Chicago fishing, Midwest Fishing Report: Northerly blow, perch, hints of ice fishing

The north blow slowed some perch fishing, but it continues to lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report; and hints of spotty ice fishing come in the North Woods.

Perch, well, before the blow, remain the lead for this sprawling raw-fie Midwest Fishing Report; and a few hints of ice fishing come from the North Woods.

Chris Schwarz, principal of United Junior High, emailed the photo at the top, showing there are still big bass to be caught, even if maybe the last of the year.

I had a chance to get out on Saturday and enjoy the nice weather. I was pleasantly surprised when I landed this awesome fish. If this is the last bass of 2020, what an awesome way to end the year. Here are the specifics below:

Weight: 7-0

Location: Private pond in Warren County (Rural Monmouth, Illinois)

Lure: Ned Rig TRD Stickbait in Green Pumpkin

Setup: 10 lb braid tied to a 20 foot fluorocarbon leader; 8 lb test

Depth: 5 feet

LAKEFRONT PERCH

The north blow did no favors, but perch are still being found well up the Calumet. Security varies in its dealings with fishing on the private property areas around the South Side slips, but in general be prepared to not be allowed to fish the private property areas. The small piece of Steelworkers Park at the eastern end of 87th is public land, open dawn to dusk.

Before the blow, Arden Katz said perch were “real thick” at the South Side slips over the long Thanksgiving weekend, best on jigs and maggots from shore. He said one day he counted more than 60 boats out around Cal Park and the Cal. Hopefully, that real thick will come back.

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Perch action still good for some since last report but must move around and work for them I have groups all the way up to Torrence ave bridge catching perch.

AREA LAKES

Provided

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photo above and this:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past week’s fishing.

Area lakes-bluegill have been good on a J and S Custom Jigs ice mite under a slip float. A few crappie can be taken with this presentation as well. The most active fish were along the outside weed lines adjacent to the main lake basin. The same fish will be found here when first ice arrives

Here is this week’s nature pic of the week. It’s time to get a quick meal.

Provided by Ken “Husker” O’Malley

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

Closed for the season.

CALUMET SYSTEM

Perch are well inland.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Water levels remain very low, use caution launching and/or navigating.

Art Frisell at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said crappie are fair, look from them suspended in 12-15 feet; bluegill are slow, look for them deeper on weed line edges; muskie are fair on big suckers or jerkbaits; walleye are fair on main lake points, try 12-20 feet.

NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.

CHICAGO RIVER

Provided by Jeffrey Williams

Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above and this on Tuesday:

so decided to try minnows down by the riverwalk to c if any perch would bite, no perch but i did catch a few small bass and beautiful colored bluegills

He added:

i never caught bass this late in the season ever

DOWNSTATE

EMIQUON: Basically, go to the launch. General information at http://experienceemiquon.com/sites/default/files/LakeAccessRules.pdf. Fishing is allowed sunrise to sunset even during waterfowl season this year because The Nature Conservancy has suspended their public waterfowl hunting program this year due to COVID-related issues. TNC hopes to resume the public waterfowl hunting program next year.

POWERTON: Waterfowl season is open, so adjust accordingly.

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed for the year.

SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing.

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Provided

Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above and emailed this:

Fishing Report 11/30/2020

Mike Norris

There was a fair number of anglers in boats out on Big Green after the Thanksgiving holiday when southerly winds brought in mild air temps. Some anglers fared well, others did not. Right now, the water is super clear on Big Green and I believe boat pressure spooked the shallower smallmouth bass last weekend. I adjusted by moving out into deeper water. By doing so I managed to catch smallies up to four and a half pounds while drifting with live bait. I have not seen anyone out walleye fishing on Big Green. . . . Shore anglers are still picking up a few crappies and perch with minnows on Fox Lake.

For information on guide trips reach out to me on Facebook at mike.norris.7773 or through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR weekly report.

HEIDECKE LAKE

Closed for the season.

KANKAKEE RIVER

I’m saving a big walleye as a possible future FOTW, so figure walleye are worth chasing.

Provided

George Peters emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale, the warm weekend got the water temp back to the low 40’s on the Kankakee river. A late afternoon bite got 3 big 4 pound s

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

Perch report at top.

People are biking or walking in to fish. Fisherman’s parking passes and pier passes are not being sold while the lakefront remains officially closed.

Jim Shell of Structure Fishing messaged on Monday:

Dale, fished Lake Michigan yesterday fir Lakers and perch, report in YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4d85mLHpHY&feature=push-u-sub&attr_tag=tpxttcY6Y8YG0Qsa%3A6

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted that she is closed for the year.

Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan texted:

Browns and cohos off the end of the pier, see if you can look up jeff militmore on Facebook, he has pictures from the other day. He said bait, minnows it sounds like

SALMON SNAGGING: Here are the details from the IDNR:

4) Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon. B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

LaSALLE LAKE

Closed for the season.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

Guide Mike Norris texted the photo above and emailed this:

Fishing Report 11/30/2020

Mike Norris . . . . I do have reports from friends though who indicate they are picking up a few walleyes at night at Lake Mendota using both jerkbaits and swimbaits. . . . For information on guide trips reach out to me on Facebook at mike.norris.7773 or through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

MAZONIA

Closed for the season, but Monster Lake at Mazonia South stays open year-round.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:

Following days of mid 40’s and wind, last night things laid down enough for many area lakes to skim back over! A few bays and shallow lakes have 1 ½ - 2 ½” as of 11/30. Should be expanding now, but not quickly.

Night time, early morning and late afternoon temps look to be running high teens to upper twenties, with the periods of above freezing lasting not more than 4-6 hours each day, may be enough to melt snow cover on older ice and let a more solid freeze continue. Dry conditions in the forecast should help.

While not advocating everyone rush out and jump on the ice, a few anglers have had good success on Walleyes, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch where conditions have permitted. Be very careful, spud your way out, carry rope, floatation and spikes if traveling on ice.

Call ahead to your local bait shops for updated info.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
Like us on FaceBook

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Perch action still good for some since last report but must move around and work for them I have groups all the way up to Torrence ave bridge catching perch.

Fresh trickle of steelhead have arrived in the lower stretches of salt creek and lil cal. Voodoo jigs tipped with waxworms best bet but small to mid size spawn sacks work well also.

Musky bite over the weekend at Webster lake and Bruce lake was good lots of fish caught. Most on musky suckers but few took glide baits.

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale. I hope you’re staying warm & had a great Thanksgiving! This is what I’ve got for this week:

~Steelhead: moderate; fishing has Ickes up , & some nice-sized ones are being caught

~Whitefish: moderate; best fishing when water has been calm on salmon eggs.

~Perch: excellent; minnows & beemoths working best, with worms as backup when not biting the minnows or minnows have run out.

~Bluegill/ Crappie: Good; worms and small lures working best. Cedar Lake & Lake George having good reports.

~Walleye: Moderate/Good: Wolf Lake & Plum Creek having good success on larger lures & nightcrawlers.

~Catfish: excellent; stinkbait & nightcrawlers working great

~Bass: Fair; worms, chatterbaits, & spinners doing well.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Provided

AJ Cwiok messaged a bunch of photos, including the one above, over the weekend and this:

Productive night on the st joe. All caught from shore

SHABBONA LAKE

Site hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lakeside, Pokanoka’s Cafe and camp store are closed for the season. Lakeside plans to reopen when ice fishing comes.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Click here for the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR.

MILWAUKEE: See the FOTW, too, for a nice brown.

Arden Katz said he fished the Hoan Bridge area and other spots with a jerkbait without catching anything, but he saw an 8-pound burbot caught, most shore anlgers were using a three-way rig with the weight on the bottom, and he saw several browns caught by trollers in the harbor.

WOLF LAKE

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale. I hope you’re staying warm & had a great Thanksgiving! This is what I’ve got for this week:

. . .

~Walleye: Moderate/Good: Wolf Lake & Plum Creek having good success on larger lures & nightcrawlers.

. . .

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:

Walleye action has been good from the Rat River down to Lk Poygan. Jigs or rigs and shinners working best. Water temp was 33 degrees today