CHICAGO PERCH and more
December 5th, 2007 by Fishing admin
CHICAGO PERCH: Shore fishermen on the Chicago lakefront are taking perch, even a few limits. The daily bag is 15. Best has been the north side of Navy Pier toward the west end. Montrose and Belmont harbors have been decent; DuSable and Burnham, slower. Finding keepers takes sorting; but Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports & Bait Shop suggested using larger minnows or ripping a jigging spoon to target bigger perch.
AREA PUBLIC ICE FISHING INFO: CHICAGO LAGOONS: Closed to ice fishing because of liability concerns for fishermen and non-fishermen. COOK: It’s ice fish at your own risk on the designated ice-fishing lakes: Axehead, Belleau, Beck, Big Bend, Bode South, Bullfrog, Busse main and south, Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee, Sag Quarry east and west, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum. DuPAGE: Unless otherwise posted, it’s ice fish at your own risk on forest preserve waters (4 inches of ice is recommended). Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale is closed to ice fishing (fluctuating levels). Late-night fishing is allowed at Deep Quarry Lake in Bartlett (fishermen must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m.). Ice holes are limited to 10 inches in diameter, and fishermen may only fish two holes. Only portable shelters are permitted, and must be removed when not in use. The Outdoor Report line is (630) 871-6422. KANE: Unless otherwise posted, ice fishing is permitted at Lake Patterson at Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora and the various ponds at Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin. LAKE: Forest preserve ice fishing is permitted at Lakewood and Van Patten Woods, Sterling and Banana lakes, and only when the ice is uniformly 4.5 inches thick and the area is posted as safe for fishing. Shelters must be removed by the end of the day. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to sunset, except an additional hour in the evening is given at Sterling. Call the winter sports hotline at (847) 968-3235 or go to lcfpd.org. MAZONIA SFWA: Monster Lake is open year-round for open-water or ice fishing, except during in-between periods of unsafe ice. Ice fishing, conditions permitting and at your own risk, open at Mazonia South after duck season (potentially Dec.26) and at Mazonia after upland game ends in January. McHENRY: The McHenry County Conservation District allows ice fishing 8 a.m. to sunset at the Fel-Pro RRR, the Hollows (Lake Atwood and West Lake), Lyons Prairie & Marsh, Pleasant Valley, Rush Creek pond and Stickney Run pond, when there is 4 inches of clear ice. Rangers check conditions daily if necessary, and it will be posted. Shelters must be removed daily. Live bait is prohibited at Fel-Pro, the Hollows and Rush Creek. Parking lots are plowed, but other areas are not prepped by MCCD, so be prepared to make paths, etc. Updates, if needed, are made daily at mccdistrict.org or (815) 338-6223. SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Ice fish at your own risk on both lakes (Loon and Beaver). The west entrance is generally closed in winter, the east entrance may be closed temporarily because of icing. WILL: The forest preserve district does not offer ice fishing; however, Monee Reservoir allows fishing year-round, if the water is open.
CHAIN O’LAKES/FOX RIVER BACKWATERS: Starting: Ice fishing will be more widespread by the weekend. Call Triangle at (847) 395-0813 or Hermann’s at (847) 639-9644.
LAKEFRONT: Perch: See top for Chicago perch. Ice fishing is a long ways off in the harbors. PIER PASSES: The $6.50 pier passes, which allow legal fishing from designated piers at Montrose, Belmont, Diversey, DuSable and Burnham harbors, are available at Henry’s.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN: Starting: D&S Bait said the first ice fishermen have been out. Best early spots are Cherokee Marsh and parts of Monona Bay.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER: SAVANNA: Starting: Ice fishing was beginning, but the snow cover could make it tougher.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Ice fishing: The only stickler is the heavy snow over the weekend in some places that made for a sloppy top. Minocqua guide Kurt Justice reported ”excellent” bites for walleye and pike. The bite has been good enough that Justice e-mailed, ”Walleyes hungry, so there hasn’t been a strong preference between shiners and suckers.”
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Fair: Mik-Lurch reported fresh steelhead in the Ditch and Trail. Before the storm, perch were taken at the Hole-in-the-Wall.
ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN: Fair: B-J’s Sports reports walleye continue decent by Berrien Springs dam and steelhead are strong from the middle part of the river to the dam.
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