Undecided why, however crappie caught ice fishing lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.
Ken “Husker” O’Malley despatched the photograph on the prime, taken by his spouse Vicki O’Malley. It sums up the final week or two.
A number of vital ice-fishing occasions are this weekend and the timing appears good, with loads of ice however average temperatures.
Circumstances might get sloppy later this week, however the ice will maintain.
LVVA ICE FISHING DERBY
The LVVA Ice Fishing Derby is Friday to Sunday, Jan. 31- to Feb. 2, on Bangs Lake in Wauconda. The veteran’s group this 12 months is Veterans Path to Hope Outside.
ISLAND LAKE LIONS CLUB ICE FISHING DERBY
The Island Lake Lions Club Ice Fishing Derby is 7 a.m.-2 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 1, on Island Lake, headquartered at Eastway Park.
WONDER LAKE SPORTSMAN & CONSERVATION CLUB thirty eighth ANNUAL ICE FISHING DERBY
Surprise Lake Sportsmand & Conservation thirty eighth Annual Ice Fishing Derby is 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2. For questions and data, contact Dave at (815) 276-4738.
PIER PASSES
Pier passes could also be purchased at Park Bait, Bridgeport Bait and Tackle and Fishtech in Morton Grove. Pier passes turn into efficient Friday, Nov. 15. The $10 pier passes enable authorized entry to pick 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 actually promoting parking passes. E mail fishing@chicagoparkdistrict.com with questions. Chicago Park District parking passes ($20 for 2 months) are for the anglers’ parking heaps at DuSable and Burnham harbors.
NAVY PIER ANGLING
North aspect of Navy Pier is open for anglers. Discounted parking for anglers is $9 each 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
CHICAGO FISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Chicago Fishing Advisory Committee holds its bimonthly assembly at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, on the thirty first Road Harbor group room. Questions? E mail chicagofishingadvisory@gmail.com.
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-site
AUGER SHARPENING
For the twenty fifth 12 months, 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
Rob Abouchar messaged the photographs above and beneath, and this:
Hello Dale
The ice continues to thicken on island lake with The deep freeze temperatures. We have now virtually 10 inches in our space. The chunk was a bit slowed with the excessive solar excessive stress and freezing Temps. Perch and bass had been greatest with Bass hitting giant golden shiners on tip ups. I had my new frabil ice hut out and focused perch with rosy pink minnows and had a pair takers. The climate appears to be like good for the Ice Fishing Derby subsequent week on Saturday February 1st. Trying ahead to seeing what others are getting. The fishing expo in Schaumburg was as spectacular as ever. I had a number of the fishing membership college students out on Saturday to benefit from the frenzy. Oliver Ngy to the group…”does anybody know the title Don Iovino?”…one man raised his hand. My pal Rob Reed was placed on the slip shot By the person himself within the early 90s. Rob Introduced me the identical rig final summer season. Undecided what all of it means however Braidwood opens in 4 weeks.
On the music entrance Gozortenplat has the video audio of this 12 months’s zappafest prepared for launch. We’re nonetheless working onerous on Vegas one reserving man on fishing line simply gotta reel him in. In search of yet one more venue as effectively…upd a tes ASAP. This Saturday in aurora the Bob Marley birthday bash at two brothers roundhouse. I hope to affix in on melodica for a minimize or two with Jah Information reggae band and Colin Lambert. Their bass participant Vinnie helped me out for some time once we first began engaged on my unique songs. Will likely be good to catch up. And Acutely aware Rockers touchdown the gig at Mackies Hideout Saturday February twenty second 9 to midnight. 4 weeks until meteorological Spring!
Tight traces and good well being!
Rob
And my Tuesday morning is made with the music replace.
Mike Matuk messaged the photograph at above and this:
Hello Dale, fast fish of the week submission.
Nonetheless have one daughter left to get in an article. Lol. Fished the McCullom lake derby Saturday. My daughter received each 1st and 2nd place within the youth panfish division. 30 youngsters fished. She caught two large crappies in a 5 minute span through the windstorm that hit round midday. 11 1/4 “ after which a 12 1/4”. The “Froggie’s” derby is run yearly and for the previous few years, no panfish over 10” had been caught. And he or she registers two. 5 minutes aside.
My daughter’s greatest crappie was larger than any of the 140 adults within the derby submitted. Each caught on a Kastmaster spoon and minnow. Hope you had an incredible vacation season and that you’re wholesome and effectively!
Dave Kranz of Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy in Crystal Lake and along with his You-Tube channel, Dave Kranz Living the wild outdoors, texted:
Larry Inexperienced emailed the photograph above and this on Sunday:
Hello Dale, acquired again from fishing. Beaubien Woods once more.
Ken “Husker” O’Malley of Husker Outdoors emailed the photographs above and beneath, and this:
Hey Dale,
Right here’s a recap of this previous weeks fishing.
The transient chilly entrance that handed by way of in a single day didn’t have an effect on the chunk because it was strong from 6:30 till 11:00. The realm that was focused was the surface weedines in 7-9 fow adjoining to a big feeding flat. The bluegills and crappie had been caught utilizing an IJO Plastics cash bug slowly elevating it from the underside.
Bass had been caught jigging a Clam Outside tikka flash tipped with a number of spikes. Catching giant bass on this system is an absolute rush.
Trying on the prolonged forecast for the week has above common temps with winds out of the SW. Are you able to say recreation!
Right here’s the character pic of the eeek courtesy of Vickie O’Malley.
TTYL
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outside
Waterwerks fishing staff
BRAIDWOOD LAKE
Closed.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Juan Macias emailed this story about fishing the Chain, a reminder on security:
Hello Dale, quick historical past…in the present day began earlier morning by mineola , by fox lake was solely sporting my go well with and tools for enter to the ice wen a man far-off begin screaming for assist he went tru the ice so glad I’ve on a regular basis with me a protracted rope that we run and used for assist and rescue him my 2 guys Elido Cardenas and Daniel Aguirre make Unbelievable job thanks God all the pieces ends good and the man is secure along with his household this reminds us how any ice is 100% secure and each time now we have to concentrate on the finish we transfer to channel lake and ending with fabulous crappies.
Kyle Tepper at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch stated most locations have 12-14 inches of ice; south finish of Channel good for panfish days shallow, then walleyes and catfish evenings; on the north finish of Channel higher on walleye measurement out deeper; good for numbers and measurement for crappie in 8-12 toes on Pistakee and Fox; good catfish (10-13) and walleye (6-8 toes) on Marie; some larger white bass on Marie and Fox.
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
POWERTON: Financial institution fishing is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Boat fishing reopens Feb. 15.
EMIQUON PRESERVE: Open dawn to sundown. Bear in mind to resume entry permits and legal responsibility waivers, they’re out there 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) emailed:
Fishing Report – 1/27/2025
By Mike Norris
Huge Inexperienced Lake: Excessive chilly climate and an absence of wind lastly offered the substances to freeze the deeper sections of Huge Inexperienced Lake. The ice that shaped over the deep sections of the lake measures 2 – 6 inches deep, so strolling out is the one approach to attain the standard cisco and trout areas. Lake trout fishing is honest in 100 toes of water on glow tubes or jigging spoons. Cisco fishing is best. They’re suspended and working bigger than common. There are 14 inches of ice in Dartmouth Bay now, and anglers are driving automobiles out over the ice. Bluegills, crappies, and perch are the principle attraction. Fishing is sluggish in Beyer’s Cove.
Fox Lake: The ice is 12 – 14 inches thick, and anglers are actually driving automobiles throughout the ice. There isn’t a snow over the ice, so it’s slick. Crappies are good in 12 – 14 toes of water. Strive small spoons tipped with rosy reds. There are a number of crappies working 9 – 10 inches lengthy, with an occasional crappie as much as 16 inches.
Lake Puckaway: Good for northern pike as much as 36 inches lengthy on tip-ups baited with shiner minnows.
Little Inexperienced Lake: The perch fishing is nice, however the fish run small. The crappie fishing within the basin slowed with the onset of the frigid air. The walleye chunk is honest from nightfall to 10 pm.
GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN
Lance LaVine at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay stated persons are being pulled off ice over deep water (it blows open) and Coast Guard has to rescue them. Want one other vital chilly snap to lock that deep water space up. Internal bays have 12-18 inches of ice, primarily perch and pike, a number of whitefish on drop-offs.
HEIDECKE LAKE
Closed.
LAKE ERIE
Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.
LAKEFRONT
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle texted Tuesday morning from the ice at DuSable Harbor:
Hey buddy 3perch ,8 to 10 ” of ice,
Capt. Wealthy Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station, Indiana, texted:
87th slip was a taking place place over the weekend a number of perch being caught
LaSALLE LAKE
Closed.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN
Pat Hasburgh at D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop stated perch are being caught in deep water on Mendota, scattered on backside, measurement from 8-11 inches primarily; in any other case it’s good panfish in shallow bays with weeds, Monona Bay is “the shining star.” NOTE: Mendota now has a 10-fish restrict on panfish.
Click here for the replace from D&S Bait, Deal with & Fly Store.
MAZONIA
Each models are open for fishing. Any ice fishing is at your personal danger.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:
Following final week’s frigid blast, ice situations have improved to a number of the greatest ice we’ve seen in a number of years! Reviews of 20-27”+ on virtually all lakes (Trout, Fence about 16”). Little snow (3-4”) means journey is superb. We have now needed to cope with wind the previous 4 days, making it really feel colder than it’s. On prime of that, some finicky fish at occasions.
Crappie: Good-Very Good – When on the proper place on the proper time, (good feeding home windows) basin Crappies put the feed bag on! Pinhead jigs, Rattlin Kastmasters and Tikka Flashes dressed with waxies and fished 4-8’ off the underside in 18-28’ this previous weekend scored very effectively…when the chunk was on! At different occasions Crappies did a number of window buying, very irritating. Weed Crappies nonetheless being caught however not in #’s of open water fishing.
Yellow Perch: Good – Nonetheless coping with a number of smaller fish cruising mud flats in 15-18’. When bigger fish transfer in, Halis, Pimples and Pinhead spoons tipped with waxies or spikes, in addition to small rosies on single hooked Forage Spoons, working effectively on Perch of Sep 11”.
Bluegill: Good – Heavy weed beds producing effectively as lack of heavy snow should be letting in sufficient mild to maintain weeds alive. Search for holes or pockets in weeds. Small jigs tipped with waxies, pink spikes or plastics (pink or motor oil tops this week). Good catches of eaters to 8½ “.
Northern Pike: Good – Huge baits (shiners, suckers) on bladed tip-up rigs. Whereas weeds typical placement, some bigger Pike (30-35”) coming from mud flats in 15-18’ the place small Perch are cruising.
Largemouth Bass: Good – Medium shiners on tip-ups, in addition to jigging medium to giant fatheads, in 8-12’ weeds. When temps go up, Bass exercise will increase. Reviews of Largemouth to 19” over the weekend.
Walleye: Honest-Good – Chunk home windows essential as early am and once more after darkish greatest (although diligent angler reported superb motion and measurement throughout midday minor over the weekend). If you could find, wild golden shiners simply appear to have the “it” issue. Out producing suckers and pond raised shiners head-to-head. Jigging raps in sizes 5:7’s additionally produced this previous weekend when Walleyes “turned on” for these feed home windows.
Whitefish: Honest – Anglers discovering entry nice simply not Whitefish at all times within the temper. Spoons, the smaller you’ll be able to work with the higher (40-55’ depths) tipped with waxies or items of crappie minnows.
Combining a brand new moon interval with some warming temps (above freezing 1/30/25) needs to be an incredible mixture for anglers. One other 1-2” of snowfall (to cowl our tracks), however not sufficient to have an effect on journey. Seems like one other good week!
Ice Fishing Tournaments
February 8th – Willow Haven Ice Fishing Derby – Hazlehurst
February 8th – Bucksnort Fisheree – Willow or Pier Lake (Tripoli)
February 15th – 24th Annual Plum Lake – Plum Lake
March 1st – KISS – WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sports activities Store
– Like us on FaceBook
NORTHWEST INDIANA
Allen Shander emailed the photograph above and this:
Hey Dale hope all is effectively with you.
Needed to get some redemption in the present day After shedding a 40-in pike on Sunday. .. So I Hit one in all my summertime bass honey holes and he or she produced for me! went 10 for 11 in an hour and a half. Was working round like a hen with my head minimize off really had three flags popped the identical time.. caught my private bass by way of the ice simply over 5 lb few fish within the 2 lb vary and a pair within the 3 lb vary. All on shiners in 7 ft of water on weed line The windlass auto jigger did the perfect with the wind in the present day took 6 on that. I actually like these issues when the climate is true. Hopefully this ice will maintain by way of the weekend hoping to get out a number of extra occasions acquired to like these 40° days. nonetheless had over 12 in of ice in the present day.
Tight traces all! hope we get one other week or two of ice fishing in Northwest Indiana.
Capt. Wealthy Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
A number of ice fishing occurring since final report.
Most lakes and ponds have 8 to 10 inches of ice on them as of in the present day.
Individuals out in all places had a number of the busiest days ever right here on the store over the weekend and we’ve been in biz 38 years that’s what number of teams went onto the ice.
Valpo chain of lakes, grand blvd lake, lake county fairgrounds being a number of which have been a number of teams fishing
87th slip was a taking place place over the weekend a number of perch being caught
SHABBONA LAKE
Geese are holding a Little sliver open, however loads of individuals ice fishing with as much as 12 inches of ice.
Website hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. by way of Friday. Jan. 31. February website hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Boondocks is closed.
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
Workers at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor stated it’s ice fishing on little lakes and channels; river is especially locked up aside from by the Berrien Springs Dam. Nothing off the pier.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN
Information Invoice Stoeger in Fremont texted:
You’re proper on that, there was snowmobiles on the river over the weekend. Entry to the ice is superb with the chilly climate. The northern and panfish has slowed a bit on Partridge, I imagine due to the cloudy water. Lk. Poygan continues to be giving up white bass and walleye. They’re scattered, preserve shifting until you discover them.
