Chicago fishing: Perch on the lakefront, ice fishing north just a memory south

I’m hearing 3-6 inches of ice on most places. I do recommend that if you’re going the first time for the season that you go where others are fishing. The snow on the ice will allow you to see how to get on and off the ice. Wax worms or red or white spikes will work for panfish. Tip up customers are using medium and large golden roach minnows. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all of you and your family’s!

Hey Dale,

It’s a tale of two cities when it comes to ice conditions. Ice is holding on at the boarder but not for long while south might offer open water opportunities by the weekend.

. . .

TTYL

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Happy holidays Dale

We made it to semester break and the ice is still holding in our corner of island lake. A few anglers were on the ice by the dam Sunday morning after panfish. By my area I am getting nice largemouth on tip ups with medium to large golden roach minnows. I’m putting the minnow down about 2 feet in 4 feet of water and a small split shot a foot above the hook. I’m using a 2/0 worm hook. There are bite windows in am and pm I had 6 flags 3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon all very close together. Landed 4 of the 6 all nice healthy largemouth bass.

On the music front I’m still recovering from the Zappa fest shows wondering what could be next for the boys from Milwaukee. Word has come down that the reggae capital USA will be moving. The wild hare announced they are moving to Fulton Street Market, location not specified. The last show at current location is new years with my friends the hurricane reggae band. I may join them on that one. Reggae on the move!

Tight lines and good health

Rob

Hi Dale!!

This weekend finds very good ice on the back channels of the chain was incredibly fishing lots of crappies 12 and 14 inches not sure how the ice continues in the next days just hope good season this year

Merry Christmas!!

Hi Dale I caught this nice bass and panfish at lake delavan boat ramp on Thursday and friday

. . . desplaines river,nice walleye,big minnows . . . merry Christmas to you and your family

Hi Dale,

It’s now come to this: chop holes in the ice or fish warm water outflows. I opted for the latter from one of the treatment plants along the Fox. Surprisingly good numbers of smallmouths around; it doesn’t always go so well, not in late December. The fish in the attached image was the biggest today at just under 16 inches. All fish came on a yellow streamer fished on a two weight rod. That’s not something I would do any other time of year: a prolonged battle on such light tackle could be fatal in warmer water, but plenty of dissolved oxygen in water where ice is forming around the edges. Even without the fish, the outing would’ve been productive: the water was so low that there were a lot of islands showing. Come the higher water levels of spring and summer, they will be submerged rock bars, likely holding a lot of crayfish, minnows and hopefully smallmouths.

Fishing Report – 12/23/2024

By Mike Norris

Big Green Lake: A snowstorm last Thursday and Friday dumped 6 – 9 inches of snow in the area. Though the temperature dropped to single digits over the weekend, gusty winds kept the lake-wide open. The small, protected bay, Beyer’s Cove, was the only fishable area. The ice there is six inches thick, and the fishing for bluegills is spotty. We are expecting temps to reach back into the 40s later this week.

Fox Lake: Crappie fishing remains excellent on jigs tipped with minnows in 16 feet of water just off the Boat House and Maple Point if you can work through the snow covering the ice. I do not recommend you try using UTVs. There are large areas of open water in the middle of Fox Lake and both the Jug and the Government Area.

There are good reports coming out of 85th perch are getting bigger ,more keepers,. . . navy pier takes some sorting out,harbors are also picking up ,some keepers at burnham,and dusablle,late bite, . . . hope this helps,,,merry Christmas to you and your family

4) Snagging for Chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon. B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Ice conditions in and around the Lakeland area are good, but not great. With ice thickness varying from 5-10” (with 6-8” being comfortable average), most ice good for walking, ATV and snowmobile use. With another report of a truck breaking through down in Newbold, just can’t stress enough to keep cars and trucks off the ice until we get a good 14-16” minimum! While access and conditions on the ice have been great (only about 2” of snow on ice as of this report- creepers still a good idea). fishing has been good, but not as great.

Walleye: Good-Very Good – Still a post dusk/pre-dawn bite for the most part. Jigging Raps (#5), Shiver Minnows (2.5:3), Hyper Glides (#5) and Rippin Raps producing nice fish worked in 6-10’ weeds. Tip-ups with medium shiners, river shiners and Walleye suckers strategically set up on weed edges prior to dusk bite best call. Plenty of good eaters (15-19”) but also reports of “over” fish in the 20-24” range.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Big shiners and suckers hanging just above weed tops or along weed edges of 5-10’. Adding a small blade to give wired rigs some flash seems to be “tipping” odds in tip-up anglers favor. (Get it?…tipping/tip-ups. I’ll be here at the bait shop all week folks, there will be a two minnow scoop minimum! Haha)

Crappie: Good – Reports starting to pick up as anglers venturing out to more areas as ice conditions improve. Still a tall weed bite using tip-downs and Crappie minnows/small rosies in 10-14’ narrow leaf cabbage bays. Others finding suspended Crappies taking Tikka Flashes and small Kastmasters tipped with waxies in 14-20’. These roaming schools take some drilling to find, but nice fish in the 9-11” range on average with some 12-14” slabs reported.

Bluegill: Good – Slowed a little from previous week, but more high pressure days and some southwest winds at times may have been biggest turn-off. Otherwise, bays with good weeds in 5-10’ holding Gills. Small jigs tipped with waxies, spikes or plastics producing. Mid-mornings through late afternoons on most lakes. Reports from small, hard to reach lakes have best bite at dawn to 9 AM using #3:#4 dark colored tungsten jigs tipped with red spikes in 12-18’ basins. These small out of the way lakes produce quality Gills, but can’t sustain much harvest, so be gentle.

Largemouth Bass: Good – With most daytime temps above 20 degrees (and forecasted for 30 degrees after Christmas), Largemouth have been active taking medium shiners meant for Walleye, but also jigs and waxies meant for Gills and Perch. Weeds of 5-10’ best, same as being targeted for Gills.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Reports picking up as anglers working a bit deeper (10-14’). Just outside weed edges in mud flats where jigging spoons, such as Northland Forage Minnow Spoons, Buckshot Spoons and Clam Leech Flutter Spoons tipped with waxies, spikes or minnow heads producing. Tip-downs with small to medium fatheads working well in the mild weather where holes not freezing up.

With the coming of the New Moon period after Christmas and through New Years, I’m liking the outlook for some great ice fishing during the holiday week. On the less optimistic side, days with temps peaking in the 30’s (possibly 40’s on 12/28) plus some rain will make things slippery and messy. Be sure to bring cleats and waterproof boots out on the ice. While the warm up will hurt making more ice, it shouldn’t be enough to lose much of what we have. Always be cautious.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sports Shop
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It’s still perch, perch and perch.

Slips for shore fishing still good just a lot of small perch to deal with to get the keepers.

Boat fishing for perch pretty good in 55 to 60ft of water straight out in front of Gary light.

Shore and boat action for perch out of pastrick marina aka East Chicago marina next to casino boat again must weed thru lil ones for keepers.

Boat fisherman fishing in river from Crowey’s all the way up to 106th street.

Everybody likes different minnows for these perch so we carry them all small and large fatheads, Rosie reds and baby golden roaches shiners.

Slez’s Bait Shop will be open on Christmas Day 5am till 1pm. Back to normal hours on Thursday 5 to 5

And a very Merry Christmas to you. Honestly, I haven’t been out yet. The ice conditions have not been good. The few I’ve talked to, have been doing well on the bayous. A few groups on Partridge yesterday, steering clear of open water.