Fishing report Midwest
March 30th, 2006 by Fishing admin
Midwest fishing report Licenses: New licenses are required as of Saturday in the four Lake Michigan states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. With Illinois’ new system, DNR Direct, taking much longer to process licenses, Illinois fishermen are advised to buy their licenses well ahead of any outings. This is not the year to wait.
Spring trout: The season opens Saturday, generally at 5 a.m., though some lakes (such as the Cook County ones) open at dawn. These are hatchery-raised trout, so things such as corn, pieces of worms, small jigs or bits of Berkley PowerBait on small, gold hooks on light line (4-pound) under small floats produce best. The fish most likely will be schooled up, so keep moving around until an active school is found. Area waters include Axehead, Belleau and Sag Quarry East (Cook County); Silver, Deep Quarry and Grove (DuPage); Gebhard Woods State Park pond (Grundy); Bird Park Quarry and Rock Creek (Kankakee); Big Lake at Silver Spring State Park (Kendall); Sand Lake at Illinois Beach SP and Banana Lake (Lake); Lake Atwood and Piscasaw Creek (McHenry) and Milliken at Des Plaines Conservation Area. The daily bag is five. Anglers 16 and older need an inland trout stamp. Anglers may not take trout from any of the stocked sites from now until the opener.
Heidecke preview: The former cooling lake east of Morris reopens to boaters at 6 a.m. Saturday (6:30 a.m. for shore anglers). It will be open daily, closing at sunset. Steve Anderson will have Gray Beard’s Bait and Boat at the launch with bait, boat rental and a kitchen with basics such as hamburgers and hot dogs. Restricted areas remain the same. The plant is being dismantled, so on some days, very slow-moving rail cars with parts of the plant will move down the center dike, but fishing will be allowed while that happens. A random creel survey is being done this year, the first in about a decade. Biologist Rob Miller emphasized how important good information on the survey is to managing the lake. Heidecke has real potential for state records in yellow bass and hybrid striped bass, and possibly striped bass (last stocking in 1994). Of the three local cooling lakes, the best quality of channel catfish (20-inch average) come from Heidecke.
Smelt preview: Smelt forecasts are as poor as most recent years. With opening night being Saturday, there likely will be more socializing than smelting. Biologist Steve Robillard suggested the best chance for actually netting smelt might be around the full moon on April 13. With the improved water clarity of recent years, the monofilament nets known as “Filipino Nets” are a necessity. Nets may go in the water at 7 p.m. Netters must be out of the parking areas by 1 a.m. (out, not just pulling nets at 1 a.m.) Other park district regulations include: no open fires and dispose of hot coals in the appropriate containers, no enclosed tents, no alcoholic beverages, park in designated areas, and don’t destroy property when tying up nets or grilling.
Best bet (lake): Illiana’s Lake Michigan: One of the best recent years for browns and coho continues. For boaters, the best for browns and coho with an occasional king has been from the Hole in the Wall to Gary Light; otherwise the shipping channel has been consistent for weeks. For coho, Capt. Bob Poteshman has done best with Dodgers and smaller tinsel flies like Howie Nuggets or Stanley Stingers. Run a rod or two with a deeper presentation like crankbaits for browns or kings. From shore, Mik-Lurch reports Michigan City has had explosive action for coho, browns, steelhead and a few kings. Other good shore spots for mainly browns and coho have been the public access at the Port, Hammond Marina and the stateline power plant.
Best bet (river): Illinois River: Stable weather and water levels should make the next week the best for sauger fishing at Starved Rock and downstream. Jig fishing has been preferred, but that may change as the water warms.
Area lakes: Starting: Trout will draw most attention this weekend (see above). Several MFR regulars report better crappie starting at Skokie Lagoons. JJ’s reported decent crappie at Sedgwick; it takes sorting for keepers.
Chain O’Lakes area: Decent: MFR regular Jim Reitmayer reports strong crappie in the channels. Triangle seconds improving crappie in channels on small shiners or pinkie jigs under small floats. Walleye are best on the main lake flats; large fatheads on Lindy rigs should be best. A secondary choice is below the dams on the Fox, especially McHenry Dam. Fox River wading guide Ken Gortowski reports good walleye, even well downstream of the dams. With the higher water, he suggested looking at the clearer water around creeks and ditches.
Cooling lakes/strip pits: Braidwood: With LaSalle open, fewer trying; catfish and bluegill remain the steadiest bites. It’s 70 at the south ramp, 60 at the north. Hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. LaSalle: Guide Jay Angel reported hot water in back already in the 80s. The lake goes to seven days as of today. Hours remain 6 a.m. to dusk. Best bite is catfish, including many monster blues. Bass reports have improved since opening day. Otherwise, smaller hybrids remain decent. Heidecke: Reopens Saturday, see above. Mazonia/Mazonia South: Most lakes are in the lower 40s. More fishermen should be trying with warming weather.
Delavan Lake, Wis.: Decent: Delavan Bait and Tackle reported an OK weekend with decent crappie to 12 inches. Better spots have been off Lake Lawn, east of the yacht club and in front of the bays on a mixed bait of grubs, minnows and spikes. A few bluegill, should improve with warmer water. Water is about 40 degrees. Launch fees take effect Saturday.
Kankakee River: Good: River has good flows with recent rains and Ed Mullady reports improving action on walleye and smallmouth, including a couple over 3 pounds by his son, guide Matt. Pike are decent in both states in the mouths of ditches and bayous. With the warmer weather, the largemouth bite (the surprise of last year) should pick up.
Lakefront: Chicago: A MFR regular reports a few sporadic keeper perch at Montrose; otherwise perch have been tough. Henry’s reports the hot spot for coho moves almost daily. Recent hot spots for powerliners have been 31st, the Burnham pipe, Navy Pier, Montrose and the stateline power plant. Cal harbor should improve as water warms. Waukegan: Salmon Stop reports sporadic browns and steelhead on shiners and spawn sacs. There’s a few coho. Reports should improve dramatically with the warm-up.
Northern Wisconsin: Decent: Most areas retain plenty of ice, though some shorelines are giving way. The Hayward forecast is for temperatures near 50 daily. Minocqua: Guide Kurt Justice calls crappie “king at this time.” Crappie are moving into the bays seeking cabbage in 8-12 feet. He advises minnows on tip-downs or tight-line plastic, waxies or chena on No. 10 Moon-Glo jigs. Some perch in weedy bays. Bluegill are mixed with crappie and perch.
St. Joseph area, Mich.: Very good: BJ’s reports excellent fishing in the river with some fresh ones. The ladder is open at Berrien Springs. Action is improved off and around the piers with coho, browns and steelhead. There was limits off the beach.
Shabbona Lake: Waiting: Lakeside, open daily now, reports only 44-degree water. As water warms, action should improve. There’s a few crappie in the deep trees.
Wolf Lake: Fair: Largemouth are decent with the warmer water; walleye tough. Crappie are scattered; some better spots have been the K channel in Illinois or the corn channel in Indiana