02/08 — Midwest Fishing Report
February 7, 2012 6:46PM
Updated: March 9, 2012 8:19AM
NOTE: The Island Lake Lions Club’s Ice Fishing Derby has been postponed until Feb. 18.
CHAIN O’LAKES AREA: Extremely dangerous ice conditions. A few
local anglers are accessing small
areas of their home lakes; more areas might be fishable by the weekend. The south end of Channel might be fishable for bluegills for the NICC derby this weekend. Some are fishing open water around the Route 12 bridge.
DES PLAINES RIVER: Nick Doumel, the vice president of the Des Plaines River Anglers Association, reported live bait under a float taking pike. ‘‘Look for slack water areas in deeper pools, especially at the end of a current run, as well as any seams,’’ he said. There are a few sauger and stray walleye tighter to seams.
DOWNSTATE NOTES: SPRING: ‘‘Muskie guys are tearing them up,’’ site super Stan Weimer said. ‘‘We are ice-free as we speak [Tuesday afternoon].’’ Call (309) 968-7135 to check on ice. POWERTON: Boat fishing
reopens next Wednesday. Remember, there are no docks. Weimer said catfish — channel, blue and flathead — have been good, with some big fish being taken by shore fishermen. SHELBYVILLE: Guide Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service reported limits on crappie, fishing live bait in 25 to 30 feet, on main lake points or channel breaks.
KANKAKEE RIVER: Norm Minas
reported good walleye on a No. 9
Rapala Tail Dancer worked along seams. He also found pike in a backwater working a Fluke by vegetation.
Henry’s reported powerliners took some coho Tuesday at Montrose. There have been some browns at
Diversey and a few steelhead at the mouth of Montrose. Perch at Navy Pier have been in and out; good Sunday, poor Tuesday. The Calumet remains the most consistent place for perch.
reported some perch and pike on Waubesa, bluegills (take sorting) on Monona and Squaw bays, a few perch on Monona off Wild Haven and pike (city shoreline), walleye (on the bars) and perch (Second Point) on Mendota.
RIVER: Chamber of Commerce
reported ice of 12 to 14 inches with very good pike (weed edges or weed beds) and panfish (around weeds in 12 feet or less or over mud flats in 12 to 15 feet). MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice of Kurt’s Island Sport Shop reported ATV travel is OK, with most lakes holding 12.5 to 16 inches of ice. Pike (shiners on tip-ups), perch, walleye and bluegills have been fair to good.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Mik-Lurch
reported trollers taking coho and browns out of Portage and in shallow sand off Ogden Dunes. Some perch at the R4 near Portage. A few coho off the Michigan City piers.
reported boaters taking good steelhead in the river and some coho and whitefish off the St. Joe piers. Also true for New Buffalo.
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