Ice fishing leads this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, nicely, what did you anticipate with this bitter chilly.
Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photograph on the very prime. I believed it properly captured the final couple days.
PIER PASSES
Pier passes could also be purchased at Park Bait, Bridgeport Bait and Tackle and Fishtech in Morton Grove. The $10 pier passes enable 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 promote 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 aspect of Navy Pier is open for anglers. Discounted parking for anglers is $9 each day, starting at 5 a.m.; have to 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 subsequent meets at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, on the thirty first Road Harbor neighborhood room. Questions? Electronic mail chicagofishingadvisory@gmail.com.
ICE FISHING PUBLIC SITES
Ice fishing laws 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 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
Ken “Husker” O’Malley of Husker Outdoors emailed the photograph on the very prime, photographs above and beneath, and this:
Hey Dale,
Right here’s a recap from the previous weeks fishing.
Immediately’s journey took me to the pits to chase some bass on tip ups. The bass didn’t disappoint. Flags have been being chased from first mild to 10:30. There have been a number of flags every so often so who must go to the fitness center when that in itself is a exercise! The setup was alongside the skin weed edges in 9 fow close to areas of springs. As soon as that overcast broke the chunk completely shutdown. Ice situations have been a stable 5-6 inches of clear ice with a lot extra to be made with this artic air coming down.
The chilly air is right here with sport time temps to begin the morning at -8. Staying cellular was not within the playing cards immediately with these winds and temps. I drilled holes on the drop off to the principle basin in 10 fow the place the shoreline drop off met the flat drop off. The energetic biters have been there. The crappie have been hitting a 5mm marvel bread swirl paired with a Clam Outdoor niku twitch fly. They most popular jigging the bait a foot off the underside and slowly elevating the bait one other two toes. A couple of bluegill have been caught as nicely. The chunk turned off round 11:30, so it was time.
Right here’s the character pic of the week. Closing time.
TTYL
Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Husker Outdoor
Waterwerks fishing crew
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:
The brutal chilly snap has made as much as 12 inches of ice on ponds , backwaters and lakes. The forecast is for far more seasonal winter temperatures. Many have already had an important ice fishing season. For people who haven’t there are many derbies the subsequent 3 weeks! Take a look at my Dave’s Bait, Deal with and Taxidermy fb web page for flyers from them. Tip up fishing has been good use a big or medium sized golden roach minnow 3-7 toes sounds just like the candy spot. Panfish on most lakes are close to no matter inexperienced weeds are left in 3-6 toes of water. Some lakes , Bangs Lake in Wauconda have suspended crappies in 20-25 toes of water however the fish are at 15 toes. The issue is these fish transfer with the bait so use your electronics to remain on them.
Rob Abouchar messaged the photographs above and beneath, and this:
Hello Dale
The deep freeze slowed the chunk on island lake the previous couple of days. Saturday had a number of anglers on the ice. I had an annual bodily Saturday morning so I solely fished for a couple of minutes Saturday afternoon and bought just a few good Gills. My neighbors throughout the road pulled in what she referred to as a child northern on a tip up. I helped her unhook and launch the fish. She had a tiny chartreuse walleye hook on the enterprise finish. On Sunday I had Roy Coakley and his good friend Invoice Forsberg over for some ice motion. The chilly slowed the chunk however Roy bought a pair perch on tip down rigs with a rosy crimson minnow on one of many smallest tremble hooks I’ve seen beneath small cut up shot. Invoice bought a gorgeous largemouth on a tip up with typical single tremble and goldenrod roach minnows. Monday we set the tip ups understanding it was almost definitely a fruitless exercise…giving me ideas of throwing crankbaits at Braidwood.
On the music entrance the acutely aware rockers are booked for February twenty second at Mackie’s Hideout. Time for set record development and rehearsal. Gozortenplat ready on Date for Las Vegas efficiency with Ray White. And February 1st at two brothers roundhouse in Aurora a doable sit in for The Bob Marley birthday bash with Jah Information reggae band. Maintaining issues rolling into February!
And my Tuesday morning is made with the music report.
BRAIDWOOD LAKE
Closed.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA
Regardless of just a few anglers out within the brutal chilly the final couple days, workers at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch stated crappie and panfish are doing nicely and there’s loads of ice on the principle lakes now.
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. Keep 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 – 1/20/2025
By Mike Norris
Large Inexperienced Lake: As anticipated, the Siberian chilly entrance arrived final Saturday night. Regardless of sub-zero temperatures, the excessive winds that accompanied the entrance stored Large Inexperienced large open. Dartmouth Bay stays one of many two areas with ice thick sufficient to drive ATVs over the ice. The opposite is Beyer’s Cove. Bluegill and perch are biting at each places, however their sizes are small. Tip-ups are producing northern pike.
Fox Lake: This 2,300-acre lake, 24 miles south of Large Inexperienced, is a well-liked ice fishing spot, however it will possibly get crowded. The ice is 12 to 24 inches thick, and it’s the one space lake secure sufficient to drive autos out on. The crappie chunk on a jig and minnow stays superb, however as soon as once more, transfer round till you discover the larger fish. Anglers can catch northern pike utilizing shiners with tip-ups. There’s a evening chunk for walleyes.
GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN
Workers at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay stated the little bays are iced good and there’s some first rate whitefish motion; nothing out deeper but with ships nonetheless working via subsequent Tuesday, Jan. 28. After that ought to lock up extra over deep water.
HEIDECKE LAKE
Closed.
LAKEFRONT
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle stated even with the ice, perch are being caught on the South Facet slips. Holes are drilled at DuSable, however perch have been gradual within the final couple days. Motion ought to decide up as temperatures ease later this week.
Capt. Wealthy Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Some fishing on the ice within the slip at 87th road.
LaSALLE LAKE
Closed.
MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN
Pat Hasburgh at D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop stated, “With the ice we’re making proper now, it may final into March. Good to go on all of the lakes. ATV journey is just about open all over the place.” Monona Bay continues to be a bluegill manufacturing unit with a conservative estimate of 8-12 inches of ice. Mendota froze fully final week, and anglers are simply beginning to goal deep-water perch. NOTE: The panfish restrict on Mendota is now 10 per day.
Chad Rauch messaged the photographs above and beneath, and this:
Fished the Madison Chain Friday via Sunday. Our group ended up with 20+ pike between 18”-26” all on shiners on tipups in 4’-10’ of water alongside and contained in the weeds. Additionally vibrant 6 bluegill topside Friday primarily within the deeper water depth listed beneath with a small jigging spoon tipped with a pair small waxxies. These six have been from about 100 fish marked, they weren’t aggressive. Solely fished for the gills sparingly because the climate wasn’t conducive to gap hopping. Nice weekend with nice associates in a tremendous metropolis with ample angling alternatives.
MAZONIA
Each models are open for fishing, 6 a.m.-sunset. Any ice fishing is at your personal danger. Individuals are making the trek again in.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN
Workers at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua stated hardly anybody out the final couple days, however there’s usually 12-13 inches oif ice with car site visitors on most lakes; situations are additionally such that snowmobiles could get out, too. Fishing ought to take off when climate warms.
NORTHWEST INDIANA
Capt. Wealthy Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
Ice fishing throughout nwi lakes and ponds.
Some fishing on the ice within the slip at 87th road.
Valpo chain of lakes giving up bluegills and some crappie.
Pine lake in Laporte giving up some northern pike and bass for these working tip-ups utilizing massive golden roaches.
SHABBONA LAKE
Ice anglers are out on the ice, even with the brutal chilly Tuesday. The geese nonetheless have a small piece open within the tall bushes.
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 there’s ice fishing inland lakes for bluegills; the river and pier are froze.
WOLF LAKE
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle stated some anglers tried ice fishing Monday with no luck, however that ought to change with the climate. There’s imagined to be an ice occasion this weekend, attempting to get particulars on it.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN
Information Invoice Stoeger in Fremont texted:
Not a lot has modified since final week, aside from it’s method too chilly to go fishing.
