1/25: Midwest Fishing Report

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Updated: February 26, 2012 8:14AM

AREA LAKES: Travis Brasfield and others noted creepers are important with slick ice. But Steve Palmisano at Henry’s noted there is a good base of ice down. Lakes to the north and west are in better shape than those south. Brasfield reported some good bluegills on white Wedgies from a lake in McHenry. He said a neighboring crew pulled out a 10.5-inch bluegill. As of Tuesday, all the sites in the McHenry County Conservation District were open; none in the Lake County Forest Preserve District were. Ice fishing (at your own risk) is under way at most other public sites around the suburbs.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA/FOX RIVER: Ice varies but averages 6 inches; use usual caution around currents and middles. Best panfish action is on south end of Channel; some on Pistakee Bay, too. Ice fishing is under way on Mineola, which suggests some white and yellow bass are being caught. For walleye, try night-fishing the flats on Channel or the flats next to drops on Marie. On Nielsen’s Channel off the Fox River,
Arden Katz reported good bluegills to
8 inches. Trick is to use 2-pound line with ice jigs and spikes, then jig all the way down because some fish are suspended right under the ice.

LAKEFRONT: CHICAGO: Conditions in the harbors and Navy Pier vary, with unsafe ice in and out. There’s still some perch at 92nd, though slush had limited some fishing during the weekend. NORTH POINT: Lori Ralph at the Salmon Stop reported some ice fishing for pike with roaches.

MADISON LAKES, WIS.: D&S Bait
reported good ice but only fair fishing. A few nice perch on Kegonsa, a few deeper on Monona and just beginning on Mendota. Monona and Squaw bays are best for bluegills, but they take sorting.

NORTHWEST INDIANA: Reports and conditions at Willow Slough are varied. Pike and bass are most consistent, and the sporadic bluegill bite is best before dawn. Mik-Lurch reported some steelhead in the streams.

ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICH.: Tyler Harmon messaged that he expects steelhead to be good on warmer days this week with the river up.

SHABBONA LAKE: Lakeside reported
5 to 6 inches of ice. Some guys on deep trees in 30 feet were catching good crappie Tuesday on a very light bite. Some big catfish in the deep trees on a gob of redworms.