Northern Illinois: Dave Kranz from Dave’s Bait, Tackle & Taxidermy in Crystal Lake reports: “Catfish are feeding on globs of worms, chicken livers and commercially prepared stink baits. Most bodies of water hold channel cats in good numbers and a 10-pound fish isn’t all that out of the ordinary. Try the deep slots in channels. Area bass seem to restricting their feeding to the early and late hours. Cast your offering up tight to the shoreline because they will come in really shallow to feed.” Call 815-455-2040 for updated reports.
• For up-to-the-minute water conditions on the Fox Chain and Fox River, go to foxwaterway.state.il.us/ or call 847-587-8540.
Lake Michigan – Illinois: Captain Bob Rossa (migratorfishhunt.com) says, “Fishing has continued to be very good, weather permitting this past week. Kings over 16 pounds are being caught every day. Coho salmon, lake trout, and rainbow trout are adding to the catch. Moonshine spoons have been doing very well, along with Hot Spot flashers and white Howie Flies tied 24 inches behind them. The water temp has been fairly consistent from the top to the bottom, so put your baits down from 40 feet to the bottom. Ninety to 130 feet of water has been a very good area to fish for salmon. The perch season is open again [Tuesday].”
Lake Delavan and Lake Geneva, Wis.: Delavan bass are on a strong bite. Early morning seems to be the best. Cast Senkos with no weights toward the shallow edges of the weedline. Junebug, watermelon and motor oil are the best performing colors. Geneva walleye have been active on the flats for night anglers dragging minnow rigs. Night fishing for bass has been very productive.
Lake Michigan – southern Wisconsin: Kenosha anglers report the best fishing between 60 and 120 feet. Perch fishing from shore remains slow in Kenosha and Racine. Racine trollers have been successful fishing 60 to 100-feet down in 105 to 175 feet of water.
Southern Wisconsin – smaller lakes, rivers: The Fox River in Wisconsin has risen considerably in the past week, giving fishermen hope that fishing activity will pick up again. There are reports of smallmouth bass just south of the Burlington railroad bridge using small spinners. Panfishermen are targeting bluegills in water ranging from 10 to 30 feet, with bigger fish coming from deeper water. Early morning and late evening seem to be the best time to be out fishing.
– Steve Sarley
