Chicago fishing: Perch fishing builds, ice fishing varies widely

Hi Dale

In island lake the ice was holding on barely Monday afternoon but probably not safe. The bite was good over the weekend for bluegill . Gills were hitting wax worms on a black rat finkie tipped with two waxworms. I was also catching golden shiners. The largemouth bass bite remained good on golden roach minnows on tip up rigs. The cool snap will hopefully firm things back up. I still need to get out the ice skates.

On the music front the Zappa fest shows over the weekend were a smashing success. Ray White loved the band and his stories of his days with frank were priceless. There is talk of us going to play with Ray in Las Vegas where he lives. Who knows what the future holds. Back home it’s hopefully a couple reggae appearances at upcoming Bob Marley birthday celebrations. Also thoughts of more recordings.

Giving thanks and looking forward to the holiday break.

Tight lines and good health!

Rob

Although I have had customers ice fish everyday for the last two weeks on backwaters and ponds I would wait to get out until the weekend. Colder nights will make more ice and freeze the wetness on the ice today. Get your gear ready, the forecast looks good going forward into the new year for a good ice season.

Hey Dale,

Mother Nature giveth and she taketh away. Never a good way to start an ice report, right? This is what I found today. The rain over the weekend and mild temps did the ice in. Depending on the body of water, some have an inch or so of ice with water on top, and some have areas of open water. There were areas of open shorelines as well. At this point I would rather see us going back to open water and start all over again. Never good to start building ice with a compromised base. Looking at the forecast no new holes will be drilled before first of the year. The long rods might see some action still before the new year. We shall see.

Here’s a pic courtesy from Jim Kopjo of my seminar at the Wisconsin Ice Fishing Expo over the weekend.

TTYL

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Fishing Report – 12/16/2024

By Mike Norris

Big Green Lake—Due to strong winds late last week, Big Green Lake remained wide open despite the sub-zero temperatures. The two exceptions are Beyer’s Cove and the T-Channels, which have 4 – 5 inches of clear ice. The clear ice is hampering angling efforts because the panfish are spooked as anglers walk across the ice. The Hoerner’s boat launch is ice-free, and a few boaters are live bait rigging to chase smallmouth bass and walleye around the Heidel Bar and Sugar Loaf.

Beaver Dam Lake – The ice bite for walleyes after sunset has been consistent the last week or two. Try fishing with shiner minnows hung from tip-ups in Waterworks Bay which is accessible from Edgewater Park on the east end of the lake.

Fox Lake—Crappie fishing has been good all fall, and the action on jigs tipped with minnows is excellent in 16 feet of water just off the Boat House. The same can be said for Maple Point, which is reachable from the Town Park boat launch. One angler reported catching a 44-inch northern pike. The center of the lake is still ice-free.

Lake Puckaway – There are 5 – 7 inches of ice along the west end of Lake Puckaway, and anglers are walking out from Good Old Days and catching northern pike on tip-ups rigged with shiner minnows.

First time fishing in Knoxville Tennessee! Fish came off Alabama rigs

Great guy that took me out Melton Hill Bill fishing guide service

Would definitely recommend and I will be back for a 50 pound striper with him!!

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).

Hello Dale

Just got back from annual first ice fishing in Hayward area. Ice was between 2-5 inches, we walked out to spots Finally got on some good walleye jig fishing. Over the years crappie fishing has bored us, unless big.

Big Walleye is Pat Patel Oak Lawn, IL @HotRodBlago30

19 and a half

Big Crappie was 14 inch Chris Heider, Batavia, IL

We still get crappies

Ice conditions improved significantly by mid-week, closing up some trouble spots and adding inches to the ice and confidence to the anglers. With many of the more popular spots reporting 6-8” and with the weather very mild, many anglers headed out over the weekend. Fishing was good overall, yet anglers should still use caution when venturing out to areas untraveled or on larger deep lakes.

Walleye: Very Good – Not all day, but for anglers willing to get out pre-dawn or fish the first hour and a half after dark, nice catches in 4-8’ of water using medium goldens or river shiners on tip-ups. Jigging Rapalas (#5), Shiver Minnows (#2) and Hyper Glides (1.5:2’s). also working well. Keeping bait 2’ off bottom to just over weed tops working best as Eyes moving into shallows at dusk to actively feed. Nice fish, many slots (20-24”) and several 26-28”ers reported.

Northern Pike: Very Good – Nice thick fish in the upper 20” to low 30” size on big suckers and shiners. Some right at dusk surprising anglers targeting Walleyes in 4-8’ of water.

Bluegill: Very Good – Mornings until about 10-11 AM then again picking up about 3 PM until dusk. For the most part, shallower weeds of 4-8’ using light jigs tipped with waxies or plastics. Anglers fishing small, deeper lakes with less weeds finding Gills in 12-14’ using tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or plastics. Nice Gills, most in the 7 ½-8” range, but enough 9”+ to make things interesting.

Crappie: Good – Anglers working fish along 8-12’ weeds using jigs with small flutter blades like Lethal Cecil’s and Tikka Flashes scoring well. Warm temps keeping holes open, so tip-downs are working well baited with small rosies or crappie minnows. Clam Niku Bolt Minnows and Flutter Fly’s also producing.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Some reports of nice eaters in the 8-9” range taking jigs with waxies meant for Gills. Depth still shallow 4-10’ while ice is relatively thin.

Second weekend of warm up and light rain making some areas slushy and spooky (dark). Cool off (highs to 20 degrees and upper teens) mid-week with some single digit lows should firm up the top and hopefully add a few more inches to make snowmobile and ATV travel better. The week of Christmas to New Year’s looks good, with nice winter temps and a little snow.

There have been a few trucks reported on the ice…NOT GOOD! With only 8” and less of ice, it’s not safe for these drivers or the other people enjoying the ice. Please hold off from driving full size trucks on these lakes until we get a good 14-16” of solid ice out there.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sports Shop
– Like us on FaceBook

It’s all perch super bizy since last report most days.

The deep water 55 to 60ft out of portage is all big perch. Some good catches since last report.

Boat and shore fishermen fishing east Chicago marina are catching as many as they want but a lot of small perch. But action is good most days.

Slips and up all the way to 106th street in the river giving up perch of all sizes a lot of little ones but good ones mixed in. Weekends have been having well over 300 fisherman at a time fishing.

Slez’s Bait Shop will be open 5 to 5 on Christmas Eve and 5 to 1 on Christmas Day.

Ice conditions are not safe at this time. There is open water on Poygan and Partridge lakes. The bayous are holding up with 3-6″ of ice.