Chicago fishing: Fishable ice inches back in
Ice is rebuilding quickly around the area and perch continue to be the focus on the lakefront for this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
Ice is even building in such places as Chicago's south suburbs, southwestern Michigan and northwest Indiana. Ice fishing there should be on in the next few days. To the north, ice is firmed up and thickening.
Rob Abouchar messaged the photo at the top and the classic scene below from Island Lake in the far north suburbs.
PIER PASSES
Pier passes may be bought at Park Bait, Bridgeport Bait and Tackle and Fishtech in Morton Grove. The $10 pier passes allow legal access to select piers at Jackson Park, Burnham, DuSable, Diversey, Belmont and Montrose harbors.
CHICAGO PARKING PASSES
Park Bait, Bridgeport Bait and Tackle and Fishtech in Morton Grove are now selling parking passes. Email fishing@chicagoparkdistrict.com with questions. Chicago Park District parking passes ($20 for two months) are for the anglers’ parking lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors.
NAVY PIER ANGLING
North side of Navy Pier is open for anglers. Discounted parking for anglers is $9 daily, beginning at 5 a.m.; must be out by 10 a.m. for the discount. Click here to prepay for the discounted tickets.
LAKEFRONT PARKING
My column from Nov. 30, 2022, on parking the length of the Chicago lakefront is posted at https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/11/30/23485385/chicago-lakefront-parking-fishing
ICE FISHING PUBLIC SITES
Ice fishing regulations for area public sites are at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/12/04/updating-ice-fishing-regs-around-chicago-area-public-sites
AUGER SHARPENING
For the 25th year, Fran Connelly is sharpening of auger blades. Find “Ice Auger Sharpening” on Facebook or drop off blades at either Lee’s Bait & Tackle (Elk Grove Village or Carol Stream).
AREA LAKES
Dave Kranz of Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy in Crystal Lake and with his You-Tube channel, Dave Kranz Living the wild outdoors, texted:
Farm ponds and backwaters of the Fox River have 3-4 inches of ice based on the reports I’m hearing from customers. I’m sure by the weekend, with the forecast cold we will have much more than that. Check out my Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy facebook page for updates almost daily!
Ken “Husker” O’Malley of Husker Outdoors emailed the photo above and this:
Here’s a recap from the first day of the new year. Ice in the guides is not a bad thing if you’re setting the hook on fish. The rain from the last few days have bass stacked up in areas with current. The active biters were found in wood Berkley Fishing. The bait of choice was a 1/4 oz weedless jig paired with a Berkley Fishing max scent chigger craw. This is the perfect setup in this cold water. Today they wanted it slowly dragged on the bottom. They were barely picking up the jig so line watching was a must. When that overcast came back the bite tapered off. Not a bad way to start off a new year.
***Update IL ice conditions*** I checked out a number of lakes and ponds this afternoon. Larger lakes have areas that sill have open water due to the winds. Smaller lakes that are wind protected have locked up. Retention ponds are locked up as well. The snow storm that is coming tomorrow will be down in central to southern IL. That is good news as the forecast for the next two weeks looks very favorable for building ice. Be patient as we will be back to drilling holes soon.
Come on out to the Tinley Park fishing, travel and outdoor expo this weekend the 10th through the13th. Make sure to stop by the Husker Outdoor booth 302. I will also be speaking Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm
both days.TTYL
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said with the colder weather, action or fishing slowed. Some crappie fishing on smaller lakes with ice, such as Papoose.
Rob Abouchar messaged the photos above and below, and this:
Hi Dale The ice firmed up enough for some ice fishing Sunday afternoon. I set a couple tip ups but had no takes. I also did some jigging for panfish. Some very brightly colored bluegill and sunfish came through the hole. The custom jigs and spins ratso tipped with waxworms was getting the action. The best time was as the sun was setting.
On the music front we are firming up February 22nd at Mackies Hideout in McHenry for the conscious rockers reggae band. And plans moving forward for Gozortenplat in Las Vegas in June. That will mean a couple tune up shows in April or May in Chicago and Milwaukee.
Tight lines and good health!
Rob
Not sure why Rob Abouchar included this photo, but I love it. Just saw "A Complete Unknown" last week and it was a gut-wrenching tour de force, which brought back many memories of much younger days.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE
Closed.
CHAIN O'LAKES AREA
Kyle Tepper at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said the waters are starting to lock back up, tip-up anglers trying on smaller lakes. Safest nearby ice is at Twin Lakes across the Wisconsin line and a couple channels on Fox Lake. Other spots starting to lock up.
CHAIN ACCESS: For some access and parking spots, go to https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/12/11/accessing-ice-fishing-on-the-fox-chain-olakes
COOLING LAKES
Braidwood, Heidecke and LaSalle are closed.
DOWNSTATE
CLINTON LAKE: Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said guys are making the drive south to fish for crappie (and other things).
POWERTON: Bank fishing is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
EMIQUON PRESERVE: Open sunrise to sunset. Remember to renew access permits and liability waivers, they're available Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounts Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details at https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/2024EmiquonLakeAccessRules.pdf.
HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed.
GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN
Guide Mike Norris (www.comecatchsmallmouth.com) texted the photo above and emailed this:
Fishing Report – 1/6/2025
By Mike Norris
Big Green Lake: Anglers took advantage of the mild weather during the holiday season to get out in boats and troll for walleye from sunset through the early evening hours. Anglers locating walleyes on sand flats in 7 – 14 feet of water reported the best success, with a few walleyes exceeding 10 lbs. Catches of lake trout were also reported, though the trout season was closed during December. These fish were immediately released. A major cold air mass moved across the area in early January, and with ice reforming in the launch ramp areas, fishing from a boat in now out of the question. Beyer’s Cove now has eight inches or more of ice, and hard water anglers are catching bluegills and perch. The center of the lake remains wide open. The early inland trout season opened Saturday January 4th and runs through Friday May 2nd.
Fox Lake: Ice cover is now 9 – 10 inches thick throughout the lake and Fox Lake has become my area’s hot spot for ice anglers. Crappie fishing remains very good for anglers jigging with a minnow in 10 – 14 feet of water off of Maple Point. Bluegills are good on small jigs tipped with wax worms in the “Jug.” Northern pike fishing with tip-ups rigged with medium to large shiners is good out from the “Boat House.”
Lake Puckaway: There is a solid eight inches of ice out front of “Good Old Days” and anglers are doing well for northern pike with tip-ups rigged with medium shiners. The same goes for walleyes, though the walleye bite is better after sunset.
HEIDECKE LAKE
Closed.
LAKE ERIE
Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.
LAKEFRONT
When weather allow boater access, lake trout are found around the Chicago breakwalls.
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said best for perch are South Side slips, though it takes sorting; the harbors and Navy Pier have been tough for perch. Parts of some of the harbors are starting to ice up.
He texted this update on hours:
Winter hrs are as follows,8 am to 5pm during the week ,weekends sat 7am to 4 pm ,Sunday the same starts 1/13/25 thank you my freind
LaSALLE LAKE
Closed.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN
Arden Katz texted the photos above and below, and this:
Pat Hasburgh at D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop said shallow bays fishable, main lakes capped over (except some open spots on Mendota) but not fishable yet. Waubesa and Kegonsa have enough ice for ATVs. Remember Mendota has a 10-perch limit.
Click here for the update from D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop .
MAZONIA
Fishing is open on the North Unit. Monster at the South Unit is open all year. Any ice fishing is at your own risk.
Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:
A new year and positive outlook for ice anglers. Following the warm up and rain that took the snow off the ice on the lakes, bitter cold has moved in to build our ice base unimpeded. A couple light dustings of snow have all but blown off with the recent winds. Creepers are a MUST!! Our local emergency room reportedly had 90 cases of people falling and being hurt in one day! Be very CAUTIOUS!!
Fishing took a bit of a dip from the previous weekend, but not surprisingly. Last weekend was a new moon period PLUS very warm (averages above 35 degrees). Cold (sub-zero) plus wind (really sub-zero) has thinned out the ice crowd for the time being.
Crappie: Very Good-Good – Best over basins of 18-23’. Roaming schools taking waxies on Rattlin Kastmasters, Tikka Flash. Minnows on tip-downs (tough in single digit weather). Lots of catches reporting 9-11” eaters with slabs to 14 ½”. Some Crappies in weeds mixed with Gills, but these fish seemed to be reluctant to bite. Best on tiny jigs (#12-#10) tipped with pink/bubble gum plastics.
Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Deeper weeds of 8-12’. Waxies or plastics (red, purple, browns best) on #3:#4 tungsten jigs. Subtle colors best when they need “convincing”. Some Gills being found suspended out away from weeds in 14-20’ taking wigglers and spikes fished 3-5’ off bottom.
Walleye: Good-Fair – Action slowed and reports of light biters picking up tip-up bait, moving a bit then dropping, sign that smaller bait such as small shiners, smaller sucker or large fatheads on #12 trebles would be better set-up. Despite that, still some very nice Walleyes being caught, many in the slot to be released (20-26”). Cold snap may have had a lot to do with recent reluctance.
Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A little slower and deeper. Still nice Pike in the low to mid 30” range. Suckers and shiners as per usual along deep weed edges of 10-14’.
Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Getting a few more reports of Perch working mud flats adjacent to weeds taking wigglers on Hali jigs and #2 Swedish Pimples. Also, some action in 5-8’ weeds on medium fatheads or a couple waxies on Northland Forage Minnows.
Largemouth Bass: Fair – Action slowed as temps dropped. Still a few anglers catching Bass on jigs tipped with waxies meant for Gills or Perch in weedy flats.
Whitefish: Not a lot of reports. But the few anglers catching Whitefish on #5-#6 Swedish Pimples tipped with waxies or a minnow head.
With ice thickness reports of 10-13” and building (the lakes are “BOOMING”), this coming weekend should provide even better access. Snowmobiles, ATV’s and UTV’s are fine, should have safe truck travel once lakes reach 14-15” of ice. Little snow in the forecast and mild temps in the mid 20’s for the weekend.
Ice Fishing Tournaments
January 11th – 17th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 – Lake Nokomis
January 11th – 31st year - Rainbow Ice Jamboree – Rainbow Flowage
January 18th – Kurt’s Minocqua Madness - WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
January 18th – 10th Annual Iceholes of the North – Sponsored by Team Retreat Musky Club – Various lakes
March 1st – KISS - WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sports Shop
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NORTHWEST INDIANA
Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Still groups fishing the slips and doing ok [for perch] just have to weed thru the small ones.
After the rain we had a fresh lil batch of steelhead came into nwi tributaries. Voodoo jigs tipped with waxworms and spawn saks doing best.
Ice fishing is getting closer here in nwi. Slez’s Bait Shop has all ice gear and bait in stock and ready to go.
SHABBONA LAKE
Site hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan. 31. Boondocks is closed.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said the river is still good for steelhead, levels came up some; piers have been slow; ice fishing on smaller waters should start in the next day or so.