Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Coho, crappie, rainbows, browns, walleye, largemouth, openers

Crowd at Sand Lake for trout fishing. | Provided by Eddie Pasiewicz

JF Semple and his buddy Willie with trout limits from Grove Lake.

A kid checks out Rob Abouchar with a largemouth bass from Twin Lakes.

Crappie caught and released at Palmisano Park by Dan Bernstein.

Ken “Husker” O’Malley with a local largemouth bass.

Jeffrey Williams’ brother Jesse won the day with this carp on the Chicago River.

Catfish from the Montgomery dam area on the Fox River.

Retired veteran Carter Cavitt with some quality crappie caught from the Illinois River with Capt. Mike Hanson.

Chris Strand with a spawned-out walleye from the Kankakee River.

Kankakee River smallmouth bass.

Bob Johnson and a double of Kankakee River smallmouth bass, caught on the same bait.

Michael Fogarty with a good brown trout, which are starting to move on the Chicago lakefront.

Coho limit on the Chicago lakefront.

Tom Platt messaged:

. . . Guys that are putting in the hours are being rewarded. Bass are doing well and some reports of drum. . .

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait texted:

Similar to the previous 2 weeks coho . . . still going

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

Good morning Dale Coho fishing still good. Powerliners are doing better then rod and reel. Still some nice brown trout and steelhead around. Large minnows and nightcrawlers still seem to be the baits of choice. I would anticipate that the water is starting to warm up this week so guys casting some spoons and crankbaits should start getting a little more action. For those interested I have had no smelt reports.

Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan texted:

guys are getting browns, steelies, and a few cohos are showing up off the pier.

Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:

Waukegan 4/5

Hi Dale

In Waukegan coho are starting. Only a couple of serious boats are in now so reliable information is sparse. Some coho are being taken in 25 to 65 trolling dodger and peanut flies or body baits. For boats targeting coho the shallower waters 25- 35 have more then the deeper water Big lake trout are plentiful in 60 feet. The trout are suspended all over the water column. Suspended spoons as well as typical laker taker Mo Rigs are working. The bright rubber skirted Jimmy Fly Green Guy and Green Goby were best.

It’s will still be 2 weeks before my running gear is on and I’m in so my reports may be sporadic until then. It’s already an above average start of April.

Capt Scott Wolfe

630-341-0550
www.schooloffishcharters.com
Manipulator - Waukegan

It feels like the season is truly changing with the first report from Wolfe.

On Saturday, Jason “Special” Le texted the photo below, which I love, and a note and photo on his brother Ricky catching a good whitefish.

Nice to hear of another quality whitefish.

Fishing sunrise on the Chicago lakefront.

LaSALLE LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Click here for the preview of prospects.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Both units are open for open-water fishing or ice fishing.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:

A very unusual warm early April has most of our lakes completely ice free. The few exceptions being the largest lakes, Fence and Trout. But with air temps hitting 80 degrees on Monday (4/5) that won’t last long.

It’s rare to see such an early ice out with open water and such nice weather. Anglers are out checking on Crappie spots, Perch spots and getting the kinks out of their equipment.

Crappie: Good-Very Good – Anglers finding Crappies filtering through standing weeds in 6-8’ of water. Spooking easily, so long cast required with small floats and minnows or tiny hair jigs. While still a long way off from spawning, some anglers reporting Crappies moving close into shallow brush. Most likely to soak up warmth that helps with their egg production later.

Yellow Perch: Good – Below dams that are open to fishing (The Rainbow Dam closes April 10^th as a sanctuary until May 1^st). Jig and medium fats or pieces of crawlers, lindy rigs or floats in the eddies work.

Bluegill: Poor – Just no reports as of now. Most interest in Crappies and Perch.

With ice off so early and so much warm weather, expect almost all Walleye spawning to be finished by May 1^st. A good post spawn bite should occur, but lots can happen here in the Northwoods between now and then.

Catch & Release Bass IS open.

Panfish (Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch) IS open.

NO Walleye fishing is open up here with the exception of the research Lake Escanaba with its one over 28” regulation.

The closed season is to give some species a break from harvest and pursuit. Please be aware and respect these rules. Rules like these and bag limits are meant to ensure opportunities for the future, so everyone can enjoy for years to come.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
Like us on FaceBook

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Willow slough good for boat fisherman gills,crappie on jigs tipped with beemoth

Coho action on the portage river walk is hit or miss everyday has been different

Trolling for coho has been all over the place from good to slow you find a pocket of fish work that area. East Chicago up and down the wall to Gary light to the mouth of the ditch and the mouth of the port of Indiana are the areas that have been getting worked. Brads thinfish and dodgers and peanut Flys best baits

Crappie at lake George in Hobart around the bridges and log jams using crappie minnows

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale. I hope you’re loving this gorgeous weather. Here’s what we have for this week:

Area Anglers are having good luck trolling for Coho in 15-30 FOW with a few kings showing up. Guys are trolling flatlines with thin fish and 3 colors of leadcore with small spoons. The rivers have slowed down a lot with just a few steelhead being caught. There are some catfish being caught. The inland lakes are starting to do much better a lot of nice crappie and some bluegill.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said boaters are getting coho south of St. Joe, but they don’t have to go all the way to the Cook plant; pier is slow, but it was real good back when the winds were rocking; walleye are closed on the river.

Paddle and Pole hosts the Berrien Springs Fish Ladder Camera.

SHABBONA LAKE

Site hours through Oct. 31 are 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

As of now, the reopening of the concessions is on hold after the initial sale fell through.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Click here for the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR.

WISCONSIN RIVER, PETENWELL FLOWAGE

Guide Mike Norris emailed:

Fishing Report 4/5/2021

Mike Norris

. . .

Petenwell Flowage – For walleye work current breaks from below the Pettenwell Dam down to the mouth of the lake. Both vertical Jigging and casting jigs with minnows work well. Water level is down so careful navigating in rocky areas.

. . .

For information on guide trips reach out to me via my Facebook page at mike.norris.7773 or email me through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

WOLF LAKE

Trout season is open on the Illinois side.

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Gary Bloom messaged on Winneconne:

FYI. Water low in Winneconne, but Walleye starting to bite. Friends (3) had limit by 9am yesterday. 13-16 inches. Limit is 3.

ADDED:Guide Bill Stoeger just texted and I thought the white bass note worth adding late:

Sorry I missed you Dale, damn phone went out this morning. Water temp today was 55 degrees. The walleye spawn should be done in the next few days. Females are coming down now, males will follow in a week or two. I’m thinking we should start picking up a few white bass by the weekend

Guide Mike Norris emailed:

Wolf River – Walleyes are active and can be caught vertical jigging with a jig and minnow. Water temp is in the low 40’s. The walleyes should spawn this week with the incoming warm weather.