Fishing Midwest report USA
January 19th, 2006 by Fishing admin
Midwest fishing report - Best bet for ice : Madison Lakes , Wis.: For hard-core ice fishermen, this is probably the most readily accessible nearby spot right now. D&S Bait reports ice fishing is continuing, but use caution around some shorelines. Waubesa does have people on 4-wheelers. D&S — (608) 241-4225 — expects conditions to be good enough to put out rental shacks on Waubesa this weekend. Bluegill and crappie are good on Waubesa; a few perch in the weed. Kegonsa has slow bluegill, but spotty perch. Monona Bay continues to offer mostly decent bluegill and there’s a bit of action in Squaw Bay. On Mendota, a few pike are being taken on the edges.
Area lakes : In between: Most lakes are open or are opening; some are trying for crappie in March type patterns, working northern mud-bottom shorelines with live bait on sunny afternoons. In DuPage, Deep Quarry continues to have decent shoreline action. The Mazonia lakes are open for fishing. It’s open water, and it appears ice fishing will be unlikely this year. Note: The Wonder Lake Sportsman’s Club 20th Annual Ice Derby scheduled for Sunday has been rescheduled for Feb. 5.
Chain O’Lakes / Fox Lake : In between: Triangle says DO NOT go on any remaining ice. Most guys who are fishing are looking for open water around piers in marinas where bluegill and crappie are being caught. Another good early open-water spot is below McHenry Dam, where walleye are being taken on large fatheads. The river is open, but the water is extremely low, so boaters should use extreme caution. Another open-water area is around the Route 12 bridge. Downstream on the Fox, Kolar Bait reports anglers are dragging worms or small minnows for walleye and occasional smallmouth.
Downstate : Except for pockets in the north, the state has mostly open water. Powerton: Tom Grider of Riverside reported a Chicago angler caught a 62-pound flathead on Monday. That’s unusual, many more blue catfish are being caught than flatheads. Bluegills and channel catfish (smaller) are decent; smallmouth are slow. Lake Shelbyville: Guide Mary Satterfield reported water temperatures were fluctuating around 40. There are some crappie, but they’re tough. In some places, the crappie are on the bottom in brush, but others are being taken down 4-6 feet under a bobber near timber. Water levels should start stabilizing after the drawdown.
Illinois River : Starved Rock area: Fair: Fluctuating water temperatures have made for a fluctuating sauger bite.
Kankakee River : Fair: Pike are decent around mouths of ditches, creeks and backwaters in both states, said Ed Mullady. Lanny Chouinard of Lanny’s Bait reported a 14-8 pike caught by Bill Kappel from below the Kankakee dam last Wednesday. Crappie are good; a few smaller walleye.
Lakefront: Fair : Small perch are in all the harbors, but finding keepers takes sorting. Navy Pier has picked up in the past few days; otherwise Belmont probably is the best. Minnows on drop-shot or crappie rigs will help anglers target keepers better. Henry’s reports a few more browns being taken on just about anything. Note: Mayor Daley’s Fishing Advisory Committee meets at McKinley Park on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Northern Wisconsin : Decent: Proceed with caution, but most lakes have at least a foot of ice. Very few lakes are drivable; but snowmobilers and 4-wheelers are getting around OK. Eagle River: Eagle River Sports reports good action over-all but only fair quality. Lots of smaller walleye are going in afternoon or evening hours in deeper weeds (8-12 feet); jiggers have been doing better than those using tipups. Scattered reports of good bluegill and perch; but no consistent patterns. People who know what they are doing for crappie are doing well in deeper water. Pike, mixed sizes, are a good daylight bite.
Northwest Indiana : Variable: Mik-Lurch reports a few big walleye taken by trollers at Michigan City with Husky Jerks. There are lots of browns around Gary Light and Burns Ditch, if you can get a boat in. North winds have made shore fishing for browns tougher. Some thin crappie on Wolf Lake’s corn channel. Trail Creek flooded.
St. Joseph area , Mich.: Decent: BJ’s reports the river has risen back to normal levels and some fresh steelhead have come in and made it to Berrien Springs. There are some walleye there too on jig and minnows. Piers are slow.
Shabbona Lake : In between: Check in with Big Jim’s — (815) 824-2415 — before the weekend for ice conditions. As of Tuesday, the rescheduled night ice fishing is on for Jan. 28.
Wisconsin River , Wis.: Dells: Decent: River’s Edge reports sauger continue to be the best bite. Everything is open and clear on the river.
Wolf River , Wis.: Fremont, Fair: Guide Bill Stoeger reports deteriorating ice, but there are some bluegill and pike. The river opened over the weekend and a couple of boats put in.
Dale Bowman