Johnny Morris, as in Bass Pro, not Johnny Morris, as in the Bears most prolific pass catcher. To understand the Morris mention, you need to read Mike Norris’ Green Lake report below.
Otherwise for this sprawling raw-fie Midwest Fishing Report, it’s waiting on ice fishing, catching perch when you can (surprisingly good at times) and getting out for coho in Indiana when weather allows.
Larry Green tweeted the photo above and this over the weekend:
First fish of 2020 and first northern pike I actually landed out of Lake Michigan safely released...
LAKEFRONT PERCH
Perch have been steadier in the Calumet for boaters, shore fishing on the South Side slips has been good at times, tough at others. Shore fishing at the downtown and North Side harbors, and the Chicago River has been tough to non-existent.
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Pete Banach sent the photo above and this report from an outing up the Calumet:
14 7/8 and 13 incher. Good way to start the year. The big one went 1 1/2 pounds. Little one 1.1
Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Perch fishing since last solid boat or shore from 87th to ford plant
PUBLIC SITE ICE FISHING REGULATIONS
(I figured just in case fishable ice forms in spots, I should include this.)
Ice fish at your own risk, unless noted. Ice fishing is not permitted at the Chicago Lagoons, FPD of Kendall County, FPD of Will County and FP of the Kankakee River Valley. FP COOK: Ice-fishing lakes are Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South only, Bullfrog, Busse main and south, Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee Slough, Sag Quarry, Tampier, Turtlehead, Wampum. FPD DuPAGE: Permitted most sites. No ice fishing at Spring Creek Reservoir. Late-night fishing allowed at Deep Quarry, must be out of preserve by 11 p.m. FPD KANE: Permitted only at Lake Patterson (Hampshire South FP), Oakhurst FP, two ponds within Paul Wolff Campground and Grunwald Farms FP. LAKE FP: When conditions allow, ice fishing permitted 6:30 a.m. to sunset at Banana and Independence Grove south bay; 6:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset at Sterling. McHENRY CCD: Ice fishing at The Hollows (West Lake only). SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Must used the east entrance.
LAKEFRONT PARKING
Readers suggest SpotHero app downtown. Montrose (free parking); Navy Pier (check in parking office in east lot, be out by 10 a.m. for $8 angler parking); DuSable Harbor (fisherman’s lot); Northerly Island/Burnham Harbor (meters or fisherman’s lot); Steelworkers Park (free street parking at east end of 87th).
CHICAGO LAKEFRONT PASSES
Pier passes ($6) for select piers in Chicago harbors and $10 parking passes (DuSable, Burnham fisherman’s lots) are available at Henry’s Sports and Bait or Northerly Island (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, credit card only).
AREA LAKES
Waiting on ice mainly.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Proprietor Greg Dickson at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said a few are open-water fishing, but mainly ``We are waiting on winter to show up.’’
Just in case winter does show up, I am including this: Hermann’s Rest-a-While, which offers parking, access, food and drink at Nielsen’s Channel, also offers to include people on text messages about ice conditions.
Absolutely! Please tell anyone who wants to opt in to this service they can text “ice conditions” to (847) 309-2225.
CHICAGO RIVER
Waiting on perch to show.
COOLING LAKES
Braidwood, Heidecke and LaSalle are closed for the season.
DOWNSTATE
POWERTON: Open to bank fishing daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Boat fishing reopens Feb. 15.
Luis Gonzalez messaged the report and photo below from Sunday and that also led to the FOTW, click here for that:
Powerton was on fire for us today we hooked 8 fish totaling more than 200#. Myself along with Mike Bogd and Tommy Krysciak decided on a very impromptu trip after falling into the winter blues. Shortly after noon and within minutes of each other we were all hooked up. Tommy with a 20# me with a new person best of 41.6 and mike also with a new PB of 50.8 we only seen a total of 4 other fish netted for the day from the other Dozen anglers. The plant was not pumping but that didnt seem to affect the streak of luck we had
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EMIQUON: Go to http://experienceemiquon.com/content/nature-conservancy-emiquon-preserve-lake-access. SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing. HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed for the season.
GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN
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Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above:
Johnny Morris at the NPAA Convention in the Wisconsin Dells speaking about introducing youth into fishing
Norris emailed the report below and texted the photo below the report.
Fishing Report – 01/06/2020
Mike Norris
Big Green Lake – Four inches of snow fell here early last week but by last Thursday the snow had melted. Two thirds of Beyer’s Cove remains covered with 4 to 5 inches of ice and anglers are catching bluegills. Open water anglers launching their boats in Big Green are pursuing both smallmouth bass and walleye. Lake trout fishing reopened on Big Green last Saturday and will run until September 30th. The minimum size limit for trout is 17 inches with a daily possession limit of two. I took a break from guiding last week and traveled to the Wisconsin Dells to attend the National Professional Anglers Association Annual Conference. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris was the keynotes speaker and gave an impassioned presentation on the future of the sport.
Little Green Lake – Walleyes are good at night and northern pike is good during the day. Walleyes are running 16 to 20 inches and are being caught on tip-ups baited with large shiners. Walleye are best right before dark and are being caught on tips-ups baited with large shiners. Wait a few hours into the night and the walleyes will bite again. Bluegills and perch are being caught around the island.
Lake Puckaway – With warmer weather returning late last week the center of this lake has now reopened. Nonetheless shoreline areas are still holding ice thick enough to walk on and anglers fishing tip-ups baited with medium and large shiners continue to do well catching northern pike. Walleye are hit or miss. The minimum size limit for northern pike on Lake Puckaway is 32 inches with a possession limit of one fish per day.
Contact Mike Norris, Wacky Worm Guide Service, at 630-842-8199 for Big Green Lake and other south-central Wisconsin guided fishing trips.
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GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN
Check the Wisconsin DNR weekly report at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/OutdoorReport.html
LAKE ERIE
Check the report at http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/fishing/fishing-forecasts-and-reports/the-fish-ohio-report
LAKEFRONT
See perch at top. Otherwise, there are still a smattering of pike (see Larry Green at the top), brown trout, lake trout and steelhead being caught. Even some coho reports beginning.
Tim Adkins at Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport texted:
Hey Dale. I got out twice the past week for short 2-3 hour shots. First was mix of perching w/ minnows & throwing lures for browns at Montrose with no luck on either. Second outing was far south side a buddy and I got two carp on fly and another angler near us caught 2-3 small coho on spoons
I like that two carp on the fly.
Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop texted that the report was about the same as last week when she texted:
Boats are in 40 to 60 foot,a little south getting Lakers. Pier guys are seeing a few browns on powerlines and bottom fishing.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN
Check the D&S Bait update at https://www.facebook.com/dsbaitandtackle/.
MAZONIA
Lakes are open daily for fishing. If ice fishing comes, it will be at your own risk.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop emailed:
Accidents and tragedy put a pall over ice fishing and outdoor activities this past week as reports of two ATV’s and three snowmobiles broke through the ice. Two of the snowmobilers did not survive which had effects from where it happened (Lake Nokomis in Tomahawk) to up here and to the families and hometowns of those who passed.
To clarify, the snowmobiles broke through over a channel of current, not the main lake itself. One of the ATV’s hit a current pocket that created thin ice in that particular spot. Still, caution is advised anywhere you go. Walking and pre-drilling or chipping with a spud bar by all means before traveling with a motorized vehicle on the ice.
Northern Pike: Good – Less action than previous week. Still nice Pike to 36” reported. As usual, big shiners and suckers best for larger fish.
Bluegills: Good – Very early mornings in and around 8-10’ cabbage for the biggest Gills (measured an 11 ¼” at shop Saturday), tungsten jigs in green, black, purple and red tipped with waxies, mousees or piece of beaver tail.
Crappies: Good – Bites come in windows, sometimes for an hour or less. Late afternoons still best. In and around tall, narrow leaf cabbage in 8-12’ use a gold or white #8 rocker tipped with a yellow, white or pink plastic or piece of beaver tail.
Walleye: Good-Fair – Bite from previous week slowed. Varied reports with most anglers finding better bites late (9-10 pm). As bite less aggressive, better on live bait (suckers) than artificials.
Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Not getting much for deeper reports as mid-lakes still off limits to most anglers. Those finding Perch over mud flats doing well with wigglers on Clam bomb style jigs or Halis in 15-18’.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Tip-ups with medium shiners in cabbage of 6-10’ best.
Ice fishing is taking place, and safely, in many areas. The access (or lack of) due to inconsistent ice or slush has been the biggest draw back. Areas of current (flowages, inlets, etc.) should be avoided or used with caution. Areas near marshy shorelines should also be used with caution, as these areas hold heat and don’t freeze as well as more solid bottomed areas.
All said, we want to encourage anglers to use the ice, but with caution. There is plenty of fishable ice, but due to the strange way it has frozen, its not the same everywhere.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
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Not the news you want to read, but not totally unexpected in an odd winter like this one.
NORTHWEST INDIANA
Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Perch fishing since last solid boat or shore from 87th to ford plant
Coho fishing good at mouth of ditch fishing lake side or river side skein and crawlers and shrimp and squid doing best
Small spoons and crankbaits for casters or trollers doing well
Steelhead fishing in area tributaries ok fish are spread out from lower stretch’s to upper
Voodoo jigs tipped with waxworms or butterworms best but few fish coming on spawn saks
Still have musky suckers in stock
ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin DNR usuaully issues updates on Tuesday or Wednesday at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/rootriverreport.html
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said the steelhead have been good in the river from Jasper Dairy on upstream; when conditions allow there’s been a few coho and whitefish off the south pier at St. Joseph.
SHABBONA LAKE
Lakeside is closed until ice fishing. Park hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT
For the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR, go to https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/outdoorreport.html#01
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN
Guide Bill Stoeger at Fremont texted:
Walking out on area ice, but the bite has been slow. Wind pushed a lot of ice off Winnebago
