Chicago fishing: Ice fishing (What did you expect?)
Ice fishing leads this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, well, what did you expect with this bitter cold.
Ken "Husker" O'Malley emailed the photo at the very top. I thought it nicely captured the last couple days.
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 sell 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
CHICAGO FISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Chicago Fishing Advisory Committee next meets at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the 31st Street Harbor community room. Questions? Email chicagofishingadvisory@gmail.com.
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
Ken “Husker” O’Malley of Husker Outdoors emailed the photo at the very top, photos above and below, and this:
Hey Dale,
Here’s a recap from the past weeks fishing.
Today’s adventure took me to the pits to chase some bass on tip ups. The bass did not disappoint. Flags were being chased from first light to 10:30. There were multiple flags on occasion so who needs to go to the gym when that in itself is a workout! The setup was along the outside weed edges in 9 fow near areas of springs. Once that overcast broke the bite totally shutdown. Ice conditions were a solid 5-6 inches of clear ice with plenty more to be made with this artic air coming down.
The cold air is here with game time temps to start the morning at -8. Staying mobile was not in the cards today with those winds and temps. I drilled holes on the drop off to the main basin in 10 fow where the shoreline drop off met the flat drop off. The active biters were there. The crappie were hitting a 5mm wonder bread swirl paired with a Clam Outdoors niku twitch fly. They preferred jigging the bait a foot off the bottom and slowly raising the bait another two feet. A few bluegill were caught as well. The bite turned off around 11:30, so it was time.
Here’s the nature pic of the week. Closing time.
TTYL
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team
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:
The brutal cold snap has made up to 12 inches of ice on ponds , backwaters and lakes. The forecast is for much more seasonal winter temperatures. Many have already had a great ice fishing season. For those that haven’t there are lots of derbies the next 3 weeks! Check out my Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy facebook page for flyers from them. Tip up fishing has been good use a large or medium sized golden roach minnow 3-7 feet sounds like the sweet spot. Panfish on most lakes are near whatever green weeds are left in 3-6 feet of water. Some lakes , Bangs Lake in Wauconda have suspended crappies in 20-25 feet of water but the fish are at 15 feet. The problem is these fish move with the bait so use your electronics to stay on them.
Rob Abouchar messaged the photos above and below, and this:
Hi Dale
The deep freeze slowed the bite on island lake the last few days. Saturday had lots of anglers on the ice. I had an annual physical Saturday morning so I only fished for a few minutes Saturday afternoon and got a few nice Gills. My neighbors across the street pulled in what she called a baby northern on a tip up. I helped her unhook and release the fish. She had a tiny chartreuse walleye hook on the business end. On Sunday I had Roy Coakley and his friend Bill Forsberg over for some ice action. The cold slowed the bite but Roy got a couple perch on tip down rigs with a rosy red minnow on one of the smallest tremble hooks I’ve seen below small split shot. Bill got a beautiful largemouth on a tip up with conventional single tremble and goldenrod roach minnows. Monday we set the tip ups knowing it was most likely a fruitless activity...giving me thoughts of throwing crankbaits at Braidwood.
On the music front the conscious rockers are booked for February 22nd at Mackie’s Hideout. Time for set list construction and rehearsal. Gozortenplat waiting on Date for Las Vegas performance with Ray White. And February 1st at two brothers roundhouse in Aurora a possible sit in for The Bob Marley birthday bash with Jah Guide reggae band. Keeping things rolling into February!
And my Tuesday morning is made with the music report.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE
Closed.
CHAIN O'LAKES AREA
Despite only a few anglers out in the brutal cold the last couple days, staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said crappie and panfish are doing well and there is plenty of ice on the main lakes now.
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
POWERTON: Bank fishing is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Boat fishing reopens Feb. 15.
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) emailed:
Fishing Report – 1/20/2025
By Mike Norris
Big Green Lake: As expected, the Siberian cold front arrived last Saturday evening. Despite sub-zero temperatures, the high winds that accompanied the front kept Big Green wide open. Dartmouth Bay remains one of the two areas with ice thick enough to drive ATVs over the ice. The other is Beyer’s Cove. Bluegill and perch are biting at both locations, but their sizes are small. Tip-ups are producing northern pike.
Fox Lake: This 2,300-acre lake, 24 miles south of Big Green, is a popular ice fishing spot, but it can get crowded. The ice is 12 to 24 inches thick, and it’s the only area lake safe enough to drive vehicles out on. The crappie bite on a jig and minnow remains very good, but once again, move around until you find the bigger fish. Anglers can catch northern pike using shiners with tip-ups. There is a night bite for walleyes.
GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN
Staff at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay said the little bays are iced good and there is some decent whitefish action; nothing out deeper yet with ships still running through next Tuesday, Jan. 28. After that should lock up more over deep water.
HEIDECKE LAKE
Closed.
LAKEFRONT
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said even with the ice, perch are being caught at the South Side slips. Holes are drilled at DuSable, but perch have been slow in the last couple days. Action should pick up as temperatures ease later this week.
Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Some fishing on the ice in the slip at 87th street.
LaSALLE LAKE
Closed.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN
Pat Hasburgh at D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop said, "With the ice we're making right now, it could last into March. Good to go on all the lakes. ATV travel is pretty much open everywhere." Monona Bay continues to be a bluegill factory with a conservative estimate of 8-12 inches of ice. Mendota iced over completely last week, and anglers are just starting to target deep-water perch. NOTE: The panfish limit on Mendota is now 10 per day.
Chad Rauch messaged the photos above and below, and this:
Fished the Madison Chain Friday through Sunday. Our group ended up with 20+ pike between 18”-26” all on shiners on tipups in 4’-10’ of water along and inside the weeds. Also bright 6 bluegill topside Friday primarily in the deeper water depth listed below with a small jigging spoon tipped with a couple small waxxies. Those six were from about 100 fish marked, they were not aggressive. Only fished for the gills sparingly as the weather wasn’t conducive to hole hopping. Great weekend with great friends in an amazing city with ample angling opportunities.
MAZONIA
Both units are open for fishing, 6 a.m.-sunset. Any ice fishing is at your own risk. People are making the trek back in.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Staff at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua said hardly anyone out the last couple days, but there is generally 12-13 inches oif ice with vehicle traffic on most lakes; conditions are also such that snowmobiles may get out, too. Fishing should take off when weather warms.
NORTHWEST INDIANA
Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Ice fishing all over nwi lakes and ponds.
Some fishing on the ice in the slip at 87th street.
Valpo chain of lakes giving up bluegills and a few crappie.
Pine lake in Laporte giving up some northern pike and bass for those running tip-ups using large golden roaches.
SHABBONA LAKE
Ice anglers are out on the ice, even with the brutal cold Tuesday. The geese still have a small piece open in the tall trees.
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 there's ice fishing inland lakes for bluegills; the river and pier are iced up.
WOLF LAKE
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said some anglers tried ice fishing Monday with no luck, but that should change with the weather. NOTE: Southeast Sportsmen's Club has an ice fishing tournament with breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.-noon Sunday, Jan. 26. It's $25.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN
Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:
Not much has changed since last week, other than it’s way too cold to go fishing.