Some perch in Chicago, disappearing ice and early coho come in Midwest Fishing Report

Adrian Medina had a season-ender on the Chicago lakefront to remember, his first brown. | Provided

For this sprawling raw-fie Midwest Fishing Report, it’s mainly waiting on fishable ice to reform, for perch to be more consistent and wondering if the early coho will keep coming in Indiana and southwest Michigan.

Well, that and how people took advantage of the warm weather last week to do some interesting fishing, including boat fishing on the rivers.

Adrian Medina messaged the photo above and this from the Chicago lakefront:

Last fish of the year for me and first ever brown trout

And I though Capt. Pat Harrison had a nice description of things in general.

Good Morning Dale, It looks like we’re in an in between. Weather doesn’t know what it wants to do. Hope Christmas was good for you and the Family. Headed into 2020 with all new ideas for Pat Harrison Outdoors there will be a lot of different changes for the business. We are going to launch the New Website New Years Day. Looking forward to an outstanding 2020 Season. I’ll be happy to see 2019 behind me. The Season starts New Year’s Day it’s time to catch some fish.

I am not including the nearby ice-fishing regs this week. Seems unnecessary.

LAKEFRONT PERCH

Remains much the same, most consistent has been boaters working the Calumet, but even they have to move to find them. Shore anglers are still focused on the South Side slips, very variable reports.

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

Perch in the slips and river still going but they are on the move seems like up the river past 95th street has been best for boats moving around a lot

Xl fatheads and or baby roach seem best bait with perch Flys in a variety of colors

For perchers on the bank slips and in main river it changes must be willing to fish slips or river fish are spread out more now

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

Ice, at least fishable ice, is gone. But people enjoyed trying open water last week during the record warmth.

Ken “Husker” O’Malley with a season-ending bass.

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photo above and this report:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past week’s fishing.

Area lakes-fall like temps have the long rods making an appearance again. Bass have been decent casting 3 inch Kalin grubs on 1/4 oz jig heads. Key is working it as slow as possible to keep the bait just above the weed tops. Best bite has been early afternoon. White has been the top producer.

TTYL

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said the obvious, ice just melted and it is waiting on it to lock up again.

BTW, Hermann’s Rest-a-While on Nielsen’s Channel, which offers parking, access, food and drink, 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

Jeffrey Williams emailed:

This maybe the quickest River report I ever gave. Went for 3 hours hoping in different areas and couldnt get a bite. Im sure this weather aint helping. I know when i c Perch near DuDable that they will be in the river.

Have a safe New Years

Tight Lines

COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS

Braidwood, Heidecke and LaSalle are closed for the season.

DOWNSTATE

POWERTON: Is open to bank fishing daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Boat fishing reopens Feb. 15.

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.

FOX RIVER

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,I took a look at some Fox tribs on Sunday afternoon. I knew what I’d find-after listening to the rain all night-but had to see for myself anyway. Water was running high and muddy, even way upstream. No fish contacted, not even rock bass. It was strange seeing all the earthworms on the pavement Sunday morning in the 60 degree temps. Still enjoyed the chance to cast more than I would have chopping a hole in the ice.

. . .

Have a happy and safe New Year.

Pete

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Mike Zindrick from Marco Island, Florida with a late December smallmouth with guide Mike Norris.

Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above of Mike Zindrick from Marco Island, FL with day after Christmas bass and the photo below of a walleye caught the same day with Norris.

Norris emailed the report below:

Big Green Lake – Santa arrived right on time up in south central Wisconsin last Wednesday and he brought warmer weather with him. With mid-week temps in the upper 30’s to low 40’s and mild winds I fished the open waters of Big Green lake on both Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. The water temp on Green registered in at 37 degrees but that didn’t seem to bother the smallmouth bass and walleyes, both of whom readily bit our live bait offerings. My clients and I caught smallmouth bass anywhere from 37 to 53 feet deep. We found the biggest walleyes up shallow in 14 ft of water just outside of weed edges. My fellow guides whom are ice fishing shallow backwaters of Big Green report catches of bluegills early in the morning with the bite shutting down after 10 a.m. Unfortunately, with rain last Saturday and air temps reaching into the mid 50’s on Sunday, ice began deteriorating on many of the area lakes. On Monday more seasonal temperatures and snow showers arrived in the area so it looks like fishing will be on hold for a couple days.

Beaver Dam Lake – Ice fishing for walleye has been decent with a fair number of legal fish being caught. Anglers are having better luck on the south end of the lake with the last hour of the day being good on tip-ups. But a word of caution, the ice is deteriorating, and we will need a couple windless evenings with temps in the low 20’s to firm it back up.

Little Green Lake – Walleyes are good at night and northern pike during the days. Walleyes are running 16 to 20 inches and are being caught on tip-ups. Best right before dark but wait a few hours into the night and they bite again. Bluegills and perch around the island. Watch for deteriorating ice around the shorelines.

Lake Puckaway – Ice anglers are fishing tip-ups baited with medium-sized shiners and are doing well catching northern pike. Most anglers report the fish are being caught within 5 feet of the shoreline.

Contact Mike Norris, Wacky Worm Guide Service, at 630-842-8199 for Big Green Lake and other south-central Wisconsin guided fishing trips.

Mike Zindrick from Marco Island, Florida with a late December walleye caught with guide Mike Norris.

GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN

Check the Wisconsin DNR weekly report at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/lakemichigan/OutdoorReport.html

KANKAKEE RIVER

Kyle Danhausen with a late December smallmouth from the Kankakee River.

Kyle Danhausen posted in the Kankakee River Rats Facebook group:

Pretty good day today and officially the latest I’ve ever caught fish out of the River. 20 plus Smallmouth, 3 walleye, 1 Buffalo, and one of ... we don’t know!

He followed that up with a message

Of course ! It was a wonderful day to be on the River ... Eagles overhead and a pretty fun bite with a variety of species. I should of taken a pic of the Buffalo as it actually ate my Jerkbait. This time of year you snag alot of Rough Fish

LAKE ERIE

Check the report at http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/fishing/fishing-forecasts-and-reports/the-fish-ohio-report

LAKEFRONT

Perch report at top. Still a smattering of steelhead, browns, lakers and pike (see FOTW).

Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop 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. Aug is open today probably till 3 ish?? He’s plowing right now. Happy new year!

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Gene Dellinger at D&S Bait said he had no current report on ice conditions, rains and wind had been tough on ice.

Check the D&S Bait update at https://www.facebook.com/dsbaitandtackle/.

MAZONIA LAKES

The lakes are open to fishing. If ice fishing comes, it will be at your own risk.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop gave me this report (dictated, sorta, amid a conversation about life, family and the state of the wild world):

Lakeland area fishing is good of late. Traveling? Not so good. Rain on Sunday helped knock down the snow and slush, but recent snow added to the snow cover. The mild temperatures also made if difficult figuring the wheres and hows of getting on the ice. But in general the ice thickness is good, 6-12 inches on most lakes.

Walleye are very good, especially on cloudy conditions of recent days in mid-days for tip-up anglers, evening bite starting earlier on 9-12 feet on weed edges.

Northern pike are very good on large shiners or suckers on tip-ups on outside weed lines in 9-14 feet.

Crappie are good to very good, be ready when they transition from deep water to go on the feed, slow dropping rockers are best.

Bluegill are good, most action is in weeds of 7-12 feet on waxies or a sliver of Beavertail bait on No. 10 black rocker one foot off the bottom in 9-12 feet of cabbage.

Largemouth bass are good, even though few target them, but they are good on warmer days with medium shiners.

Yellow perch are good to fair, fair because most report lots of smaller perch that take sorting, best is a tear-drop jig with lots of waxies.

While the ice conditions themselves are better in Lakeland area than farther south (little or no ice) or to the north (too much snow), caution is still advised. With snow in the last 24 hours, slush and areas of thinner ice will be difficult to detect. While ice condition in some areas OK for ATV and snowmobile, best advice is to walk, take your spud bar and take your tall boots.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

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

Some steelhead been had in area creeks voodoo jigs tipped with butterworms or waxworms best but some on spawn saks too u will get coho too have been in creeks some days they are all over and it’s hard to get your bait down to the steelhead without the coho getting to it first

Lakefront coho still going out of portage on the river walk both lakeside and in ditch skein on float or bottom and casting small spoons best baits but fish caught on a lot of different live bait and lures

Perch in the slips and river still going but they are on the move seems like up the river past 95th street has been best for boats moving around a lot

Xl fatheads and or baby roach seem best bait with perch Flys in a variety of colors

For perchers on the bank slips and in main river it changes must be willing to fish slips or river fish are spread out more now

Yes we will be open news years day 5 to 5

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 that weather limited action, the hope is that the rain brings fresh fish into the St. Joseph. A few early coho showed up last week. Out of New Buffalo, there’s been some good lakers on the reef.

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 in Fremont texted:

Not much on most of the area ice. Too much warm weather and rain. Before the weather moved in, Partridge Crop was giving up some nice northerns and gills. They were walking out about a mile off Tustin on Poygan for walleye. Not sure of ice conditions today