And it has been such a weird, record-breaking winter, I had to include the photos above and below texted by Mike Norris of Green Lake in Wisconsin (his regular fishing report is in its usual spot). He texted:
“What a difference between this year and last year. A photo I took of my next door neighbor working on his tan last Sunday and a photo looking out my front door on the same day one year earlier.”
The cooling lake in southwest Will County reopened to fishing on Friday. The lake is open daily 6 a.m.-sunset. Wind conditions may impact boater access.
Rob Abouchar messaged the photo above and this:
“Hi Dale. It was a great week for fishing and fishing related activities.
“The Muskie fishing swap meet with the Leyden Bass fishing club provided an opportunity to browse and purchase just about anything fishing related. One of my anglers was hoping to find a mudpuppy lure which to no surprise he found. I got some nice finds like a full panel of Black Beatle spins, an ugly stick and a nice Beaver Dam Tip Up. Several people asked me about the tip up making me very proud of the find.
“On Island lake in getting some largemouth bass on a arucu shad lipless crank and mepps in line spinner. Some really big crappie are going on medium golden roach minnows under a float. The water was 44 degrees on Sunday when i splashed my boat in. .
“On the music front some dates are coming in for summer for the conscious rockers reggae band. We have june 7 at MSO in Waucanda and waiting to hear from Keifs Reef on the river. Gozortenplat is locking up a date of july 19 at Reggie’s in Chicago. And Midnite Mile 4/20 at the Irish Mill. Lots going on. The management at Keifs is like a nibbling fish that won’t eat. We’ll keep dangling the lure out there to land the gig!
“Tight lines and good health!
My Tuesday is made with the music report. I love Reggie’s. My son’s band, “Something in the Shadows,” performed in that righteous space around Christmas.
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said customers are finding crappie at Tampier and Saganashkee Slough.
See above for details on the opener Friday.
Open daily 6 a.m.-sunset.
Click here for a preview that gives hope for a good year.
Kyle Tepper at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said they starting to get some crappie (mainly on plastics) up shallow, mixed with perch and bluegills (minnows, plastics, or waxies) in the channels with water; walleye shallow (roaches under floats or little stickbaits) and deep (Rippin’ Raps); muskies, especially smaller ones, are active; catfish are good on multiple fatheads.
NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.
NOTE 2: Stratton Lock and Dam is closed through April 30.
Jeffrey Williams messaged the photos above and below, and this:
“Back out on the Riverwalk for the 1st time this year and didn’t disappoint, 5 total smallies between 1 and 2 lbs”
He later expanded his report.
“Caught the smallies on fatheads, had to jig em tho, water temp is slowly climbing, warmest part i recorded was around 48 degrees”
“Aside from smallies, my brother [Jesse Gonzalez] hooked into two decent carp”
Bob Johnson emailed the photo above and this:
“Hi Dale. I made last minute change and headed to river instead of dealing with busy ramps at Braidwood again. Caught a handful of chunky Smallies using crankbaits and jigs with craw trailers. A couple of these bass were fat so the spring feed is going. They’ll be getting ready to spawn in about a month or more. River is perfect with clear water and 47 degrees. Also caught a small Northern Pike which was a pleasant surprise. Catch and release!”
Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.
Gary Hirschel emailed the photo at the very top, the photo above, the photo below, and this:
“Looks like our pike population is in good shape. Report below as well as a few pics.
“Tried for salmon but only these guys would cooperate. Hope all is well with you.
Here is his full report:
“Hi guys, Mike Oesland, Frank Petito and I launched out of Diversy at 9am and motored to the Play Pen, Chicago Lighthouse, Navy Pier and Monroe Harbor. Water was 39 degrees and we had a spread of body baits, dodger flys, spoons. No trout or salmon to be found. We did find two pike inside Monroe harbor in the 9th inning of our trip. One pike took a flicker shad on a down rigger and the other a flicker minnow on a 1 color. Pretty cool as we were 20 feet from the shore when these were caught. Great day with two fine gentlemen and nice to be on the water.
Dan Edwards at Bridgeport Bait and Tackle said customers are using Bloody Nose lures for browns at Belmont and Diversey; a few coho at McCormick and 63rd; some smaller perch are around
Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor said there’s been some small coho and brown trout, both powerliners and casters. Current hours are 6 a.m.-4 p.m.
Reopens March 15.
Click here for the update from D&S Bait, Tackle & Fly Shop.
Fishing is open at both units.
Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset.
Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:
“The inland game fish season is over! The warm winter of 23/24 continues to confound anglers with unseasonably warm weather and ice thickness far less than we’ve ever seen at this time of year. Temps in the ‘50s and even ‘60s followed by lows in the subzero range this past week made ice safety a real concern. As of this writing March 5 ice is still good on most lakes averaging 8 to 10 in thick but access to the good ice is deteriorating.
“Use caution anywhere you are ice fishing from here on out. Access with Southern or Southeastern exposures are the first to pull away. Northern exposures, those with South shores that get the least sun hold ice the longest.
“It was a better than usual last weekend of the game fish season. Nice catches of walleye to 26" in Northern Pike 36 to 37" reported and largemouth bass several of the 18 to 20 inch kind were caught and released. Thanks to the teams for Winneconne Neenah, Slinger Kettle Moraine and Rosholt for helping gather such great reports during our 6th annual K.I.S.S. High School ice fishing tournament this past Saturday, great anglers and great sports people!
“Crappies. Very good.
“Best bite very early morning from dawn till 8:30 a.m. then again in the late afternoons. Basin fishing shined on tip downs using small fathead minnows or roses. Flashy jigs or spoons such as pinheads and Tika flashes produced best tipped with wax worms. For shallower anglers, 8 to 13 ft weeds while slow dropping lightweight spoons tipped with waxes or plastics plenty of nice 10 to 12 inch fish with lots of slabs of 13 to 14 in being caught.
“Bluegills. Very good.
“Early morning through mid-morning and again mid-afternoon till dusk. Nice girls in the seven to nine and a half inch range with averages of 7 to 8 in 3 mm tungsten jigs tipped with waxes or mouses or plastics to invest. Jigs with hair on seem to also convince the hesitant biters. While weeds and six to 10 ft seem to best reports of larger gills 8 and 1/2 to 10 in coming from over deeper water of 14 to 18 feet.
“Yellow perch. Good to very good.
“Mud bite just outside weeds in 14 to 18 ft using spoons such as pimples cast masters to deliver wigglers or red spikes best. Nice eaters in that 8:10 range just a few reports of larger fish.
“Having checked ice this morning March 5 my guess is there will be opportunities throughout portions of the Northwoods to ice fish through the upcoming weekend.
“Walking only, use creepers, take safety spikes where flotation and take a friend. Be very careful, travel light. We will continue to monitor the ice this week so check our Facebook page and website for updates.”
Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:
“Perch bite still solid in 55 to 60 Ft or water straight out from Gary light.
“Crappie going at Wolf Lake, Lake George in Hobart and the marinas on Cedar Lake. Minnows or jigs tipped with waxworms.
“Coho bite for pier guys and boaters still on slow side. Any day now a load of fish will show up.”
Arden Katz said that walleye are good at Jefferson Dam on an 1/8th-ounce jig and a fly on a three-way jig.
Boondocks is closed.
March site hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said there’s a mix of salmon and trout at the Cook Plant; the St. Joseph pier is slow; river has some decent steelhead all the way to Berrien Springs.
