More open water and more openings (as in Heidecke Lake, spring trout in Illinois and Chicago lakefront smelt netting) highlight this sprawling raw-file version of the Midwest Fishing Report, which appears much condensed Wednesdays on the Sun-Times outdoors page.
It’s spring and pike time, as Marcus Benesch shows around the Des Plaines River in the photo above.
LICENSES
In the rush of spring fever for fishing remember that new fishing licenses are needed for all four Lake Michigan states as of Wednesday, April 1.
SPRING TROUT SEASON IN ILLINOIS
Illinois’ spring trout season opens Saturday. Those 16 and older need an inland trout stamp. Daily bag is five.
Here is the list of sites in Chicago-area, including the sites stocked by forest preserves and the IDNR: Area waters include Axehead, Belleau, Green, Wolf lakes (Cook County); Grove, Pickerel, Silver lakes (DuPage); Bird Park Quarry, Rock Creek in Kankakee River SP (Kankakee); Big Lake at Silver Springs SFWA (Kendall); Banana, Sand Lake at Illinois Beach SP (Lake); Lake Atwood, Piscasaw Creek (McHenry); Lake Milliken (Will).
Click here for the statewide information on regulations and sites (however, it does not list the sites stocked by forest preserves).
LAKEFRONT COHO (and other fish)
CHICAGO: Staff at Henry’s Sports & Bait said coho are good enough that even casters are catching multiple coho up and down the lakefront. Stacey Greene at Park Bait said both powerliners and casters are catching coho and some rainbows at Montrose, Belmont and Diversey. Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said there should be lakers and browns by the Chicago breakwalls and around the cribs in that 35-40 feet range. WAUKEGAN: Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop texted that browns are being caught off Johnson Pier, pike off the South Rocks, cohos and browns off Government Pier; and boaters are taking browns and coho in front of power plant. “It is really picking up,’’ she noted. INDIANA: Note there was a state record whitefish caught at Michigan City. Staff at Mik-Lurch said coho have slowed some, but there are still some coho and browns around the usual spots. Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters (he is in at East Chicago Marina) said the spring coho bite is on, best on Dodgers and flies; best spot–Gary Light, Shipping Channel, Hole-in-Wall (hot Tuesday morning), East Chicago, Hammond–varies daily; fewer browns than most springs.
HENRY’S SPRING COHO DERBY AT NAVY PIER
The annual celebration of spring coho fishing on the Chicago lakefront is Saturday. Registration begins at 6 a.m. at Navy Pier. Fishing is 6:30-11 a.m. It’s free and there are tons of prizes. Registered fishermen have $5 parking. For info, go to henryssports.com or call (312) 225-8538.
SMELT NETTING
Netting for smelt, or at least the effort of netting, begins Wednesday, April 1. The prospects are as down as they have been, as indicated in a brief preview in Sunday’s Sun-Times. Regulations on the Chicago lakefront are the same: Nets may go in at 7 p.m., no alcohol and netters must be out of the parks by 1 a.m.
HEIDECKE LAKE
The former cooling lake near Morris reopens Wednesday, April 1. Click here for my preview in Sunday’s Sun-Times. It is very promising, especially for walleye and crappie. Launch opens at 6 a.m., shore fishing at 6:30 a.m. Close is sunset. It is open daily.
AREA LAKES
Remember with regular spring trout season starting Saturday, many sites will be stocking and fishing will be closed until the opening of regular spring trout season. As lakes opened up, a few are beginning spring crappie and bass fishing on area ponds and lakes.
AREA WATER LEVELS
Go to http://water.weather.gov//ahps2/index.php?wfo=lot to check area water levels and projection. To get to more specific gauges, even on creeks, in Illinois, go to http://waterdata.usgs.gov/il/nwis/current/?type=flow
CENTRAL WISCONSIN
No report this week from Hooksetter’s Guide Service.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Greg Dickson at Triangle Sports & Marine said crappie reports are building from backwaters and channels and he expects walleye reports to pick up this week. Boaters putting in should be aware of low water and figure on using steep ramps.
For more reports, see http://www.foxlakefishing.com/
Check Chain updates from at the Fox Waterway Agency or by calling (847) 587-8540.
CHICAGO RIVER
No report this week.
COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS
HEIDECKE: Reopens Wednesday, April 1. See top. LaSALLE: Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset daily. There is a concessionaire with bait and food options. It should be fully operational soon, if not already. BRAIDWOOD: Lake is open daily 6 a.m.-sunset daily. Joe Sanderson messaged that with one unit down, water temperatures will probably be dropping. MAZONIA: Lakes are open. Few reports, but that should change this weekend.
DELAVAN/LAKE GENEVA AREA
Brian Gates at Geneva Lake Bait and Tackle said he expects both to be going for open-water fishing by the weekend.
DES PLAINES RIVER
Marcus Benesch sent this:
Dale, water is high and murky. The river is totally free of ice and the pike spawn is underway. Not sure how far along the spawn is, but I did release a good size female Saturday afternoon that was still holding/spilling eggs. Found the fish up a tributary in a calm pocket under a set of riffles. I was using a silver smithwick minnow.
Marcus Benesch
River Grove
DOWNSTATE NOTES
EVERGREEN: Mike Steffa sent these reminders:
NEW SAUGEYE (WALLEYE HYBRID) REGULATIONS FOR EVERGREEN LAKE
Starting April 1, 2015 the following new regulations will take affect for Saugeye (Walleye Hybrid) on Evergreen Lake:
Minimum Length Limit – 18″ Daily Creel Limit – 3 Fish/Day
Evergreen Lake Bait Shop & Boat Rental Opens Saturday, April 4, 2015!
The Evergreen Lake Bait Shop & Boat Rental will open this Saturday, April 4, 2015! Hours are as follows:
Bait Shop: Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. & Friday – Sunday from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Boat Rental: Open ONLY Friday – Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Expanded Hours Beginning Memorial Day Weekend!
Thank you,
Mike
SHELBYVILLE: Ken Wilson of Ken Wilson Guide Service said crappie are good in main lake in 12-15 feet off river channel breaks, afternoons on laydowns and coves. LAKE OF EGYPT & REND LAKE: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing. POWERTON: Both shore and boat fishing are open. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Lakes will reopen this year at an undecided date. EMIQUON: Call (309) 547-2730.
DuPAGE RIVER
No report this week.
FOX RIVER
No update this week.
GREEN BAY
No update from Lance LaVine at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay this week.
The Wisconsin DNR posts a report, typically updated on Tuesdays at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/OutdoorReport.html
ILLINOIS RIVER
The sauger bite is near peak, jig and minnow is key. Depths vary from day to day, depending on conditions. There are some pretty nice walleye mixed in, as evidenced by the first Illinois River Walleye Classic.
Illinois Valley Outdoors (in the former Time on the Water Outdoors buildings) at Spring Valley is now open with basics, including bait, crankbaits and plastics at 5 a.m. The phone is (815) 663-1000.
INDIANA STREAMS
Access points for Trail Creek can be found on the Trail Creek Access Map.
KANKAKEE RIVER
Norm Minas sent this (and I am damm glad he is up and about):
Multiple trips, the weather ran the gamut from freezing rain/sleet to shirtsleeve 60′s . Latest water temp 43.5 degrees water levels dropping,, heavy green stain upriver clearing going downstream. In some slack spots 15 inches or so of visibility to a couple of inches out in the heavier flow.
Walleye still prespawn, taking them on rattlebaits and suspending rogues , mostly on seams, some on flats and some at inflows. The IDNR biologists are out collecting fish for the walleye stocking program.
Smallmouth bass mostly on rattlebaits, a few on hard jerkbaits, a few on single spins. Most out on the seams, some at inflows, some over and around waterwillow stubble.
Picking up some channel cats in the same areas, on the same lures as the walleyes. A couple of nice sized drum on a rattlebait along a rocky shore line.
Peace
Norm
And I am just damm happy that Capt. Austin Adduci of Grab Your Fly Charters (I like the whole idea of a fly-fishing guide on the mighty Kankakee) sent this:
Good morning Dale,
Slow is the word of the week. Fishing was slow, presentations had to be extremely slow, the fish where found in the slowest water possible. Darker patterned flies work best. The water still had surprisingly good clarity despite a increase of flows everyday. Temperatures stayed between 40 and 46 all week.
Have a good day,
Captain Austin Adduci
www.grabyourflycharters.com
(630)886-1964
LAKE ERIE
The Ohio DNR has general Lake Erie info and a fishing report.
LAKEFRONT
See report at top.
MADISON CHAIN, WISCONSIN
Gene Dellinger at D&S Bait said it is still in between.
MENOMINEE RIVER, WISCONSIN
Mike Mladenik of Mike Mladenik Guide Service sent this note worth noting for the coming weeks:
Ice is going Fast!
Fishing should be excellent by the May 2, Season Opener. The pre-spawn smallmouth action will be very predictable. Not to mention the good pike & walleye fishing.
Walleyes will be spawning in the river shortly. I am booking walleye trips in late April at a Discount rate. There is a one walleye bag limit in April, but we can fish for those big River crappie & perch!!!
I still have open dates in May.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Kurt Justice of Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua sent this:
Minocqua Area Fishing Report:
Cold temps for late March (single digit mornings to start the weekend) put a huge stall on the spring thaw. Despite just enough warmth in the afternoons to get rid of mid weeks snow, it’s been 9 days of no ice melt, possibly even adding a little ice.
Bluegill: Fair. With a lot of high pressure and high wind, the bluegill bite has been off. Best to use small tungsten jigs tipped with single moussee, spike or wax worm held close to the bottom to lure in bites. Cold could be reason best bites are mostly in deeper water (12-14’). Searching out less pressured water has helped several anglers find catches when the “popular” spots don’t produce.
Perch: Fair. Deep mud flats still holding perch feeding on wigglers. Work the 14-22’ mud, banging the bottom to stir up mud to simulate feeding fish. The other area anglers are finding perch is up along weed edges of 8-12’. Minnows and minnow shaped jigs such as #2 Jigging Rapalas preferred in these areas.
Crappie: Fair. Fishing has been disappointing for this species. Deep water anglers having better success using tip-downs to pick up scattered biters. Some finicky fish being picked up using #10 and #8 rockers and a piece of Chena or plastic. Patience has been a must.
Things could change this week with temps of high 50’s to low 60’s and some cloud cover mid week. Ice in good shape as of now with averages of 18-24”. A few smaller lakes that didn’t freeze as well due to early ice up and more snow cover are in the 14-16” range for ice.
Shoreline access is still good except where there is a current (Flowages) opening up. Coming warm spell mid week could hurt some north (south facing) access.
Kurt
Island Sportshop
Minocqua, Wi
EAGLE RIVER: This report came the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, based on Creative Brilliance interviews with Eagle River guides “Muskie Matt” of Wild Eagle Lodge, “Ranger Rick” Krueger of Guide¹s Choice Pro Shop, Mat Hegy; and Eagle River hunting enthusiast, Dan Anderson:
(Head): Good bite for crappies, bluegills and perch through the ice. Spring wild turkey hunting season looks promising; all in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.
Ice conditions in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area remain good. 10-25 inches of ice (lake dependent). With the recent snowfall it’s harder to “read the ice,” so EXTREME caution is strongly recommended. ATV’s, snowmobiles, foot travel are all being used to get out. Our guide sources tell us that truck or car travel is definitely not recommended. There had been some erosion along lake shorelines, but the recent temperature drop has slowed that action.
PANFISH: Crappies, bluegills and perch are hitting in two locations in the Eagle River area. Fish main lake mudflats or basins in 35 feet of water or less. Look for structure- – contour changes, rock humps, brush piles, cribs and depressions. You can also get action by fishing weed or break edges in 15 feet of water or less. Perch are tight to bottom. Crappies and gills are suspending up-and-down the water column (at this time or year, the suspending panfish are usually headed upward towards the surface, but because of the colder weather that isn’t happening yet, as the upward fish movement moves in conjunction with a real good and consistent ice melt – -that will come, but it’s not here yet). Use a waxie, spike, wiggler, crappie minnow or micro-plastic on a small jig or under a slip bobber. All day action, and the bite is good.
NORTHWEST INDIANA
Lakefront report at the top. Staff at Mik-Lurch said some crappie are being caught in Cedar Lake harbors, and there’s been a few walleye and sauger at Monticello, though more seem to be focusing on the crappie.
ROCK RIVER, WISCONSIN
Brian Gates from Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle said walleye and smaller sauger are being caught from more spots up and down the river.
ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin DNR Root River Report is generally posted on Tuesday.
ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN
Capt. Eric Condor of Big Bird Charters at Tackle Haven said guys on the piers are catching lakers and coho, best on spawn. There is some “bare concrete,” but also a ton of ice out on the end, where coho action has been better. Lake also has ice in it, unless an east wind comes. Boaters in river are doing better with spawn, too. Berrien Springs has a few steelhead and browns.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, INDIANA
Click here for reports from the Indiana DNR.
SHABBONA LAKE
Lake opened up. As of Wednesday, April 1, Lakeside will be open 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
For information and reports from Lakeside, go to shabbonalake.com or call (815) 824-2581.
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin DNR report is at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/OutdoorReport.html. They are generally posted by Tuesday afternoon. Stream flow info is at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/current?type=flow.
WOLF LAKE
Staff at Mik-Lurch said crappie are being caught in the corn channel. Remember there is stocked trout opening on Saturday on the Illinois side.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN
Guide Bill Stoeger said, “Glad you called. I was about to call you.” That’s because the walleye are going good on river rigs or 1/4-ounce jigs, on current breaks in 6-8 feet.