Fishing Reports News

CHAIN O’LAKES: Restricted/good: High water has been a bonanza for those with shore access, where the fishing is outstanding; the problem is for boaters. Check the latest at www.foxwaterway.state.il.us. or (847) 587-8540. As of Tuesday, the lower and upper river sections were closed to boating, and the lakes were no-wake.

COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS: MAZONIA/ BRAIDWOOD: Mazonia lakes have been good, including some bass topping 6 pounds, site staff said. There was a minor fish kill last week on Braidwood, which has cooled into the 90s. LaSALLE: Fair fishing in the first pool. HEIDECKE: Word is the lake should be lowered later this week, which would allow better access under the bridge. Otherwise, walleye and catfish should be the best bites.

DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES, WISCONSIN: Reopening: Geneva lifted its no-wake restriction Sunday, and bass fishing has been decent-to-good. Delavan reopened its launch Monday, but it is no-wake (possibly ending later in the week based on the weather). Delavan fishing had remained good for bass, pike and bluegill.

DOWNSTATE: Different: Much of central and southern Illinois is in near drought conditions. SHELBYVILLE: Guide Mary Satterfield said the lake is a foot under normal pool. White bass have been the best bite on Little Georges or jigging spoons in 13-18 feet. Crappie are decent around brush piles in the same depth. Some decent largemouth on topwaters mornings or plastics on weed edges. EVERGREEN: Mike Steffa reported better fishing with some crappie shallower (7-12 feet) around structure. Bluegill and catfish are good. Muskie are more active on topwaters and bucktails.

FOX RIVER: WESTERN SUBURBS: High: River is receding but still high. Key is finding where fish are stacked up out of the current, Batavia Bait and Tackle reported. Considering the high bacteria count during the flood, wet wading should not be done.

ILLINOIS RIVER: STARVED ROCK AREA: Receding: River dropped below flood stage at Morris on Sunday and should fall below flood stage at LaSalle later this week. Tom Levy, Starved Rock SP site super, thought the lower parking lot might be open by the weekend.

KANKAKEE RIVER: Receding: Best shape of local rivers, but it’s high and dirty. Ed Mullady reported good catfishing in both states, some decent smallmouth in Illinois. Mouths of ditches and streams clear fastest, but be aware waterfowl hunting is beginning and some areas may be restricted.

LAKEFRONT: Decent: More stable weather is allowing fishermen to re-establish patterns. Shore fishermen should be ready; some kings are coming shallow, some already being taken from shore at Waukegan. CHICAGO: Montrose and Belmont harbor areas took much storm damage. Perch have been sparse. For boaters, best has been around the R4 for kings, coho and browns, Capt. Bob Poteshman said. For holiday picnickers, harbor weed pockets or tight to the walls are good for bluegills and rock bass. WAUKEGAN: Salmon Stop reported best range is 70-90 feet between Waukegan and Great Lakes down 48-60 down on downriggers with green spoons working best for nice kings and some browns. Leadcore and spoons also is producing. A few perch at end of government pier; soft shells best. NORTH POINT: Poteshman said the hill has good 4-year-old kings early; later in the day charters are working as deep as 200 feet for a mixed bag. Try about everything.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Changing: Minocqua guide Kurt Justice said weekend fishing likely will be determined by weather — warm and sunny, largemouth and bluegill should be good; cloudy would benefit muskie and walleye. Last week, some fish already were into fall patterns as some lakes cooled into 60s. He reported some very good muskie action toward evening in cabbage beds in 10-12 feet. Smallmouth slowed some but still good on warmer afternoons; largemouth also good, especially on frogs evenings in slop.

NORTHWEST INDIANA: Starting: Ralph Steiger reported some 4-year-old salmon at Hole-in-the-Wall over the weekend — a sign of what will come for shore fishermen. Perch are hit-and-miss; west wall of Inland or mouth of Pastrick are favored.

ROCK RIVER: OREGON: High: The river will be very high for a while, but TJ’s Bait/Tackle & Canoe Rental reported some good fishing, including a 42.5-pound flathead. Some of the better fishing has been in flooded, grassy areas with crawlers.

ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN: Decent: B-J’s Sports reported good perch north of north pier and south by the Chalets and Bridgman in 30 feet. Salmon slowed; best in 70-90 feet. River is high and muddy; some steelhead below Berrien Springs.

SHABBONA LAKE: Expectant: Holiday weather looks perfect, water conditions are good (mid-70s, stable and clear). Crappie decent in cribs or trees. Bass are quiet, but try leeches or glass Shad Raps on dam front. A 6.5-pound walleye taken last week. Muskie have started with cooler water.

WISCONSIN RIVER: DELLS: Hook-and-line sturgeon season opens Saturday and runs only through Sept. 30; minimum length has been increased to 60 inches. River should be near normal. River’s Edge reports walleye best they’ve been this summer, either drifting live bait or trolling crankbaits.

WISCONSIN SHORELINE: Expectant: Salmon are just starting the on-shore run from Port Washington to Kenosha. This should be the week to kick it off.

ILLINOIS HUNTING

DOVE/CANADA GOOSE: See main story and box. SQUIRREL: Hunting begins Tuesday at Kankakee River SP (south of the river), Marseilles SFWA and Silver Springs SFWA. Iroquois County SWA is already open. UPLAND GAME: Friday is the last day to apply for free upland hunting permits.

Dale Bowman

FISH OF THE WEEK

Nick Peregonow is double lucky. Not only did he finally catch and release his first muskie, but his daughter Heather Morrissey forwarded it for Fish of the Week. The 61-year-old Wood Dale man was night fishing about 1 a.m. on Mille Lacs in Minnesota with a Double Cowgirl Black Bucktail when the 48-inch muskie weighing 36 pounds hit. His buddy Ray Holland assisted in netting. ”[Peregonow] has been trying his entire life to catch the big one,” Morrissey e-mailed. ”He finally did so on July 26th.” E-mail FOTW nominations to outdoordb@sbcglobal.net.

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