Chicago fishing: Pink salmon reminder and settling down into summer patterns

Dale,

My son Sebastián caught these over at Pi g Tom and was hoping he could get in the paper with these. Thank you.

“Bullfrogs may be taken only by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and line, or bow and arrow and arrow, hand, or landing net. June 15 through Oct. 15, both dates inclusive. Daily Harvest Limit is 8; possession limit is 16A sport fishing license is required to harvest reptiles and amphibians.”

“Frog hunting season runs from June 15, 2024 – April 30, 2025, and hunters can harvest the American bullfrog and green frog. The bag limit is 25 frogs per day with a possession limit of 50 frogs, and any combination of bullfrogs or green frogs maybe be used to reach these bag and harvest limits.”

. . .

Ponds are full of slop and prime to frog for bass. 7' 4" heavy StCroix rod and a Daiwa reel filled with 50 pound J-Braid will get them out of the slip.

Hi Dale,

Still water-lake and pond-fishing only this week. Unlike the local rivers and streams, all the rain did a lot of good for ponds. Most of the algae is gone, which makes finding open water a lot easier. There is a noticeable stench in the areas where the algae have died and are now decaying. But it’s not bothering the fish. And all the rain raised the water levels to the point where it is covering the aquatic vegetation; it’s now possible to fish subsurface and over the top of the weeds. There was a lot of variety in what was available: bluegills in what looked to be their spawning colors again; green sunfish; largemouths; even a few crappies (a pond I fish has plenty of them, but it’s rare to catch them in late July; usually more of a March/April catch). Not all of the bass were small.

Hi Dale,

After leaving the boat in Merrill to fish the Wisconsin River it was some relaxing shore fishing from the dock in island lake. Targeting panfish with a variety of artificial lures and red trout worms. The red trout worms were getting good bluegill and yellow bass. The bluegill seem to be on a second spawn. The best artificial baits were the venerable beetle spin and the odd looking squirmy worm both of which b I picked up at the rolling meadows swap meet last winter. Some small largemouth also hit the beetle spin. Bass also going on black and blue senko.

On the music front it was an all time great weekend for this musician. Friday at Reggies in Chicago as frank zappa said the mood was right the band was tight as Gozortenplat killed on stop #2 of 3 summer shows. Next up August 3rd in Kenosha at the peace tree festival. Saturday it was simply sublime playing music at lily lake resort at the gathering of the tribes. Midnite mile and uncle pigeon provided the soundtrack for a stupendous afternoon. Evening and sunset. The weekend was capped off when I learned my two songs have gone live on the music platforms for public consumption as they say. Miracles never cease...now maybe a wacky rigged miracle. Gotta hit the river!

Tight lines and good health!

Rob

Hi Dale,

I really enjoyed the pictures of the kids today [last Wednesday] with some very nice fish, the next generation is showing us how to do it.

The bass have moved out into the cabbage and still hitting well on wacky worms, managed a few with the kayak when the wind lets me out.

All the best,

Mike Lyons

The high water in the Fox River and chain o lakes is definitely pushing fish into the channels and to the bank. Walleyes are being caught anywhere that there is current. Jig and an extra large fathead minnow or a hall of night crawler. Flicker shad’s in purple tiger or gold are working also.

. . .

Catfishing with the high water is still excellent!

Delavan Lake 7/22/24 through 7/29/24

Fishing overall on Delavan remains very consistent.

Northern Pike fishing has been up and down. Earlier in the week you could catch as many pike as you had suckers. It did slow as the week went on however. The best success has come off of medium suckers fished on a lindy rig. The tight schools have dispersed so it’s been kind of hit or miss as you troll down the weedline. The best location has been west of Willow Point in 20 ft of water.

Largemouth bass remain on the deep weedline. They can be caught on nightcrawlers fished on a split shot rig or drop shotting 4 inch finesse worms. They haven’t been schooled as heavy as they were in past years. The key is to keep your boat moving to find the active fish. In years past you could sit on a school for 4 hours and catch them non-stop but that isn’t the case this year yet. The best location is by the Island or by the Village Supper Club.

Bluegills remain on the weedline in 15-20 ft of water. They can be caught on Thill slip bobbers with leaf worms or small panfish leeches. You need to keep moving to find the larger fish. My best success has been by Willow Point or by the Oriental boathouse or by the Assembly Park weedline. Bluegill fishing has not been as good as last week, however if you keep moving you should catch a nice limit.

Walleyes have remained consistent. The best action has been coming after dark. However, I’ve been catching fish during the daylight too. I’ve been averaging a legal fish every other trip. My best success has come off of leeches or nightcrawlers. I’ve been using lindy rigs with an 1/8 oz sinker or a split shot rigged nightcrawler.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063

Hey Dale,

Did I mention the rain won’t let up? The Fox River continues to run high and fast in Kane County. Water was a little murky over the weekend. Weeds are a problem but not as much as the week before. I stuck to one lure — crankbaits — to cover water and try to find fish. Almost every fish was caught along the banks up against rocks or concrete walls. Best fish pictured, it was cruising about a foot from the shoreline. Not finding much in the current right now.

The high water in the Fox River and chain o lakes is definitely pushing fish into the channels and to the bank. Walleyes are being caught anywhere that there is current. Jig and an extra large fathead minnow or a hall of night crawler. Flicker shad’s in purple tiger or gold are working also .

. . .

Catfishing with the high water is still excellent!

Hi Dale,

I looked at the Fox a few times throughout the week. It stayed high the entire time and if it is dropping, it’s happening very slowly. Clarity was pretty bad too-not worth fishing. Yesterday evening I was able to see a submerged rock, so I guess that’s finally improving, although slowly. Tributaries may be the better bet for the next few days.

Lake Geneva Fishing Report 7/22/24 through 7/29/18

Largemouth bass can be caught by Maytag Point or Covenant Harbor Point. The best depth is 16-18 ft of water. The best approach is drop shotting 4 inch Chompers with a one foot dropper. I fish my dropper on 8 lb monofilament fished on a medium light spinning rod.

Bluegill fishing has been good. The bluegills are in 18-20 ft of water. Look for the fish by Gage Marina or by Elgin Club. The best bait is trout worms fished on a split shot rig. You want to position the split shot about 1 foot from the hook and try to keep the worm 6 inches above bottom. The schools are pretty big so a good graph is essential.

Rock bass fishing has been slower than in years past. I’m not sure if the depth is different or if there are just less of them than previously available. The best approach is a split shot rigged nightcrawler. Look for the fish in 12-15 ft of water by South Shore Club or by Knollwood.

Walleyes are biting during the nighttime hours. Troll medium diving crankbaits by Trinkes or Knollwood for the most action. Work a depth of 15 ft of water and have the baits run 10-12 ft down.

Lake Trout fishing has been very good in the main lake basin in 108-120 ft of water at first light. I prefer fishing early in the morning as the trout are suspended and easier to catch than when they are tight to the bottom. Use down riggers with chrome/blue or chrome/green spoons for the most action. Put the baits approximately 20-30 ft behind the down riggers. Due to the excessive pleasure boat traffic the floating weeds have been an issue you need to work around.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063

Fishing Report – 7/22/2024

By Mike Norris

Big Green Lake: Summer boat traffic is peaking, and smallmouth bass fishing slows after 9:00 a.m. Getting out and fishing by 6 a.m. or earlier is best. Working jig and pig combos, drop shot rigs, or live bait along the deep weed line is your best bet for catching bass after 9 a.m. Walleye fishing is good at the Heidel and Baptist Bar, but again, go early in the morning. Try working a jig and half crawler along the drop-offs. Bluegills are still shallow. I haven’t seen many in the deeper cribs. Lake trout fishing is excellent right now. Try jigging for them with a 3/8 oz. rattle spoon down in 120 feet of water. White bass fishing is slow.

Fox Lake: The water is still one-half to one foot higher than normal and dirty. Nonetheless, crappies are still biting and can be found drifting with a split shot and minnow out in the basin. Work for largemouth bass around the islands with crankbaits with rattles. Walleyes are biting early in the morning and later in the day, where rocks exist along the tips of the islands.

Hi Dale, river coming down after flood. Fish close to banks where water is slowest. Minnow baits working near shallow rocks. P.S. good luck to Alex and Bret they make the Kankakee fisherman like me proud. G. Peters

Just got back from Lake Erie, a bit slow but we were able to get a few. Gold Blades for the Walleye, minnows for the Perch

Good morning.

Water temps are in the 70s, so Perch have slowed down. Smallmouth still good hitting live pond crabs. No King reports yet but Joe was casting this morning so we’ll know soon lol. No Steelhead reports. Sheephead good with north winds on crayfish. Have a great week!

Fishing on the Menominee River has been consistent. With the water level dropping and clarity increasing, conditions are ideal. Smallmouth bass have been aggressive. Depending on the day, swimbaits, soft plastics, and topwater lures have proven effective. Early in the day, smallmouth bass feed on baitfish, but by midday, they shift to the rocks to prey on crayfish. This pattern is expected to persist throughout August, which is typically a prime month for topwater fishing.

Even in the midst of summer, things can sometimes be hit or miss!

A cooling off one day (surface temps dropped 4° one night), high sky’s (expected not necessarily welcome), changing winds, full moon, etc.

With fishing it’s always something though at least in the summer there is more consistency.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair

Seems to be a decline in action and size of late. Typical weed bites, using wacky worms or drop shotting craw imitations. Live baiting using leeches and crawlers on 1/16 ounce weedless jigs as well as some top water action in the evenings.

Smallmouth Bass: Good

Possibly a bit better on some lakes than largemouth. Deep rock humps using drop shot with plastic craws and minnows or Ned rigging has produced some dandy fish of late in the 19-to-21-inch range this past week. Work tubes along coontail edges of 14 feet as well. Have a rod set up with a walking the dog type bait on calm days, ready for action as schools chase minnows on the surface.

Northern Pike: Good

Best on lakes with expansive weed flats working spinner baits over weed tops. Swim baits, and chatter baits also producing. Reports of some eaters, but not much on larger fish.

Walleye: Good/ Fair

Had some good shallow water (less than 6 foot) walleye action late in the week. Walleye feeding on 2-inch perch. Red tails and large fatheads were the ticket. On deeper rock big leeches or red tail scored 1/8-ounce jigs in 14 to 22 feet of water.

Bluegill: Good

Up to their old tricks by following baits meant for other fish to up to the boat. Tiny spinners like number zero mepps, beetle spins or 1 inch twister tails to “draw them in”. Ultralight rods to cast ultralight baits and enjoy.

Crappie: Good

Picking up nice crappies of 10 to 12 inches over tall weed patches shaking medium to large fathead minnows on 1/32-to-1/16-ounce jigs. Slip floats with the same set just at weed top depth or casting Charlie Bee’s or Road Runners over the same.

Yellow Perch: good to fair

Not a lot of reports, mostly anglers surprised to find larger perch of 10 to 11 inches plus taking 4-inch wacky worms meant for bass. A half crawler on a 1/16-ounce jig is always a good search bait.

Musky: Fair

Not a lot of reports at this shop. Most from anglers using bucktails over 8 to 12-foot weeds in the mornings and Topwater tail baits like Fat Bastards or Whopper Poppers in the evening.

A little cool down mid-week combined with a full moon may slow things a bit, but a warm-up by the weekend looks to bring the bite back up. Early morning and evenings will be best while midweek may see better action late mornings.

OUR SECOND EVER BARN SALE at 92388 County Highway J and Woodruff will be held August 2, from 7am to 5pm,

August 3, from 7am to 5pm and

August 4, 7am to 3pm.

We have to make some room for some changes to the business and it’s just time to clean out the old bait shop closet. They’ll be deals on Rods, reels, overstock tackle, fishing line, Shanties (both flip and hub style) clothing, footwear, ice electronics, ice augers, discontinued Saint Croix Rods. Check it out! lots of good inventory at sale prices to move on out

Perch action pretty good for most fishing the doughnut east of portage all the way to Mt. Baldy 20 to 38ft of water using baby golden roaches and regular fatheads.

Salmon and trout in 80 to 100ft straight out of portage is a lil slow as of last week but water is good and cold down 55ft to the bottom so fishing should pick up.

Bluegill action on Loomis lake in valpo for boaters using crickets and red wigglers

Perch action so steady Slez’s Bait Shop has been opening before 5 a.m. most days.

Water levels are starting to recede. Walleye action has been good in the river and on Lake Poygan. The bluegill and crappie bite is picking up. Look for current breaks and submerged wood.