Ice is rebuilding shortly across the space and perch proceed to be the deal with the lakefront for this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
Ice is even constructing in such locations as Chicago’s south suburbs, southwestern Michigan and northwest Indiana. Ice fishing there ought to be on within the subsequent few days. To the north, ice is firmed up and thickening.
Rob Abouchar messaged the photograph on the high and the traditional scene under from Island Lake within the far north suburbs.
PIER PASSES
Pier passes could also be purchased at Park Bait, Bridgeport Bait and Tackle and Fishtech in Morton Grove. The $10 pier passes permit authorized entry to pick out 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 at the moment are promoting parking passes. Electronic mail fishing@chicagoparkdistrict.com with questions. Chicago Park District parking passes ($20 for 2 months) are for the anglers’ parking tons at DuSable and Burnham harbors.
NAVY PIER ANGLING
North facet of Navy Pier is open for anglers. Discounted parking for anglers is $9 every day, starting at 5 a.m.; should be out by 10 a.m. for the low cost. Click here to prepay for the discounted tickets.
LAKEFRONT PARKING
My column from Nov. 30, 2022, on parking the size 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 rules for space public websites are at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/12/04/updating-ice-fishing-regs-around-chicago-area-public-sites
AUGER SHARPENING
For the twenty fifth yr, Fran Connelly is sharpening of auger blades. Discover “Ice Auger Sharpening” on Facebook or drop off blades at both 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 together 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 primarily based on the stories I’m listening to from prospects. I’m positive by the weekend, with the forecast chilly we could have rather more than that. Try my Dave’s Bait, Deal with and Taxidermy fb web page for updates nearly every day!
Ken “Husker” O’Malley of Husker Outdoors emailed the photograph above and this:
Right here’s a recap from the primary day of the brand new yr. Ice within the guides isn’t a nasty factor in case you’re setting the hook on fish. The rain from the previous couple of days have bass stacked up in areas with present. The energetic biters have been present in wooden Berkley Fishing. The bait of alternative was a 1/4 oz weedless jig paired with a Berkley Fishing max scent chigger craw. That is the proper setup on this chilly water. Immediately they wished it slowly dragged on the underside. They have been barely choosing up the jig so line watching was a should. When that overcast got here again the chew tapered off. Not a nasty option to begin off a brand new yr.
***Replace IL ice circumstances*** I checked out various lakes and ponds this afternoon. Bigger lakes have areas that sill have open water because of the winds. Smaller lakes which might be wind protected have locked up. Retention ponds are locked up as properly. The snow storm that’s coming tomorrow will likely be down in central to southern IL. That’s excellent news because the forecast for the following two weeks seems to be very favorable for constructing ice. Be affected person as we will likely be again to drilling holes quickly.
Come on out to the Tinley Park fishing, journey and outside expo this weekend the tenth via the13th. Be sure that to cease by the Husker Outside sales space 302. I may even be talking Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm
each days.TTYL
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outdoor
Waterwerks fishing crew
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle stated with the colder climate, motion or fishing slowed. Some crappie fishing on smaller lakes with ice, resembling Papoose.
Rob Abouchar messaged the images above and under, and this:
Hello Dale The ice firmed up sufficient for some ice fishing Sunday afternoon. I set a pair tip ups however had no takes. I additionally did some jigging for panfish. Some very brightly coloured bluegill and sunfish got here via the outlet. The customized jigs and spins ratso tipped with waxworms was getting the motion. The very best time was because the solar was setting.
On the music entrance we’re firming up February twenty second at Mackies Hideout in McHenry for the acutely aware rockers reggae band. And plans transferring ahead for Gozortenplat in Las Vegas in June. That may imply a pair tune up reveals in April or Could in Chicago and Milwaukee.
Tight strains and good well being!
Rob
Undecided why Rob Abouchar included this photograph, however I adore it. Simply noticed “A Full Unknown” final week and it was a gut-wrenching tour de power, which introduced again many reminiscences of a lot youthful days.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE
Closed.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Kyle Tepper at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch stated the waters are beginning to lock again up, tip-up anglers making an attempt on smaller lakes. Most secure close by ice is at Twin Lakes throughout the Wisconsin line and a pair channels on Fox Lake. Different spots beginning to lock up.
CHAIN ACCESS: For some entry 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 stated guys are making the drive south to fish for crappie (and different issues).
POWERTON: Financial institution fishing is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
EMIQUON PRESERVE: Open dawn to sundown. Keep in mind to resume entry permits and legal responsibility waivers, they’re accessible Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounts Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Particulars at https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/2024EmiquonLakeAccessRules.pdf.
HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed.
GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN
Information Mike Norris (www.comecatchsmallmouth.com) texted the photograph above and emailed this:
Fishing Report – 1/6/2025
By Mike Norris
Large Inexperienced Lake: Anglers took benefit of the delicate climate through the vacation season to get out in boats and troll for walleye from sundown via the early night hours. Anglers finding walleyes on sand flats in 7 – 14 ft of water reported one of the best success, with a couple of walleyes exceeding 10 lbs. Catches of lake trout have been additionally reported, although the trout season was closed throughout December. These fish have been instantly launched. A serious chilly air mass moved throughout the realm in early January, and with ice reforming within the launch ramp areas, fishing from a ship in now out of the query. Beyer’s Cove now has eight inches or extra of ice, and exhausting water anglers are catching bluegills and perch. The middle of the lake stays vast open. The early inland trout season opened Saturday January 4th and runs via Friday Could 2nd.
Fox Lake: Ice cowl is now 9 – 10 inches thick all through the lake and Fox Lake has grow to be my space’s scorching spot for ice anglers. Crappie fishing stays excellent for anglers jigging with a minnow in 10 – 14 ft of water off of Maple Level. Bluegills are good on small jigs tipped with wax worms within the “Jug.” Northern pike fishing with tip-ups rigged with medium to giant shiners is sweet out from the “Boat Home.”
Lake Puckaway: There’s a strong eight inches of ice out entrance of “Good Previous Days” and anglers are doing properly for northern pike with tip-ups rigged with medium shiners. The identical goes for walleyes, although the walleye chew is best after sundown.
HEIDECKE LAKE
Closed.
LAKE ERIE
Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.
LAKEFRONT
When climate permit boater entry, lake trout are discovered across the Chicago breakwalls.
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle stated greatest for perch are South Aspect slips, although it takes sorting; the harbors and Navy Pier have been powerful for perch. Elements of among the harbors are beginning to ice up.
He texted this replace on hours:
Winter hrs are as follows,8 am to 5pm through the week ,weekends sat 7am to 4 pm ,Sunday the identical begins 1/13/25 thanks my freind
LaSALLE LAKE
Closed.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN
Arden Katz texted the images above and under, and this:
Dale Roger and I have been at monona bay on Monday catching bluegills crappies on wax worms and widow makers jigs surprise bread Arden Katz ice is 10 inches thick
Pat Hasburgh at D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop stated shallow bays fishable, principal lakes capped over (besides some open spots on Mendota) however not fishable but. Waubesa and Kegonsa have sufficient ice for ATVs. Keep in mind Mendota has a 10-perch restrict.
Click here for the replace from D&S Bait, Deal with & Fly Store .
MAZONIA
Fishing is open on the North Unit. Monster on the South Unit is open all yr. Any ice fishing is at your personal threat.
Hours are 6 a.m. to sundown.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:
A brand new yr and constructive outlook for ice anglers. Following the nice and cozy up and rain that took the snow off the ice on the lakes, bitter chilly has moved in to construct our ice base unimpeded. A pair gentle dustings of snow have all however blown off with the current winds. Creepers are a MUST!! Our native emergency room reportedly had 90 circumstances of individuals falling and being damage in in the future! Be very CAUTIOUS!!
Fishing took a little bit of a dip from the earlier weekend, however not surprisingly. Final weekend was a brand new moon interval PLUS very heat (averages above 35 levels). Chilly (sub-zero) plus wind (actually sub-zero) has thinned out the ice crowd in the interim.
Crappie: Very Good-Good – Finest over basins of 18-23’. Roaming colleges taking waxies on Rattlin Kastmasters, Tikka Flash. Minnows on tip-downs (powerful in single digit climate). Numerous catches reporting September 11” eaters with slabs to 14 ½”. Some Crappies in weeds blended with Gills, however these fish appeared to be reluctant to chew. Finest on tiny jigs (#12-#10) tipped with pink/bubble gum plastics.
Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Deeper weeds of 8-12’. Waxies or plastics (purple, purple, browns greatest) on #3:#4 tungsten jigs. Refined colours greatest once they want “convincing”. Some Gills being discovered suspended out away from weeds in 14-20’ taking wigglers and spikes fished 3-5’ off backside.
Walleye: Good-Honest – Motion slowed and stories of sunshine biters choosing up tip-up bait, transferring a bit then dropping, signal that smaller bait resembling small shiners, smaller sucker or giant fatheads on #12 trebles can be higher set-up. Regardless of that, nonetheless some very good Walleyes being caught, many within the slot to be launched (20-26”). Chilly snap could have had so much to do with current reluctance.
Northern Pike: Good-Honest – Just a little slower and deeper. Nonetheless good Pike within the low to mid 30” vary. Suckers and shiners as per typical alongside deep weed edges of 10-14’.
Yellow Perch: Good-Honest – Getting a couple of extra stories of Perch working mud flats adjoining to weeds taking wigglers on Hali jigs and #2 Swedish Pimples. Additionally, some motion in 5-8’ weeds on medium fatheads or a pair waxies on Northland Forage Minnows.
Largemouth Bass: Honest – Motion slowed as temps dropped. Nonetheless a couple of anglers catching Bass on jigs tipped with waxies meant for Gills or Perch in weedy flats.
Whitefish: Not a number of stories. However the few anglers catching Whitefish on #5-#6 Swedish Pimples tipped with waxies or a minnow head.
With ice thickness stories of 10-13” and constructing (the lakes are “BOOMING”), this coming weekend ought to present even higher entry. Snowmobiles, ATV’s and UTV’s are superb, ought to have secure truck journey as soon as lakes attain 14-15” of ice. Little snow within the forecast and delicate temps within the mid 20’s for the weekend.
Ice Fishing Tournaments
January 11th – 17th Annual NCO Membership & AMVETS Submit 724 – Lake Nokomis
January 11th – 31st yr – Rainbow Ice Jamboree – Rainbow Flowage
January 18th – Kurt’s Minocqua Insanity – WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
January 18th – 10th Annual Iceholes of the North – Sponsored by Staff Retreat Musky Membership – Numerous lakes
March 1st – KISS – WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sports activities Store
– Like us on FaceBook
NORTHWEST INDIANA
Capt. Wealthy Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Nonetheless teams fishing the slips and doing okay [for perch] simply need to weed via the small ones.
After the rain we had a contemporary lil batch of steelhead got here into nwi tributaries. Voodoo jigs tipped with waxworms and spawn saks doing greatest.
Ice fishing is getting nearer right here in nwi. Slez’s Bait Store has all ice gear and bait in inventory and able to go.
SHABBONA LAKE
Website hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. via Jan. 31. Boondocks is closed.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
Workers at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor stated the river remains to be good for steelhead, ranges got here up some; piers have been gradual; ice fishing on smaller waters ought to begin within the subsequent day or so.
