Perch and weather change: Chicago fishing/Midwest Fishing Report

4) 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: A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon. B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

Hey Dale, Bass are very good on area lakes. Focus on outside weedlines during frontal days. Slowly dragging 1/4 oz jig with a 4 inch chigger craw is producing numbers and size. Post frontal days have been much slower.Bluegill have been good on small fatheads under slips floats.TTYL— Ken Husker O’Malley Huskeroutdoors Waterworks fishing team

Chicago River Fishing Report 11/5/16 – 11/13/16 Well last week I spent one day on the water but the fish were there we caught Bass again 12’ to 17. Crappie and Gils were moving we started to long rod (12’ rods) dipping in the wood for them some nice fish caught. Surface temps are down average about 50 -52 and about 56 -58 near the discharges. Now is the time to be fishing tight against the concrete walls and pilings on the side the sun is hitting the water is just a bit warmer along them. I am also downsizing my baits small cranks 1 to 1 ½ , 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 oz. jigs and 1 to 1 ½ trailers easy targets get hit faster. Also Live bait helps Crappie minnows Waxes spikes etc, remember how small a bait you use for ice fishing start to downsize slow to that point. Have a Great Week get out and fish, looks like we will have some decent weather for it.

– BANNER MARSH – Will CLOSE TO BOAT FISHING on Oct. 12th with last day to boat fish being Oct. 11th AND 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 – . . . remains Closed till Feb. 1st– EMIQUON PRESERVE – No boating, fishing or ice skating access before 12:00 pm during waterfowl season.– EVERGREEN LAKE – the 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 resting areas for migratory waterfowl. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STILL RUN A TROLLING MOTOR IN THESE AREAS ONLY.– SNAKEDEN HOLLOW & McMASTER LAKE – closed– SPRING LAKE (South & North) – WILL BE CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING in Waterfowl Hunting Area ON OCT. 15th with Last Day to Boat Fish being Oct. 14th with BANK FISHING ALLOWED ONLY AFTER 1pm– & 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 – and Shore Fishing is allowed in entire lake after 1pm in Hunting areas or at boat ramps all day.– POWERTON LAKE – REOPENS TO SHORE FISHING ONLY ON DEC. 19th 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 SEASON to boat traffic effective Oct. 12th (last day to boat fish will be Oct. 11th) through Jan. 31, 2016 (during this time fishing boat traffic is permitted in the center hot arm only).– PRAIRIE LAKE in Jim Edgar/ Panther Creek State F&W Area – Lake is CLOSED from Nov. 1st to Jan. 15th to Fishing until after 12:01 PM on Wednesday & Saturday.– ANDERSON LAKE – THIS AREA Will be CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING in Main Lake from Oct. 15th (with last day to boat fish Oct. 14th) through Dec. 20th during waterfowl season with bank fishing Only allowed.– CLINTON LAKE – an easterly area of Clinton Lake (The Waterfowl Refuge Area) between the DeWitt Bridge East (CH14) and the Rt. 48 Bridge will CLOSE be on October 10th and will re-open on MARCH 31st…

Over the years we’ve had a few fall’s that have behaved like this one. About 14 years ago there was one. I have a picture in my collection of me standing crotch deep in the Fox, in the Saw Wee Kee stretch, in a sweatshirt and holding a good 16 inch smallie. It was Thanksgiving weekend. Looks like the rest of the month might work out like past years. I suggest a bucket full of extra large fatheads. A simple, small octopus hook. A small piece of lead 12-16 inches up the line. Bobber is optional. Trick is wading out from the shore. Find areas of the shore that have an indent with something that pushes the current away from shore at the beginning of the indent. This should create a calm spot up to 2 feet deep, 5-10 feet wide and 20-50 feet long. Fish the hell out of it, very slowly. I like the Saw Wee Kee stretch from Orchard to the canoe launch because both sides are loaded with what I describe, but you can find the same set up all up and down the river. We haven’t had much rain and there’s not much in the forecast. River right now is about 1200 cfs, so all of this is perfect. For those that don’t want to give up yet, hopefully this will help. Ken G

As October seems to have slid into the second week of November, anglers are finding good reason to get the boats out for one last shot at landing a musky or putting some last minute fish in the freezer. A few 20 degree mornings have helped push surface temps into the upper 40’s all throughout the Lakeland area. Some ice on a few bog ponds was also reported by muskrat trappers. Musky: Good. While the action has slowed for some, reports have other anglers still getting three to four bites a day, mostly on suckers. Location seems dependent on type of lake as anglers finding fish in shallow weeds of 6-7’ outside weed lines on mid-large lakes of 12-18’ and some fish in 20-30’ suspending at transition areas where Cisco and Whitefish would be staging. Walleyes: Good. More attention than would usually be found as anglers taking advantage of the warm weather spending more time on the water. Redtail chubs, blacktail chubs and 3-5 suckers in depths of 18-26’. Nice fish up to 28 this past week. Crappies and Perch: Good. Still best in green weeds of 6-10’. Small minnows or mini-mites tipped with waxies best. Whitefish: Good to very good. Staging outside nighttime spawning shoals. Jig Swedish Pimples tipped with waxies for best results. Weather may not be as nice this coming weekend (Wisconsin Gun Deer Opener) but opportunities will still be there for those who bag their buck early. Deer activity has been high as the rut has been in full swing. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop http://www.kurtsislandsports.com

Fishing Report Muskie: Suckers have become the bait of choice for fish and angler alike at this time of year. Throwing a jerkbait or a big crankbait in addition to the sucker will add to success. Northern Pike: These fish appear to be in hiding for the last week. Walleye: They’re being found in deep holes and still on some deep rock humps. Jig and large minnow combos, as well as lindy rigging with large red tail chubs seem to work best. Bass: Both largemouth and small have been nearly nonexistent in the last week. Panfish: Bluegills are being found on the deepest weed edges. Crappies are suspending over some mud flats and are setting up for the winter season. Perch are being caught on mud flats using small minnows.