Chicago fishing: Fall patterns are setting up -- sort of

Hey dale good morning !!!

Currently here at dusable , been here since 4:30am and nothing casting switched to bobber and bammm

Good morning Dale

Salmon and Trout still doing well. Saw quite a few nice fish caught last week and over the weekend. Kings and Northerns by the mouth of the harbor and a couple really nice Rainbow/Steelhead from out on the Horseshoe. Most are still being caught on spoons and crankbaits but a few are starting to hit baits such as spawn sacs, larger minnows etc.. under a slip float.

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Have a great week!

Few salmon still being caught in nwi creeks using spinners, spawn saks and skein.

The cooler nights have helped the bite quite a bit. The ramps and ponds have very few anglers this time of year. The fishing can be some of the best of the year. Top water for bass continues to be good all fall, for both largemouth and smallmouth. Panfish put the feed bag on really good also. Fish much more shallow than would normally think you should.

It won’t be long and I will be providing an ice fishing report!

Hi Dale

The Temps have started to cool in island lake and the bite remains good for bass. Dark color buzzbait worked in shallows in clear areas adjacent to duckweed and the rapidly disappearing fillamentous algae. Bass still hitting plastics Texas or wacky rigged. The best time is later in the day and evening.

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On the music front all 3 groups scheduled to perform. Midnite mile at main street outfitters October 18th , the conscious rockers at main Street outfitters on November 30th and zappfest in December a t Reggies 12/13 and Shank hall Milwaukee 12/14. We should be rocking and rolling on into the new year!

Tight lines and good health! Rob

Dale, went out today on Lk Marie, water was 67, got 3 walleyes, on Kastmaster spoons, and about 35 Whitebass!!

Hey Dale,

Continuing to put a lot of time into the Chicago River with an ultralight setup....water temp has remained pretty stable given the lack of colder fall weather lately. I’ve continued to try covering water with baits to find active fish, mostly on the bottom. Catches have included largemouth, smallmouth, a good amount of crappies, rock bass, and the occasional bluegill (the baits I’ve been using are too big for most of the small panfish).

Best catch was a 19 inch smallmouth bass which was a challenge to land on the ultralight. This was a significantly larger fish than anything I’ve hooked there before and is the biggest bass I’ve caught in Chicago. It was pulling a lot of drag. Once I lifted it over the wall the line snapped, but the fish was close to the ground so luckily didn’t get injured. Caught and released to hopefully find someone else’s bait in the future. I wonder if this fish swam in from the lakefront...

Just wrapped up the riverwalk for the day, a few crappies and Bass all on dropshots, trying out different plastics, got broken off twice by a drum or a catfish, did lose a decent walleye, he snapped off as soon as i got my net down

Delavan Lake Fishing Report 10/7/24 through 10/14/24

The fish on Delavan lake are starting to head towards their fall patterns. For the first time in several weeks, the walleyes are starting to bite. Most species will continue to improve with the cooling water temps and as they are established in their fall patterns.

The walleye are in two patterns. The ones I’ve been focusing on are in 22-24 ft of water off of main lake points. They can be caught using lindy rigged nightcrawlers currently but that will switch to large fat head minnows as the water cools. The secondary pattern is the shallow weed bite. The fish are biting on rattle traps in 8-10 ft of water. Look for the fish by Lake Lawn Lodge or Assembly Park point. All the walleyes I’ve been catching have been during day light hours.

Largemouth bass fishing has been steady. The only problem I’ve had is that some days I catch big fish and the next the fish are 13-14 inches. The fish I’ve been targeting have been on the inside turn of main lake points. The best depth has been 15-17 ft of water. They are biting on split shot rigged nightcrawler or lindy rigs.

Bluegill fishing has been spotty. I’ve been catching one or two while bass fishing. The fish are suspending in the main lake basin about 10-15 ft down in 40 ft of water. The fish will move shallow as the water continues to cool. Once they are in about 10-14 ft of water they will be able to be caught using slip bobber rigs with a leaf worm.

Northern Pike fishing has been steady in the weed flats in 8-10 ft of water. Look for the fish by the Highlands or Viewcrest Bay. White chatter baits continue to be a good bet. As fall moves on, I’ll start to fish for trophy sized pike on big suckers fished beneath a Thill big fish slip bobber.

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

Geneva Lake Fishing Report 10/7/24 thru 10/14/24

The most consistent bite for me has been the deep water bluegills. As the water cools a few more degrees, the bite will switch from nightcrawlers and leaf worms to fat head minnows and golden shiners.

Northern pike action has been good in the weed flats such as Williams Bay and Trinkes. Most of the success is coming off trolling medium diving crank baits in a perch or fire tiger pattern. The best depth has been in 12-15 ft of water. This bite should be consistent throughout the rest of the fall season.

Musky fishing will be improving after the lake turns over in the next few weeks. I will be trolling large suckers in 12-15 ft of water. Most time will be spent on the inside turns off of main lake points, like Black Point and the 700 club by Trinkes. The suckers should be between 12-13 inches on a quick strike rig. Depending on the sucker, you may need to adjust your weight to keep the bait down. Some will pull away and naturally keep deep but others may need some weight to keep the bait the 3-4 ft above the weeds.

Walleye fishing remains a constant bite in the overnight hours. Look for the fish in Trinkes Bay or by Knollwood bay. The best depth is 12-14 ft of water. Trolling medium diving stick baits has been the best presentation.

Rock bass fishing has been slow. I’ve been catching a few in 12-13 ft of water. The best location has been just east of Cedar Point near Williams Bay. I’ve been catching them on split shot rigged nightcrawlers trolled right on bottom.

Bluegill fishing has been great, the fish are in 18-20 ft of water. I’ve been catching a bunch by Covenant Harbor, Elgin Club and by Gage Marine. The best success has come where there are light winds where I can keep contact with the bottom using a light sinker and leaf worm. The fish are about 6 inches to 1 foot above bottom.

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

Fishing Report – 10/6/2024

By Mike Norris

Big Green Lake: A stiff wind blowing from varying directions (depending on the day) complicated casting drop shot rigs last week. I usually align my boat near the drop-off and let the wind push my boat down along the break while casting drop-shot rigs downwind. However, due to last week’s wind velocity, I had to deal with a floating line, and I could not reel fast enough to feel the drop shot weight. There is a solution, though. Just drag the drop shot rig instead. Cast in the opposite direction from which the boat drifts and let out enough line so the drop shot weight occasionally ticks the tops of any short weed growth you will come upon. When you feel a bite, set the hook. Doing so saved my day twice last week with varying clients. Changes are in store regarding bass location as we move into mid-October. Big Green’s surface water temperature fell into the upper 60s last week, and bass fishing slowed down a bit due to them spreading out on the flats. Fortunately, the bluegill bite remains excellent on drop-shot rigs tipped with red worms in 35 feet of water near cribs. The perch bite has also picked up and should improve as we move through October. Walleyes are still active and hitting spinner rigs on the offshore bars.

Little Green Lake: Muskies fishing remains good on Little Green Lake. The cooler nights and colder water temps should fire them up more. Bucktails trolled over weed beds in 8 to 10 feet of water remain the favorite way to hunt them down. Perch fishing is still good around the piers and beneath fallen shoreline timber.

Fox Lake: There is an excellent bite for perch, bluegills, and crappie throughout the lake, including the river. Walleye are slow. Now is a good time of the year to target muskies on Fox Lake. One to two over 50 inches are caught on Fox Lake each October.

Mike Norris

Good morning Dale

Salmon and Trout still doing well. Saw quite a few nice fish caught last week and over the weekend. Kings and Northerns by the mouth of the harbor and a couple really nice Rainbow/Steelhead from out on the Horseshoe. Most are still being caught on spoons and crankbaits but a few are starting to hit baits such as spawn sacs, larger minnows etc.. under a slip float.

Smallmouth still active in and around the lakefront. No perch reports.

Have a great week!

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).

Hi Dale,

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Horrible conditions for a fall trip. Was 80F every day with water temps sitting between 65F and 75F. Fish still in their summer pattern. I was going to leave Sondi up there to find some new spots as I continue work at the zoo. We worked hard and found fish.

Dave Derk

Hey Dale,

Here’s a recap from the recent Northwoods adventure. Water temps are definitely warmer than they should be at this time but are slowly trending in the right direction. They started out at 64 and were down to 60 on the main lake. Shallower bays were cooler at 56-58. A couple of nights the temps dropped below freezing that helped lower those water temps. Winds over the weekend made boat control a bit of a challenge. Fall foliage was around 65-70% and should peak later this week. Now onto fishing. The smallmouth are putting on their fall feed bags as the overall weight of the fish showed. Best bait was a husker bug with a Berkley Fishing max scent lil’ general worked in 15-20 fow along rock points. A keitech swim bait on a All-Terrain Tackle smasher head took a few as well.

Northern pike were excellent but took some sorting to get through the snakes. A Mepps #5 took the better size pike over deeper weeds in 15-25 fow.

Walleye were slow working a jerkbait along drop offs and deeper weeds in low light conditions. Plenty of smaller pike managed to hit that presentation. It was another great trip to the Northwoods. A special thanks to Otter Bay Resort on Lake Owen for great food and hospitality.

Here’s the nature pic of the week courtesy of Vickie O’Malley. Signs seasons are changing.

TTYL

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Into October, finally some cold mornings (as low as 29 degrees on 10/4) driving temps into the low 60’s (as it should be). Colors starting to pop and Musky action on the upswing. Our weather has been either calm or very windy, but one constant has been very few clouds. Somewhere in the middle would be a much better compromise for us anglers. Bite windows have been small for some species, but when it’s on, it’s been good.

Smallmouth Bass: Very Good-Good – Two distinct bites…off-shore, along coontail edges or over rock humps. Numbers of Smallies to 16” using drop-shot rigs with 3” minnow imitations. For a crack at a big fish, work top-water (Whopper Ploppers, Choppos, Torpedo’s) over shallow weeds. Fish to 6 ½ #’s this past week with several 5#+ fish from reports of guide Todd Powell!

Crappie: Very Good-Good – Wind made weekend bite tough to work for Crappies. Yet once surface temps hit below the mid 60-degree mark, Crappies have been on the feed. Depth of 10-16’ with wood or green weed edges. Medium fatheads or 1/16 oz jigs with Charlie Brewer Crappie Sliders, Garland Slab Slayers or Mr. Crappie Sugar Gliders either jigged or worked under a slip-float have been killer. Good catches and size to 14” this past week.

Musky: Good-Very Good – It’s the start of “sucker season”. While bucktails and top-water lures still providing good results (and will until surface temps hit 55 degrees or so/turn-over), suckers are really coming into play. Fish just outside of shallow weed flats, drawing fish to suckers on quick-set rigs with blades. Twitch and gliders also picking up their share.

Northern Pike: Good-Very Good – Liking the cooler temps. Good catches reported from anglers casting spinnerbaits or jigging chub/jig combos on wire leaders. Some very nice mid-30” fish being caught on 12-13” suckers meant for Musky.

Yellow Perch: Good – Best along sandgrass just outside coontail edges or mixed in drown weeds. ½ crawlers or medium fatheads on weedless jigs, Lindy rigs or under slip-floats.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Wind held off what was an improving bite. On “fishable” days, outside weeds over sandgrass in 15-18’ and also, depending on lake, over gravel/rock humps in 17-28’. Redtails along weeds. Large fatheads or ½ crawlers on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. May be the cloudless skies, but the hard jigging lures (Shiver Minnows, Jigging Raps) have not been as effective, as bite over deep has been light.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Not many anglers actively pursuing. Outside weed edges as bigger fish rule the shallow weeds. Wacky Worms, drop-shotting been best. Some top-water where competition from Musky not present.

Bluegill: Fair – Had a great run! Wind over the weekend made pan fishing almost impossible. Seems bite fading as water cools.

We’ve seen water temps drop from low 70’s over a week ago into upper 50’s to low 60’s (62 about average). Definitely bringing about some better patterns for the “October” anglers pursuing Musky, Walleye, Smallmouth and Crappies. With the two-week forecast showing lows below 40 degrees almost every morning and highs of mid 60’s at the warmest, we should start seeing signs of turn-over in a week or so. Don’t confuse turn-over with the heavy algae blooms on some of our lakes, those should be clearing up with the colder temps.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sports Shop
– Like us on FaceBook

Few salmon still being caught in nwi creeks using spinners, spawn saks and skein.

Bluegills and a few crappie for boat fishermen fishing pine lake in Laporte using waxworms and jumbo reds.

Slez’s Bait Shop has musky suckers in stock now.

Attendees can join guided tours and see fish-spawning demonstrations, learn about Lake Michigan fishing methods, try casting fly rods, catch a backyard bass and learn how to tie flies.

Thanks to partnerships with Salmon Unlimited, Trout Unlimited and the Milwaukee Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, there will be educational fishing stations and a Touch of the Wild education trailer on-site, allowing attendees to get a hands-on connection with nature.

“This family-friendly event will offer a learning experience for everyone to enjoy,” said Cheryl Masterson, DNR South Lake Michigan unit fisheries supervisor. “Fish enthusiasts of all ages will get a chance to see DNR staff collecting salmon eggs and learn how facilities like this support Lake Michigan’s fishery.”

The Root River Steelhead Facility was built in the early 1990s to help the DNR more effectively manage Lake Michigan’s trout and salmon fishery. Rainbow trout (Steelhead) enter the streams in spring and each fall chinook and Coho salmon enter the streams for their annual spawning rituals.

Ricardo and I had a productive Saturday on the creek for smallmouth bass and rock bass. Managed our first 2 double ups

He caught all of his on a Great Lakes jig and craw. Mine were mostly on Whopper Plopper 60 and smaller Bass Pro XPS Popper

About a 25 or so fish day combined

Off current breaks and some in relatively deeper water in calmer pools

Hi Dale

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In Merrill Wisconsin last weekend I had Roy coackley up for some fall big fish hunting. This is the time when the biggest smallmouth go on the fall feed and muskie also get more aggressive. Throwing the og Rocco crankbait and various plastics big smallmouth were hitting I 1 to 6 feet of water around hard bottom with wood rock and eelgrass nearby. Most of the bass were big, only a couple of what we call peanuts. We caught bonus pike in the same areas. While fishing for bass we floated suckerd for muskie. Of 5 takes we landed only one but it was quite eventful resulting in a hook in my hand and consequent extraction in the boat. A discussion we ironically discussed while driving on our way up to the cabin. What a spectacular day as the big possums are starting to walk late.

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Tight lines and good health! Rob

Water temp Tuesday was 57. White bass and crappie action is still very good. Keep moving till you find a suicidal school.