A Chinook already turning color, lots of lakers and some active steelhead on southern Lake Michigan, steady catfish and largemouth bass inland and cooler weather settling in lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.

Kings turning color along with cooler weather and hotter fishing are among the lead items in this sprawling raw-fie Midwest Fishing Report.

Johnny Wilkins of Chicago Fishing School tweeted the photo at the top and this on Sunday:

@BowmanOutside

– Alex from Cincinnati visiting Chicago wrestled with this 14 lb. , 28 inch beastie on 6 lb. line and 5 lb. leader with a size 10 hook this past week. He went 3-for-3 and enjoyed some inland fishing near Palos Hills. This was his biggest fish ever, and smile.

That’s the experience.

Provided by Ken “Husker” O’Malley

And another side of the experience comes in this photo from Ken “Husker” O’Malley, who added:

Topwater action with great scenery. Is there really anything better?

Not many is the answer.

ILLINOIS FROGGING

Bullfrog-only season runs through Oct. 15 in Illinois. Daily bag is eight.

A couple key notes from the Illinois DNR:

A sport fishing license is required to harvest bullfrogs. Bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand, or landing net.

No person shall harvest bullfrogs or any other reptile or amphibian by commercial fishing devices, including, hoop nets, traps or seines or by the use of firearms, air guns or gas guns or during bowfishing tournaments.

CHICAGO FISHING PARKING PASSES

The parking passes for the fisherman’s parking lots are not being sold while the lakefront remains officially closed.

ILLINOIS RIVER LOCKS

Closures are on for the Dresden Island, Marseilles, Starved Rock, Peoria and LaGrange locks on the Illinois River to facilitate major repairs.

Here are the two lead paragraphs from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois – Beginning July 1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District is temporarily closing the Dresden Island, Marseilles, Starved Rock, Peoria and LaGrange locks on the Illinois Waterway to facilitate needed repairs and maintenance. The closures, which will be conducted simultaneously to limit impacts to navigation, are scheduled to last through late October.

During the closures, no vessels will be able to pass through the closed locks. Navigation on the rest of the river, between the locks, will be able to continue without impact as water levels will be maintained at a normal level throughout the season.

Click here for details on the timing and other details on the closures.

AREA LAKES

Provided

Dana Robinson sent several photos from Tampier, including the one above:

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photo below and this:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of thus past week’s fishing.

Area lakes-evening hours continue to be the best bite for bass. Working a Texas rigged power worm along deep weedlines are taking good numbers. Work a Berkeley choppo the last half hour of light. Topwater action is always great way to end an outing.

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Provided

Pete Lamar emailed the photo below and this:

Hi Dale,

A still-water report and a creek report this week.

I’ll never complain about catching big bluegills, but I was definitely targeting largemouths: using the eight weight; fishing at night; throwing a good-sized bass bug (that’s my index finger in the enclosed image as a frame of reference as to the size of the bug). I caught some bass on local lakes and ponds last week but caught far more bluegills. I’m still surprised that they would attempt to eat something that size.

. . .

Pete

Provided by Pete Lamar

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

The cooling lake in the southwest corner of Will County is open daily 6 a.m. to sunset.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Brad Irving at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said some nice walleye are being caught shallow early morning on jigs and crawlers or leeches; bluegill are on the outer, deeper weed lines in 8-10 feet; cutbait and stinkbait continue to work well on catfish; some smaller smallmouth in the north river, better smallmouth in the south river.

NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.

NOTE 2: The Stratton Lock and Dam is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, operating Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to midnight.

CHICAGO RIVER

Provided by Jeffrey Williams

Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above last week and this:

So close to my record Came in as 20 pounds

And see Lucas Wise’s tips on catching largemouth bass downtown by clicking on the Fish of the Week.

DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Delavan Lake 7/27/20 through 8/03/20

Fishing overall on Delavan remains very consistent. There are many anglers trying to test their talents on the wary fish. The last week, the boat launch has been the busiest I’ve seen it all year. There is no good time to go to avoid the traffic so patience is a must.

Yellow Perch have been biting in front of Township Park in 12-14 ft of water. Locate yourself in front of the beach area for the best success. The best presentation has been using Thill slip bobbers tipped with a leaf worm or a hellgrammite. Most of the fish have been positioned a foot off bottom. The other method for using the leaf worms is fishing a split shot rig straight beneath the boat.

Northern Pike fishing has been up and down. Earlier in the week you could catch as many pike as you had suckers. It did slow as the week went on however. The best success has come off of medium suckers fished on a lindy rig. The tight schools have dispersed so it’s been kind of hit or miss as you troll down the weedline. The best location has been west of Willow Point in 20 ft of water.

Largemouth bass remain on the deep weedline. They can be caught on nightcrawlers fished on a split shot rig or drop shotting 4 inch finesse worms. They haven’t been schooled as heavy as they were in past years. The key is to keep your boat moving to find the active fish. In years past you could sit on a school for 4 hours and catch them non-stop but that isn’t the case this year yet. The best location is by the Island or by the Village Supper Club.

Bluegills remain on the weedline in 15-20 ft of water. They can be caught on Thill slip bobbers with leaf worms or small panfish leeches. You need to keep moving to find the larger fish. My best success has been by Willow Point or by the Oriental boathouse or by the Assembly Park weedline. Bluegill fishing has not been as good as last week, however if you keep moving you should catch a nice limit.

Walleyes have remained inconsistent. The best action has been coming after dark. However, I’ve been catching fish during the daylight too. I’ve been averaging a legal fish every other trip. My best success has come off of leeches or nightcrawlers. I’ve been using lindy rigs with an 1/8 oz sinker or a split shot rigged nightcrawler.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

DOWNSTATE

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Here is the word from The Wetlands Initiative:

Paddling and Fishing at the Dixon Refuge

Hennepin & Hopper Lakes are now open for summer paddling and fishing! The opening was delayed this year because of COVID-19 but you still have plenty of time to enjoy the lakes before the season ends on September 7.

As usual, the lakes are closed on Mondays during the summer season except for Labor Day. For all other paddling and fishing rules, please click here.

And many thanks to everyone who has been following the special health guidelines while using the Refuge trails during the COVID-19 epidemic. We want all our visitors and restoration staff to stay healthy!

EMIQUON: Basically, go to the launch. General information at http://experienceemiquon.com/sites/default/files/LakeAccessRules.pdf.

SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing.

FOX RIVER

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

A still-water report and a creek report this week.

. . .

As far as smallmouths, I went out early in the morning. The day before had been in the 90s; nighttime temperatures didn’t drop below the low 70s. But the Fox tributary was running almost cold to the touch (it was also low and clear). Nothing huge, but some good numbers of smallmouths cooperated. Some of the pools that are typically deep and slow moving had practically no flow at all. I didn’t expect to find any smallmouths in there, but covered them in the hopes of finding some channel cats. No luck: only some carp and schools of suckers. All the smallmouths came from in or near some pretty fast flowing water. It was more like brown trout fishing. The recent rain will probably help things this week.

Pete

GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN

Arden Katz said smallmouth are going well at night on wind-blown points in 20 feet; some largemouth mixed in; as to rock bass, “can’t keep them off the hook.”

Dave Duwe emailed:

Lake Geneva 7/27/20 through 8/03/20

Fishing on Lake Geneva, remains a very consistent bite. Most fish species are very active and able to be caught.

Northern Pike fishing has been the most consistent pattern. The fish are now positioned from 32-35 ft. Most of the fish are averaging around 26 inches with several legal fish taken throughout the week. I’ve been using small suckers fished on a lindy rig. The best location has been in Williams Bay and Fontana.

Walleye fishing has been very good this last week, with both size and numbers being caught. All of the fish are being taken at night. Most of the fish have been caught on lindy rigs fished with either leeches or nightcrawlers. The best depth has been 14-17 ft. right on the weed line. Look for the fish by Abbey Springs and Fontana Beach.

Largemouth bass have been very active. Most of the fish are in the 10-13 ft. range. They are very catchable in the morning and late afternoon. Most of the success is coming on top water lures. The best choice is either a chug bug or a Pop-R. The best location has been Williams Bay or by Trinkes. With the warming water, they can also be caught on the deep weed lines using Carolina rigs. I prefer a 2 ft. leader fished with a ½ oz weight. Either use green pumpkin lizards or an Arkie salty crawling grub. The best location has been the narrows or by Colemans Point. I position the boat in about 20 ft of water and cast in toward the structure.

Lake Trout fishing has been very good. Basically the same pattern as last week. The fish are located 3-4 ft. off bottom in about 108-112 ft. of water. The best location is by Yerkes Observatory or Uhline’s Creek.

Pan fish have been biting well. You will have to sort through a bunch of fish to catch the ones with decent size. The bigger fish seem to come from deeper water, the 15-18 ft. range. The most active specie has been the bluegill. Rock bass fishing is becoming a bit more limited. Look for the fish by the Elgin Club or in Geneva Bay, outside the buoys.

Good Luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 262-728-8063

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Guide Mike Norris emailed:

Fishing Report 07/27/2020

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake – Heat and high humidity returned throughout the Midwest last weekend and the fishing on Big Green slowed once again. It only took 16.66 lbs. to win a Big Sacks bass tournament on Big Green last Saturday and several of the competitors failed to catch a five fish limit. In past years, winning weights were over 20 lbs. I am adjusting by splitting my guide trips to fishing smallies with Ned Rigs early in the morning and then switching over to live bait rigging sucker minnows for northern pike in the late morning early afternoon timeframe. I am also opting to guide on other nearby lakes which continue to be productive.

Fox Lake – Fox Lake remains a good fishing alternative for my clients and I despite the recent heat and humidity. The lake is in full bloom and water clarity is less than two feet. As a result, largemouth bass and northern pike can be found close to the bank and under piers in most locations within the lake. My clients are averaging 27 fish per half day guide trip. Reaction lures remain my top choice due to the limited visibility. Strike King Thunder Crickets are working well. For added action tip the lure with a Berkley Pit Boss. This lure setup is also accounting for an occasional shallow water walleye. Angler’s trolling crankbaits over the lake basin are also catching walleye.

Phone me at 630-842-8199 to book a guided fishing trip or contact me through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR weekly report, which have restarted.

Lance LaVine at Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay emailed this:

Hi guys

Here is super quick update….have been slammed. If you would like a more detailed report you can give us a shout and one of us can lock ourselves in a back room and do it.

Salmon fishing is still going well throughout the county. The KD Salmon tournament just wrapped up and the top 6 fish were all over 30 pounds along with a large list of 25plus pound giants caught. Check out all the standing on their facebook page at KD Salmon Tournament.

The best bite has been in that 100 to 150 foot range fishing the top 80 foot of the water column. Flasher/fly combos, meat rigs and spoons all taking their fair share of fish

Walleye fishing has been going strong now again for the past week or so and that bite should now stay pretty good right through fall. Trolling with and assortment of crank baits and crawler harnesses along with rip jigging with Shorty Tubes, rippin raps and shiver minnows

Perch fishing is on the up and up and that too should stay good right through fall as it has the past 3 or 4 years. Sturgeon Bay ship canal, Sawyer Harbor and Little Sturgeon just a few hot spots to try. Fatheads, leaf worms and crawler pieces the best live baits

Thanks;

Lance LaVine

Howie’s Tackle
1309 Green Bay Rd
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Ph: 920-746-9916

HEIDECKE LAKE

The former cooling lake near Morris is open daily 6 a.m. to sunset.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Some of the lowest most wadeable water of the year.

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

The lakefront remains officially closed, but people are doing a lot of things on the lakefront, including fishing by walking or biking in. Fisherman’s parking passes are not being sold while the lakefront remains officially closed.

Photo provided by Andy Mikos

Andy Mikos emailed the photo above and this on Friday:

We caught this 15 pound king today Northeast of the R4 in about 100’ of water. By itself it isn’t very special however this was the first king I have caught that is just starting to turn Color. It is hard to tell in the picture but it is definitely starting. This is a male and the teeth in the front of the lower jaw were becoming more pronounced. It came on a dipsy out 200’ on green hot spot flasher with glow tape and a green crinkle Howie Fly. I hope you and your family are staying healthy. Take care – Andy

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said that out of Chicago “lakers are on fire” with the occasional steelhead, coho and a rare king in around 100 feet between the R4 and “The Wreck”; out of North Point, there’s the occasional king, coho and steelhead scattered between 140-240 feet.

Capt. Scott Wolfe emailed:

Hi Dale

Waukegan fishing was excellent in the morning but poor in the afternoon. The fish have been in a pattern where they are very active early with lake trout limits and a few kicker silver each morning. The afternoon trips have been a struggle. The fish were widely spread with the best area being 110 to 130 feet of water most days. But, boats have been out to past 200 feet of water with some success as well.

For lake trout almost anything run below 50 feet had a chance of taking fish. We did better last week on spoons and Dodger/fly instead of the traditional lake trout spin n glo rigs. Warrior XL in bright yellow and orange patterns like Jamaican Sunrise and Steelhead Candy on 200 to 300 copper lines and on downriggers not only took lakers, but some coho and steelhead too. 0 dodgers with aqua or white flies from Jimmy Fly or Smokin Fish Tackle run on wire divers and downriggers below 50 feet took lakers, chinook, coho and steelhead.

The real key has been early, early, early. Afternoon trips have been a struggle.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

School Of Fish Charters
schooloffishcharters.com
630-341-0550

LaSALLE LAKE

The cooling lake, south of Seneca, is open daily 6 a.m. to sunset.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Lakes are open daily for fishing 6 a.m. to sunset.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:

A week of very unstable weather for July. Cold mornings (low 50’s), small fronts and rain with lightning slowed fish activity. The weather and the bites were all inconsistent.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Cooler temps seem to improve the bite at times, but, usually later in the mornings. Working Boonie Bait spinner baits over cabbage flats of 4-9’ worked best, but one really good morning would be followed by a couple not so good.

Bluegill: Good-Fair – Scattered in depth from 2’-20’. Coontail edges of 14-18’ best, but don’t expect all nice Gills, as little Gills patrolling these areas ripping up crawlers and leeches meant for bigger game.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Action slower than its been most of the summer. Some nice fish of 18-20“, but not nearly the action. Heavy cabbage for some, but better along deep edges using Tokyo rigs or Carolina rigging craw imitations.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair – Deep coontail edges and over sandgrass flats. Drop-shotting 3” minnow or craw imitations.

Musky: Fair – Bucktails best, the cooler mornings and unstable weather may have been the cause for less top-water action.

Crappie: Fair – Not a lot of consistent reports this past week. Few fish here and there.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Same as Crappies

Walleye: Fair-Poor – A few nice fish, mainly along deep coontail edges on crawlers and leeches, very inconsistent.

Water temps in the 72-75 degree range, looks like some very stable weather this week. May start to help pattern fish. The past week almost seemed like late August when waters cool (which they did) and weeds start to die back (which they didn’t). Slow down may have been after effect of such a hot late June/Early July.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
Like us on FaceBook

NORTHWEST INDIANA

Provided by Capt. Rich Sleziak

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted the photo above and this report:

Steelhead action at the ditch in 38 to 45 ft has been fair to great mag spoons and j 13 rapalas doing best most fish are down 25 to 35 ft

We had 31 jumpers on in 2 trips yesterday and only boated 9 they are wild dale

Perch hit or miss lately not nearly as many groups out fishing for them the guys that have had some action are fishing East of dune state park and East all the way to my baldy 30 to 40 ft of water baby golden roach minnows is best bait

Perch fishing in new buffalo Michigan has been good my first handful of customers in the am go that way

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale! This is what I got for ya this week…hope you’re staying safe & comfy!!

~Bass: moderately well on crawfish, nightcrawlers, frogs/tadpoles, crankbaits, & jigs; more action being seen at night or early morning when it’s cooler.

~Walleye: moderate, w/ leeches still best bait at Wolf Lake. Near St. Joseph River, still being caught; nightcrawlers & flicker shad seem to be working best.

~Catfish: doing well; cutbait, nightcrawlers, & crawfish working best during the day; liver & stinkbait at night

~Perch: slowed down some, but they are still catching them on spinners, crawfish, & minnows

~Bluegills, Sunfish: area lakes swarming; being caught on small leeches, red worms, & spinners

~Sheepshead/Drum: doing well off piers on the lakefront, mostly on worms, crawfish, & casting spoons

~Salmon: A good number have shown up, & anglers are catching them between 90-130 FOW using spin doctors & flies, fishing 60-70 down in the water column.Lake Trout: being caught between 100-120 FOW south of the harbor using spin-n-glos

~Christina

SHABBONA LAKE

Clint Sands at Lakeside said some bass are being caught on soft plastics, wacky worms and buzzbaits on the dam face and around timber and rocks; there’s some catfish in the no-motor zone; a few muskies were caught casting bucktails in no-motor zone, too; there’s some crappie on minnows; water is 83 with 2-3 feet of clarity.

Site hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lakeside (6 a.m.-7 p.m.) is open with boat rentals (6 a.m.-6 p.m.). Pokanoka’s Cafe is open daily, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The camp store is open 5-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m.-noon Sunday.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Wisconsin fishing reports have restarted. Click here for the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR.

WOLF LAKE

Provided by Dana Robinson

Dana Robinson sent the photo above on Saturday.

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale! This is what I got for ya this week…hope you’re staying safe & comfy!!

. . .

~Walleye: moderate, w/ leeches still best bait at Wolf Lake.

. . .

~Christina