Ice fishing builds to nearly universal coverage around the Chicago area and leads this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report; the ice is limiting open-water efforts by perch anglers on the Chicago lakefront.
The building of the perch bite around the Chicago's South Side slips and the Calumet along with "Early ice fishing season is upon us!" up North lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report. suntimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from suntimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ken Gortowski
It’s big-fish time for multiple species around Chicago fishing and the time of the year with big weather changes to lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
Ken Gortowski sent the artful smallmouth photo at the top from a weekend outing on a Fox River tributary.
LAKEFRONT PARKING
Chicago Park District’s parking passes for the fisherman’s parking lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are on sale at Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport and Park Bait at Montrose Harbor.
Readers suggest SpotHero app downtown. Otherwise, here are some basics: Foster (free street parking or pay lot); Montrose (free street parking); Belmont (pay lots on north and south sides); Diversey (pay lot or street parking); DuSable Harbor (pay lot or fisherman’s lot); Northerly Island/Burnham Harbor (meters, pay lot or fisherman’s lot); 31st/Burnham (meter parking between McCormick Place and 31st Street Harbor); Oakwood/39th (meters); 63rd Street/Casino Pier (pay lot); Steelw
Mike Norris
Big Green Lake – The smallmouth bass bite is on, but I am only catching males. The water temp is still in the low 40’s, and I expect the bite and size to improve with warmer weather forecast for this coming weekend. Try Damiki rigs in 24 ft of water for smallies. Lake trout up to 36 inches active in 180 ft of water trolling with spoons and crankbaits.
Lake Puckaway – Walleyes are done spawning and cooler water temps have slowed the fishing. Wisconsin Elite Series Walleye Tournament last weekend was only 9.51 pounds.
Fox Lake (Dodge Co) Northern pike are active in shallow water, but the largemouth bass bite has slowed with water temps dropping back into the 50’s. Look for walleyes in the Government area and try trolling with spinners and crawlers.
Provided
Despite the lengthy frigid and snowy weather, there is a good amount of ice fishing going on around Chicago area on building ice, including some deep-water action for whitefish on Green Bay, for this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
I know more than a few of us wondered if deep-water fishing for whitefish on Green Bay would even happen this year, especially after the dramatic rescue of anglers from an ice floe the wind broke off last week. The answer, with the extended cold snap, is yes.
Fraser Semple messaged this (a fuller report and a photo are in the Green Bay section):