Midwest Fishing Report (Aug. 31)
August 30, 2011 10:16PM
Related Stories
Updated: November 4, 2011 6:45PM
SHORELINE SALMON: Night catches are under way in Kenosha, Wis. Mik-Lurch
reported good action in Ludington, Mich. Locally, it’s mixed. At Waukegan, Talmadge Hargraves III at the Salmon Stop said small kings moved into the harbor and he expects bigger ones to come in shortly. In Chicago, Steve Palmisano at Henry’s said: ‘‘One here and one there. But the fever in the air, any day it will be starting.’’
CHICAGO RIVER: Jeff Nolan of Bridgeport Bass reported fall patterns starting with largemouth hitting drop-shot worms and crankbaits at dusk. Good crappie, perch, smallmouth and largemouth at Ogden Slip on slow, deep crankbaits. Lots of rock bass under Lake Shore Drive.
COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS: MAZONIA/BRAIDWOOD: Staff reported 93 degrees on the north, 100 on the south. Boaters taking some big catfish. Site closure goes to 7 p.m. on Saturday. LaSALLE: Reports and photos of nice blues. Site is open Wednesday to Sunday through Sept. 30.
DELAVAN/GENEVA LAKES, WIS.: DELAVAN: Guide Dave Duwe reported fish are transitioning. Largemouth are in 8 to 10 feet or suspended in main basin. Bluegills are spotty. Pike are improving in 23 to 27 feet. GENEVA: Duwe said rock bass are most consistent in 12 to 15 feet. Largemouth are on weed lines in 15 to 18 feet or on topwaters early. There are walleye at night and pike on the thermocline.
DOWNSTATE NOTES: SHELBYVILLE: Guide Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service reported catfish are good in the creek areas, drift-fishing with cut bait. Crappie are good in 5 to 10 feet on jigs or minnows, part way back in the coves. EVERGREEN: Site staff reported crappie are the main bite, mostly on minnows in 15 to 20 feet. Catfish are good. REND: Jason Johns of Todd Gessner Outdoors reported crappie moved shallow on laydowns or stick-up brush. Bass are chasing shad shallow. Channel catfish are excellent; cut shad or dipbait are best.
FOX RIVER: WESTERN SUBURBS: Blogger Ken Gortowski reported water levels slightly below normal. He thought any rains would spark action. He has had good outings for smallmouth in sections.
ILLINOIS RIVER: STARVED ROCK AREA: Thom Matejewski of Time on the Water Outdoors reported sauger have improved shallow on crankbaits or jigs, Hennepin to high piles, the power plant and Clark Island. A few bigger white bass are starting around bridge pilings or creek mouths. Some nice crappie around barge pilings.
KANKAKEE RIVER: Ed Mullady reported good smallmouth around the state park, good catfish at Wilmington and bluegills, catfish and pike in Indiana. ‘‘Catfish’’ Dave Bradigan did OK for catfish around
Momence; target deeper water. Norm Minas found smallmouth scattered and caught on many methods, but a Bandit 200 is best.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: MINOCQUA : Guide Kurt Justice of Kurt’s Island Sports said he expected bass and bluegill fishermen to do better at first, then muskie and walleye anglers by end of the holiday weekend. Largemouth (weed pockets or edges with plastics), smallmouth (deep in 26 to 36 feet over gravel humps or over sandgrass flats), muskies (topwaters on overcast days or evenings), bluegills (deep weed edges) and perch (weeds in 8 to 10 feet) are best bets.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Mik-Lurch reported steelhead far up Salt and Trail. Kings are deep in Illinois or Michigan waters. No perch. Bluegills are good on Willow Slough by dipping in the weed pockets.
SHABBONA LAKE: Lakeside reported catfish are good for shore fishermen. Bass are good on edges or drops on crankbaits.
WISCONSIN DELLS: River’s Edge reported
good evening walleye and fair-sized smallmouth. Water levels are down
because of dam work. NOTE: Hook-and-line season for sturgeon opens Saturday.
