to determine where the crappies and gills are suspending). All day bite. Action is good to excellent.

Hey Dale, I spent the day at Shabbona yesterday. Had a few friends join me for the outing. We made breakfast burritos on the grill, caught some nice gills, and good conversation made for a great day on the ice. We focused mainly on cribs in 15 FOW. Tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or waxies caught quality gills with a few crappie mixed in. Utilizing a slow jigging motion with slight pauses triggered the bites. Ice is good at 10 inches and building. I attached a few pics from the day. Husker Outdoors Water Werks Fishing Team

Calling for some mild winter temps in the long range forecast starting this Friday. Should be decent steelhead fishing on the many rivers in the area. I have still heard of guys doing well on the ice but I have not been out personally to check on the conditions.