More truly summer patterns set up for this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
The MFR appears in a much condensed form Wednesdays on the Sun-Times outdoors page.
Finally, the rivers settle into something closer to real summer and some fantastic fishing is underway on them, as this 26-inch walleye caught by Jeff Humenik Tuesday night on a Shadow Rap on the Kankakee River at Des Plaines Conservation Area shows.
LAKEFRONT PERCH
Best reports continue to come from the east shore of southern Lake Michigan.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Staff at Tackle Haven said it varies whether best is north or south, but the best depth has been in 35-35 feet.
INDIANA: Staff at Mik-Lurch said some perch are being caught surprisingly shallow (13-17 feet) at the mouth of Burns Ditch, some east.
CHICAGO: If we ever get a couple days of southwest winds again, maybe the perch fishing will spike finally. Otherwise, staff at Park Bait said there is a few being caught early at Montrose.
AREA LAKES
Johnny “Sunshine” Pajak sent this from DuPage County lakes:
Granted I havent gotten out as much this year as years past. Been out 3 times in the last week (Bellyboating) & its been the best fishing of the year thus far. We have been using Texas rigged worms worked through the weed pockets & getting double digit numbers all 3 evenings.
A faithful reader sent this on a Lake County tour, which sounded quite cool:
Did a south-to-north tour all afternoon today.
Started at Half Day Pond: overgrown, no real angles to attack. Walked the perimeter without making a cast.
Up to Daniel Wright: also heavy weeds/pads all around, but saw a bass lolling in the shallows that had no interest in my spinner. Went into the woods, pushed over a dead log to grab a worm which the bass finally took when I dragged it off a lily pad to plop at his nose. 11″ maybe, but satisfying. Then a bluegill with another found worm on a jighead, lofted over the slop.
Next was Old School Pond: two smallish bass on the beetle-spin, but few good casts to make in all the weed growth.
Then Independence Grove: three bass — all around 10″-12″.
Ken “Husker” O’Malley sent this Monday evening:
Hey Dale,
Just got off the water this evening. Bass have been good on area lakes very early (first hour and a half of light) and the last hour of night. Most consistent pattern has been top waters (rebel pop r) or plastics (senkos and creature baits) pitched along outside weedlines. Bass have been deep lately with the hot weather. Mosquitos have been biting late as well!
TTYL
–
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Huskeroutdoors
Waterworks fishing team
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
Hooksetter’s Guide Service sent this:
(Head): Walleyes, crappies, bluegills, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and catfish all hitting; with black bear baiting reaching a peak as the season nears; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).
Wow it’s been a crazy week in the central Wisconsin area. Water temperatures have pushed up into the upper 70 degree range and the bite has taken a drastic turn.
The walleye bite has been phenomenal this past week with several trips producing giant river walleyes in the 5 to 8 pound range. The most productive bite has been by working heavy current areas in 5 to 8 feet of water with jig and minnow combinations early and late in the day.
The crappie bite has been pretty good this past week with several decent outings producing nice catches of fish in the 9 to 11 inch range with a few bonus 12 and 13 inch fish. Most of the action is coming by drifting 12 to 16 foot river edges with 1/16th and 1/8th ounce jigs that are tipped with fathead minnows.
In addition to the good crappie bite we are still getting in on some fantastic bluegill action. A lot of the bluegills at this time of the year are being caught by working deeper water structure with tiny custom weedless that are tipped with a piece of crawler.
With the warm weather and water temperatures now in the upper 70 to lower 80 degree range we have stopped musky fishing. Warm water temperatures are pretty hard on big fish at this time of the year. However, there is a fish that loves warm weather and if you want a real treat try giving catfishing a try. These feisty fish will really test your stamina. All you need is a simple setup of a hook and sinker rigged up with either a gob of crawlers, a few leaches, of a chunk of chicken livers and you’re good to go. Toss this into the deepest hole in the river and get ready for some arm wrenching action.
Local bass anglers have been having a great week catching lots of smallmouth and largemouth bass on area waters. Most of the action has been by tossing topwater baits in and around submerged structure (rocks, wood) but a few nice fish are still coming on jigs tipped with beaver tails and creatures.
The 2015 bear season is only a little over one month away and bear hunters are busy baiting location with high anticipation of a successful season. With numerous bait stations already set for the upcoming season and lots of activity watch for upcoming posts to see photos of the bears that we have coming into our setups.
Bear season? The year does go fast.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Art Frisell at Triangle said catfish are top bite on stinkbait or crawlers, some on medium roaches, too; look for bluegill shallow and use ice jigs and spikes or waxies; walleye are good on main lake points (might try current areas with Sunday’s rains); for white bass, try main lake points; for crappie, try evenings with small fatheads on glow jigs.
Check Chain updates at Fox Waterway Agency or by calling (847) 587-8540.
For more reports, see http://www.foxlakefishing.com/
CHICAGO RIVER
No update.
COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS
MAZONIA: Lakes are open daily 6 a.m.-sunset. LaSALLE: Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset daily. There is a concessionaire with bait and food options. HEIDECKE: Launch opens 6 a.m., shore fishing at 6:30 a.m.; close is sunset. BRAIDWOOD: Lake is open daily 6 a.m.-sunset.
DELAVAN/LAKE GENEVA AREA, WISCONSIN
GENEVA: Dave Duwe of FishLakeGeneva.com sent this:
Lake Geneva Fishing Report 8.3.15 through 8.10.15
Fishing on Lake Geneva has been improving since the formation of the thermocline. Northern Pike and Smallmouth bass action has been very good. Most of the fish are associating with deep water structure in 22-25 ft of water.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent in 22-25 ft of water. You want to key on deep water structure by Yerkes Observatory or by the South Shore club. The smallmouth bass are biting on either drop shot rigs with a Yum Houdini worm in green pumpkin or lindy rigged nightcrawlers. The early morning hours have been producing most of the fish. You have to rely on your fish locator to provide you access to the actively feeding fish. I will not fish a school that aren’t feeding off the bottom. This bite be good through August.
Walleye fishing has been very good at night between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. The fish are being caught on large Rapalas or Tommy Harris blades with crawler harnesses. Most of the fish being caught are in Williams Bay or Geneva Bay. The best depth is 15 ft down in 20 ft of water. Nightcrawlers or leeches are working equally well.
With the warmer weather, the larger bluegills are moving to deeper water. The best depth to try for them is 22-24 ft of water. Look for the fish just west of the Elgin club or in front of pier 290. The best approach is straight lining leaf worms underneath the boat.
Lake Trout fishing has been spotty. The biggest problem has been the floating weeds, which are preventing your baits from staying in the strike zone. Most of the action is coming out of the main lake basin in 108-120 ft of water. The best depth for the lures is 70-80 ft down fished on a down rigger. Chrome/blue or chrome/green spoons are producing most of the action.
Northern Pike fishing has been good. The only problem is that the numbers aren’t as large as they have been in recent years. Most of the action is in 30 ft of water. Look for the fish by Black Point or over the bar in Williams Bay. The best bait is a lindy rigged sucker or chub. You want to your lindy rig to have at least a 24 inch leader and a 1/0 hook. Due to the depth you are fishing, the fish feels very light, really just a slight drag on the line. Remember to give them line and let them eat the bait for the best success.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water, for guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
DELAVAN: Dave Duwe of FishLakeGeneva.com sent this:
Delavan Lake fishing report 8.3.15 through 8.10.15
Delavan Lake fishing has been excellent. The only problem is you need to find a time to go when the boat traffic isn’t too bad. Even during the week, there are between 100-200 boats fishing at any given time.
Walleye fishing has been the best it has been in the past 5-10 years. Both numbers and size are good. Most of the fish are being caught in 22-24 ft of water off the main lake points. Look for the fish by Willow Point and by Browns channel. Lindy rigged leeches and nightcrawlers are producing most of the action. It seems that a green chartreuse hook entices more bites than a plain one.
Largemouth bass are off the weedlines in 15-17 ft of water. The best approach is keeping the boat in 22-24 ft of water and casting towards the weedline. The fish are positioned where the weedline ends and the main lake basin starts. The best locations have been west of Willow Point, west of the Yacht Club and by the Village supper club. I’ve been catching most of my fish on a drop shot rigged Houdini worm in green pumpkin or a lindy rigged nightcrawler.
Crappie fishing has been okay. The fish are on the weedlines in 12-15 ft of water. The fish are associating with the weed growth and the main lake basin. The best location has been west of the concrete point or by Belvidere Park. I’ve been fishing the crappies with small purple or chartreuse plastics. I’ve been trying to emulate the bait fish in the lake. I’ve been catching some every time out but the large concentrations of fish are not as prevalent.
Northern pike fishing has been good in 20-25 ft of water. The best approach has been lindy rigged medium suckers. Look for the fish by the old Boy Scout camp or just west of the Yacht club. Look for the fish 2-3 ft off bottom. Make sure to temper your live bait, remember the bait shop water is substantially colder than the lake water. If you try to move your bait directly to lake water they will die.
The best bluegill fishing remains in 12-15 ft of water. You want to fish the buoy line on the Viewcrest side of the bay or by Assembly Park. Most of the fish are being caught on split shot rigged leaf worms, however, you can still catch them on split shot rigged hellgrammites. The bigger fish have been in large schools, so if you aren’t catching any, move on to a new location.
Good luck and I hope to see you on the water . For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050
DES PLAINES RIVER
Marcus Benesch sent this:
Dale,
On top of it all, the river had been in awful shape for sometime, not as bad the Kank, but certainly abnormal.
Last week the river finally receded to a normal flow and with that clarity had improved through out Cook County. I did a lot of panfishing over the weekend. Tossing a gulp minnow and various 16th oz jigs. I wrangled up a lot of rock bass against any bridge pilling I could find.
Pike fishing has been steadily improving. Went 6 for 7 Saturday on a short float throwing a Joe Bucher Slop Master. Best fish was around 28 inches. The one miss I had was a medium sized pure musky that came airborne and spit the hook just feet from my kayak. That’s the 3rd musky encounter I’ve had this year on the river. They seem to be holding well and feeding well in all sections of the river. Unreal is the only thing that comes to mind.
Marcus Benesch
River Grove
DOWNSTATE NOTES
SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Ken Wilson Guide Service. LAKE OF EGYPT/REND LAKE: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing. EVERGREEN: Mike Steffa sent a note that the road is completely open now. He also sent this basic info:
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
POWERTON: Both shore and boat fishing are open. Hours are 6 a.m.-8 p.m. HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Lakes will reopen this year at an undecided date. EMIQUON: Call (309) 547-2730.
DuPAGE RIVER
No update this week.
FOX RIVER
No update.
GREEN BAY
No update this week from Lance LaVine at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay.
The Wisconsin DNR posts a report, typically updated on Tuesdays at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/OutdoorReport.html
ILLINOIS RIVER
Thom Matejewski at Illinois Valley Outdoors said catfishing remains the top bite; but trollers are picking up sauger, especially around Hennepin and Clark Island; a few white bass are being caught shallow. Starved Rock launch remains closed.
Illinois Valley Outdoors is open in Spring Valley. The phone is (815) 663-1000.
INDIANA STREAMS
Staff at Mik-Lurch said some steelhead are in the creeks. Access points for Trail Creek can be found on the Trail Creek Access Map.
KANKAKEE RIVER
Jeff Humenik texted that this is best smallmouth fishing he has seen. He said they are fishing in the Des Plaines Conservation Area.
Nick Carr at the Kankakee River Trading Post said there are spots for wading again (I suspect there will be more widespread wading by the weekend) and smallmouth are more on current breaks and seas; walleye are fair.
LAKE ERIE
Prospects look good for walleye and perch this year; smallmouth fair but improving. Click here for update. The Ohio DNR has general Lake Erie info and a fishing report.
LAKE KOSHKONONG, WISCONSIN
No update.
LAKEFRONT
For perch see, top.
CHICAGO: Still some drum around, best bite on the lakefront, especially on the Montrose horseshoe. Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said Chicago is “laker city,” yes, the lake trout are the best and steadiest bite going, best has been around the R4; some steelhead and kings shallower.
WAUKEGAN: Ted Boska sent this:
Hello Dale.THIS IS Cpt TED (die hard) Boska.Fishing from Waukegan harbor is extremely slow for everyone who fish stretch from shore to 80-100′ of water.Warm water slowing fishing even more then week ago.Water on the top and 70′ down almost matching why thermal barrier slowing everything. Fishing continues to be good and very good over 285′ of water for mix beg. I am very happy for myself because our hot streak continue. This attached picture is very good example, hot good fishing Is over deep water.Lakers are very good this year, one of the best for me in many years. Monitoring weather conditions Is very important going that far away from shore. Inside fishing this weekend for shut down completely due to warm water. We really need long string of days with straight west wind to push all warm water away from Illinois shore.TED (DieHard Angler) Boska
NORTH POINT: Poteshman said fish are scattered; in Illinois, best action is on the hill; in Wisconsin, some coho, browns and kings are shallow; then again there is also fish out in 200-300 feet.
MADISON CHAIN, WISCONSIN
Check reports from Gene Dellinger at D&S Bait.
Scott Hill of Fishingthrills Guide Service sent this:
Madison Chain Report
Bluegill: Very good they are along the weed lines in twelve to fourteen feet of water or drifting over deep water jigging spoon and Big Red Worms.
Smallmouth Bass: fair to good they are located along weed edges or scattered rocky areas on mid lake bars and points. Jig/craws or split shot/hook with live bait.
Largemouth Bass: Good caught largemouth on Texas rigged plastic worms Purples/Pumpkin and split shot hooked night crawlers.
Walleye: Good along the weed lines and suspended off the breaks, the best presentations have been slip bobber with live bait or trolling crank baits for suspended fish.
Scott Hill
Fishingthrills.com
MENOMINEE RIVER, WISCONSIN
Check with Mike Mladenik at Mike Mladenik Guide Service.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice of Kurt’s Island Sport Shop sent this:
It was a warm, but very windy week, making boat positioning and fishing more than a little difficult. The high winds didn’t keep fish from biting, in some cases it brought action up, but the good bites were tough to access.
Walleyes: Very Good. Yeah ok, not as good as Largemouth Bass, but it was a very good week of walleye fishing if you could hold your boat. Wind pounded shallow weeds held walleyes taking advantage of the chaos and lower light to feed. Red-tailed chubs, black chubs, crawlers and leeches on 1/16-1/8 oz. weedless jigs took eyes in water from 14’ to as shallow 2’. While young of the year perch and other 1” long bait was their feed, any morsel tossed in their path seemed to work.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good: High winds took the top water equation out on most days, but sub- surface – shallow cranks, chatter baits and spinnerbaits have all been productive in the rough water. While wacky worming was still effective, finesse was not needed in the rough weather.
Northern Pike: Good: Casting blade baits (spinnerbaits, spinners, chatter baits) and 3-4” Swimbaits worked over heavy weed beds in the wind. While local pike populations are not what they used to be, nicer average pike, mid 20” to mid 30” have become more common place.
Musky: Good. Like Largemouth, top- water action, and a tough (but not impossible) goal. Best using big bladed buck tails and large twitch baits. Lots of follows this week with enough high 30” to low 40” fish to make it interesting.
Smallmouth Bass: Good. Extremely tough to fish in most cases but some true brutes (20 -22”) being caught rather shallow along scattered weed and submerged wood. Wacky worming and jig and creature bait / Jig; pig also productive.
Bluegills: Good. Wind is tough on the bite. Some big gills (8-10”) caught deep around submerged wood / cribs using ½ crawlers. In lee-wind bays, small leeches under floats and good choice for action and picking out some keepers (7-8 “).
Crappie:/Perch: Fair. Some nice fish caught while targeting walleyes, but overall tough week to target pan fish.
As the coming week cools, hopefully winds will lessen to allow anglers to fish. Forecast for highs in the mid 70’s with overnight lows in the mid to upper 40’s will change some patterns. To what extent we’ll have to see.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
www.kurtsislandsports.com
EAGLE RIVER: This report came the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, based on Creative Brilliance interviews with Eagle River guide “Muskie Matt” and legendary George Langley of Eagle Sports Center and hunting enthusiast Dan Anderson:
(Head): Good bite for musky, walleye, northern, smallmouth and largemouth bass and panfish. Fly fishing for musky and northern good to go; all in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.
Water temps in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area heading towards 80. Summer warmth!
MUSKY: Definitely best action is at night. Use a large surface bait. Regular retrieve, and don’t forget to always do a “figure 8″ when your lure nears the boat. The muskies are all over the place, suspending at various depths, and also staging during feeding windows up into the weeds.
WALLEYE: Low light conditions are best – -early morning and late evening. Use a leech on a jig, rather than a minnow, right now. The walleye are tight to bottom, and locating in deeper water, or depending on the water clarity, can be in depths ranging from 8-12 feet.
NORTHERN: Great action in the weeds, everywhere. Shallow weeds- – or deep grass weeds on lakes that have that growth in 12-15 feet of water. Use any flashy bait, a Mepps spinner, or a chub minnow under a slip bobber.
SMALMOUTH BASS: Fish hardbottom areas, like deeper rocks, and gravel in 8-15 feet of water. A leech is the best live bait, or try a plastic tube jig in brown or red.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Hitting very well in shallow weeds – -2 to 8 feet of water, or try heavy cover and structure like brush piles, drowned wood and docks. Use a topwater or a wacky worm rig. All day action.
PANFISH: Crappies, bluegills and perch are in the weeds or brushpile areas. Crappies are deepest and suspending up and down. Bluegills are shallowest. Perch are tight to bottom and acting like small walleyes, in the deeper weeds. Use plain red worms, or waxies.
FLY FISHING: With untold numbers of rushing streams, brooks and rivers, Eagle River provides wonderful opportunities for fly anglers of every ilk. And for the adventure of a lifetime go for gamefish with a fly rod on one of the Eagle River area’s hundreds of lakes. Eagle River guide guru, and 35 year avid fly angler for musky, George Langley, tells us that it’s a memorable experience for fly anglers, but realistically you must be able to double-haul cast and attain distances of 70-90 feet on your cast.
NORTHWEST INDIANA
For perch, see top. Staff at Mik-Lurch said there is a pod of steelhead in 120 feet; otherwise, Lake Michigan is in dog days; weeds are starting to impact fishing at Willow Slough.
ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin DNR Root River Report is generally posted on Tuesday.
ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN
For perch, see top. Staff at Tackle Haven said lakers and the occasional king are being caught in 85-125 feet; coho and steelhead are being caught in 180-210; fishing on the pier is fair for drum, catfish and smallmouth on the river side.
ST. JOSEPH RIVER, INDIANA
Click here for reports from the Indiana DNR.
SHABBONA LAKE
Clint Sands at Lakeside said lots of catfish are being caught; there’s been a couple decent largemouth; some nice walleye, including a 26-incher, being caught on leeches on the btoom toward close (10 p.m.)
Lakeside is open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. For more 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
No update.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN
No update this week.