Fishing Reports News

BEST BET: Area: The typical good winter bite for perch goes on at Chicago’s lakefront. It takes sorting for keepers. The daily bag is 15. Montrose and Navy Pier are most consistent, but Belmont has had its days. DOING IT: A basic setup is 4- or 6-pound monofilament on light or medium spinning gear. The perch have been tight to the bottom, so it is doubly important to use enough weight (quarter-ounce sinker and work up depending on wind and waves) to find and feel the bottom. Use a crappie rig; or place either a small jig or a gold bait hook 6-12 inches above the weight, and another a foot above that. Minnows are the top choice, but spikes and wax worms also work. NAVY PIER: Fishermen who show their fishing license and leave before 10 a.m., may park for $5.

BEST BET: Downstate: The annual muskie bite below the spillway of Lake Shelbyville is underway, according to Scott Richardson of Bloomington’s Pantagraph. The bite traditionally takes off when the drawdown begins, usually in mid-December. The best presentations are heavier (to drop through the current) walleye-type presentations. In April 2002, Matt Carmean was jigging for walleye when he caught the Illinois-record muskie (38.5 pounds) there. Risks are involved in winter fishing in this area with icing, so it’s not for everybody; and use your head. Also the bite has become well-known, so be prepared for crowds in a small space and to pull your line quickly if anybody hooks up.

AREA LAKES: Open: Lakes are open. Don’t expect safe ice any time soon.

AREA RIVERS: Receding: All area rivers are receding from bank-full or flood stages. Best bets for the weekend will be warm-water discharges on the Fox or, as Ed Mullady suggested, from shore along the Kankakee, especially along Indiana ditches. The Illinois River will take a while to settle, but traditionally winter times like this after high water can be outstanding for sauger, if launching conditions are safe.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA: In between: The ice is gone or going. With all the water moving, there should be a walleye bite going in current areas, or try drift fishing for white bass on Marie or Pistakee.

DOWNSTATE: SHELBYVILLE: For spillway muskie, see BEST BET: Downstate above, otherwise the lake is open and crappie decent. POWERTON: Shore fishing reopened Tuesday; catfish were good in the hot water, smallmouth are good in the cold water intake, otherwise tough, according Bill Anderson. Winter hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

GENEVA LAKE, WIS.: Open: For boaters, this is probably the best bet nearby; especially for panfish in areas where ice fishing would be going other years.

KENOSHA/RACINE, WIS.: Decent: Browns are the best bet in Kenosha harbors, but sightings have been more frequent than catchings.

LAKEFRONT: Decent: For Chicago perch, see BEST BET. Mik-Lurch reported perch started in the river at 92nd on Monday. There’s been sporadic nice steelhead at Waukegan and in Chicago, especially at Diversey.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Good: Ice is good, 6 to 8 inches in most areas, up to a foot in spots. Some wet snow Friday night made some slush. Most lakes are accessible by ATV and snowmobile. Minocqua guide Kurt Justice said walleye (up to 8 pounds), continue very good, especially jigging with Chubby Darters, Shad Raps or Rapalas. Pike (up to 40 inches) are good. Perch are very good on Big Arbor Vitae and Minocqua, find weeds in 7-10 feet. Crappie slowed some. Bluegill are fair.

NORTHWEST INDIANA: Decent: Mik-Lurch reported perch started in the river at 92nd; the few boaters trying are taking some by the Hole in the Wall, the Indiana shoals and the west wall at Portage. Before the rains, the lower sections of Trail and Little Cal had decent steelhead.

ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICH.: Decent: BJ’s report decent walleye andelhead at Berrien Springs and downstream. There’s spotty whitefish off the piers.

SHABBONA LAKE: Open: It’s open water, but few trying. During the winter, Allen Outboard and Bait — (815) 739-4522 — at the base of the bridge east of town is open.

LINES ONLINE: ILLINOIS: www.ifish illinois.org. CHICAGO AREA CHAT/ REPORTS: www.chicagolandfishing.com; www.chitown-angler.com; www. angling101.com; www.windycity fishing.com; www.heartlandoutdoors man.com. CHICAGO AREA INFO: www.chicagofishinglinks.com; chicagofishing.org. DOWNSTATE: larrys fishinghole.com; www.ilfishing.com. NORTHERN INDIANA: www.forum cityusa.com/index.php?mforum=nifs. MIDWEST: www.lake-link.com.

ILLINOIS HUNTINGNORTH ZONE WATERFOWL: Both Heidecke (Wednesdays through Sunday) and Williams Powers remain open during Canada goose season, as long lack of ice permits. CENTRAL WATERFOWL: Braidwood will be open (Wednesdays through Sundays) through Canada-goose season. OTHER: Upland game opens at Mazonia North today.

Dale Bowman

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