T_boy
04-25-2008, 07:09 PM
FISH OF THE WEEK: Hank Gonzalez caught his steelhead in surreal conditions Saturday at Casino Pier. The Hyde Park man e-mailed this tale, ''A very dense fog had rolled over the pier at Jackson harbor when this 26-inch steelhead hit on my ½-ounce orange and silver KO Wobbler. Since most of my strikes this time of year are from cohos, I had 6-pound line on my 8-foot salmon rod. The fight lasted over five minutes. This fish didn't jump too much, but he hunkered down and took a handful of runs, sometimes threatening to break off on the submerged rocks.'' We began posting FOTW photos at blogs.suntimes.com/bowman.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN ICE: Minocqua guide Kurt Justice e-mailed, ''I know everyone wants to know what ice will be like for the [May 3] opener. Right now I'm predicting we will have plenty of small to mid-sized lakes available for open water. Large lakes may still have ice, but if the sun stays out this week that should melt quickly.''
AREA LAKES: Good: With the warm-up, bass came shallower on many local lakes and ponds; try Rat-l-traps or something like Senkos/Gulp/plastics. Crappie really took off too. Henry's even reported good action in city lagoons. In DuPage, Kolar said crappie were best at Pratt-Wayne's little ponds.
CHAIN O'LAKES/FOX RIVER: Receding/ good: NOTE: As of Tuesday, the river between the Algonquin and McHenry dams remained closed to boating; while the river and Chain from the McHenry dam to the Wisconsin line is no-wake. CHAIN: Triangle reports outstanding bluegill fishing shallow and crappie good around piers in most channels. Pike should be coming off the spawn, use spinner baits or spoons near creeks. Carp are good on vanilla doughbait. Catfish are taking crawlers or fatheads, Marie best. Walleye are slowing with the spawn. Muskie are very good. White bass are fair in 12 feet with spikes or small minnows. FOX: With high water, wading guide Ken Gortowski e-mailed, ''High-water dabbling in areas with walls, like Geneva or South Elgin, maybe St. Charles, is going to be the way to go for quite some time, could be a good month if we keep getting April showers. Only the brave [or stupid] that know an area extremely well should venture off into other areas.'' The other option is working creeks or feeders, which cleared quicker. Ed McCain of Mik-Lurch reported good white bass at Dayton.
COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS: LaSALLE: Continues to see heavy pressure (Sunday was eerie in a mind-blowing fog), which has slowed bass, but this remains an excellent choice for multispecies action on hybrids, bass, catfish and bluegill. HEIDECKE: Concessionaire Steve Anderson said the water is in the mid-50s, so the walleye bite should start soon. Otherwise, fishing has been tough, though some hybrids are being taken by trollers or by roaches under floats from shore. MAZONIA/BRAIDWOOD: With water warmed into the 60s, Mazonia lakes should bust loose any day, but site staff said reports have been fair for crappie and bass. Braidwood is slow, other than some decent bluegill. Closing extends to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Good: Guide Dave Duwe reported good bluegill (wax worms) and crappie (minnows) all over in 4-5 feet, but the west end has been best.
DOWNSTATE: SHELBYVILLE: The Army Corps reports the lake is 4½ feet above winter pool, stained and warming through the 50s. Crappie action is varied, but focused brush or laydowns in 4-8 feet. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Guide Todd Gessner said crappie are biting on Crab Orchard and are up on the bank. Rend is about six weeks behind and was slow as of Tuesday, but Gessner guessed the weekend would ''be a safe bet for the spawn.''' HENNEPIN-HOPPER: First public day is May 2.
ILLINOIS RIVER: STARVED ROCK AREA: Guide Buster Culjan said white bass are starting. Vermilion is clean, about 59, the Illinois is in the low 60s; about 3 feet above normal. He is using 1/8-ounce jig with shiners, bladebaits or Gulp minnows. Shore anglers are taking white bass, catfish and drum. Farther downstream, the river remains higher, but ramps are open.
KANKAKEE RIVER: Normal: Most areas are normal. Ed Mullady said good areas in Illinois were Momence, Aroma Park, the Kankakee and Wilmington dams, as well as the state park for walleye, smallmouth and rock bass. In Indiana, the Point north of English Lake has pike, walleye and catfish hitting minnows; LaSalle FWA has good largemouth and crappie.
KENOSHA, WIS.: Decent: Harborside said trollers are starting to pick up coho. Shore fishermen continue to take browns and rainbows in the harbor.
LAKE ERIE: PORT CLINTON: Good: Rickard's said walleye fishing took off on Thursday. Jigging is producing big males on top of the reefs mornings; as day goes on, drop deeper. Trollers off Gull Shoal and north of the firing range are doing well, too.
LAKEFRONT: Starting: Smallmouth reports have been good, especially around the harbors downtown. Jon Giacalone caught a beautiful 19-inch smallie at Diversey on Monday. Shore perch have been tough. Henry's said Belmont, Montrose and the Planetarium continue to produce browns and steelhead from shore. Veteran lakefront angler Marv Chait reported lakers and browns remain good in 30 feet off downtown, best are 90mm Storlaksen spoons in silver/orange/chartreuse. WAUKEGAN: Lake Front Bait & Tackle said many limits of jumbo perch are taken just south of Waukegan (55 feet has been the hot depth). Key is enough weight to get the minnows on the bottom. Al Silcroft sent a photo of a 15-inch perch that weighed 1-8. There's some browns off Johnson and some steelhead.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Good: Mik-Lurch reported many jumbos at Gary Light in 39-40 feet on baby roaches (perch flies take bigger fish); also on the shoals. Capt. Chuck Weis, laid up with back troubles, said his peeps seconded that. Salmon are scattered, but the coho are up to about 20 inches. Michigan City reported some kings in 60 feet. A 16-pound king taken off Inland on Thursday. Smallmouth, when caught, have been huge. Panfish moved shallow on Wolf. NOTE: For two days, there's been reports of walleye (2-4 pounds) being cleaned at Pastrick with perch.
ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN: Decent: Walleye opens Saturday in the river, and it should be in good shape by then. Tackle Haven reported trollers starting to take coho trolling stickbaits in the top 10 feet in 25; some kings down 15-20 in 30-40. Pier has been spotty for coho, steelhead and browns. The Michigan DNR reported steady movement of steelhead through the ladders at Berrien Springs and Niles.
SHABBONA LAKE: Improving: Guide Jay Angel said crappie are good in the deep trees, about halfway down; bass are improving (Lakeside reported several heavier than 4 pounds) and catfish are good, especially in the northeast bay. Unverified reports of two large muskies in the 50-inch range. Lake was 57 degrees Tuesday. NOTE: Lakeside paid $100 to Marvin Cole for winning the 2008 Shabbona Lake Walleye Night with a 19-inch, 2.8-pound walleye he caught on the dam face with a crawler.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN: FREMONT: Excellent: Guide Bill Stoeger said the walleye fishing has been so good the boats were stacked last week as thick as during the white bass run. Best has been drifting. White bass are picking up, too. The next several weeks should be outstanding, first for walleye, then a mix of walleye and white bass, then white bass right on schedule for Mother's Day.
ILLINOIS HUNTING
DEER: Next Wednesday is the first deadline for the fall firearm season. TURKEY: The first north season had a reported harvest of 2,510, up from 2,288 last year, according to Paul Shelton, forest wildlife program manager. Second season in the north runs through Thursday; third season, north, is Friday-April 30. After two seasons, the south zone harvest was 2,581, down from 2,602 last year. Third season in the south ends today; fourth season, south, is Thursday-April 30.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN ICE: Minocqua guide Kurt Justice e-mailed, ''I know everyone wants to know what ice will be like for the [May 3] opener. Right now I'm predicting we will have plenty of small to mid-sized lakes available for open water. Large lakes may still have ice, but if the sun stays out this week that should melt quickly.''
AREA LAKES: Good: With the warm-up, bass came shallower on many local lakes and ponds; try Rat-l-traps or something like Senkos/Gulp/plastics. Crappie really took off too. Henry's even reported good action in city lagoons. In DuPage, Kolar said crappie were best at Pratt-Wayne's little ponds.
CHAIN O'LAKES/FOX RIVER: Receding/ good: NOTE: As of Tuesday, the river between the Algonquin and McHenry dams remained closed to boating; while the river and Chain from the McHenry dam to the Wisconsin line is no-wake. CHAIN: Triangle reports outstanding bluegill fishing shallow and crappie good around piers in most channels. Pike should be coming off the spawn, use spinner baits or spoons near creeks. Carp are good on vanilla doughbait. Catfish are taking crawlers or fatheads, Marie best. Walleye are slowing with the spawn. Muskie are very good. White bass are fair in 12 feet with spikes or small minnows. FOX: With high water, wading guide Ken Gortowski e-mailed, ''High-water dabbling in areas with walls, like Geneva or South Elgin, maybe St. Charles, is going to be the way to go for quite some time, could be a good month if we keep getting April showers. Only the brave [or stupid] that know an area extremely well should venture off into other areas.'' The other option is working creeks or feeders, which cleared quicker. Ed McCain of Mik-Lurch reported good white bass at Dayton.
COOLING LAKES/STRIP PITS: LaSALLE: Continues to see heavy pressure (Sunday was eerie in a mind-blowing fog), which has slowed bass, but this remains an excellent choice for multispecies action on hybrids, bass, catfish and bluegill. HEIDECKE: Concessionaire Steve Anderson said the water is in the mid-50s, so the walleye bite should start soon. Otherwise, fishing has been tough, though some hybrids are being taken by trollers or by roaches under floats from shore. MAZONIA/BRAIDWOOD: With water warmed into the 60s, Mazonia lakes should bust loose any day, but site staff said reports have been fair for crappie and bass. Braidwood is slow, other than some decent bluegill. Closing extends to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN: Good: Guide Dave Duwe reported good bluegill (wax worms) and crappie (minnows) all over in 4-5 feet, but the west end has been best.
DOWNSTATE: SHELBYVILLE: The Army Corps reports the lake is 4½ feet above winter pool, stained and warming through the 50s. Crappie action is varied, but focused brush or laydowns in 4-8 feet. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Guide Todd Gessner said crappie are biting on Crab Orchard and are up on the bank. Rend is about six weeks behind and was slow as of Tuesday, but Gessner guessed the weekend would ''be a safe bet for the spawn.''' HENNEPIN-HOPPER: First public day is May 2.
ILLINOIS RIVER: STARVED ROCK AREA: Guide Buster Culjan said white bass are starting. Vermilion is clean, about 59, the Illinois is in the low 60s; about 3 feet above normal. He is using 1/8-ounce jig with shiners, bladebaits or Gulp minnows. Shore anglers are taking white bass, catfish and drum. Farther downstream, the river remains higher, but ramps are open.
KANKAKEE RIVER: Normal: Most areas are normal. Ed Mullady said good areas in Illinois were Momence, Aroma Park, the Kankakee and Wilmington dams, as well as the state park for walleye, smallmouth and rock bass. In Indiana, the Point north of English Lake has pike, walleye and catfish hitting minnows; LaSalle FWA has good largemouth and crappie.
KENOSHA, WIS.: Decent: Harborside said trollers are starting to pick up coho. Shore fishermen continue to take browns and rainbows in the harbor.
LAKE ERIE: PORT CLINTON: Good: Rickard's said walleye fishing took off on Thursday. Jigging is producing big males on top of the reefs mornings; as day goes on, drop deeper. Trollers off Gull Shoal and north of the firing range are doing well, too.
LAKEFRONT: Starting: Smallmouth reports have been good, especially around the harbors downtown. Jon Giacalone caught a beautiful 19-inch smallie at Diversey on Monday. Shore perch have been tough. Henry's said Belmont, Montrose and the Planetarium continue to produce browns and steelhead from shore. Veteran lakefront angler Marv Chait reported lakers and browns remain good in 30 feet off downtown, best are 90mm Storlaksen spoons in silver/orange/chartreuse. WAUKEGAN: Lake Front Bait & Tackle said many limits of jumbo perch are taken just south of Waukegan (55 feet has been the hot depth). Key is enough weight to get the minnows on the bottom. Al Silcroft sent a photo of a 15-inch perch that weighed 1-8. There's some browns off Johnson and some steelhead.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: Good: Mik-Lurch reported many jumbos at Gary Light in 39-40 feet on baby roaches (perch flies take bigger fish); also on the shoals. Capt. Chuck Weis, laid up with back troubles, said his peeps seconded that. Salmon are scattered, but the coho are up to about 20 inches. Michigan City reported some kings in 60 feet. A 16-pound king taken off Inland on Thursday. Smallmouth, when caught, have been huge. Panfish moved shallow on Wolf. NOTE: For two days, there's been reports of walleye (2-4 pounds) being cleaned at Pastrick with perch.
ST. JOSEPH AREA, MICHIGAN: Decent: Walleye opens Saturday in the river, and it should be in good shape by then. Tackle Haven reported trollers starting to take coho trolling stickbaits in the top 10 feet in 25; some kings down 15-20 in 30-40. Pier has been spotty for coho, steelhead and browns. The Michigan DNR reported steady movement of steelhead through the ladders at Berrien Springs and Niles.
SHABBONA LAKE: Improving: Guide Jay Angel said crappie are good in the deep trees, about halfway down; bass are improving (Lakeside reported several heavier than 4 pounds) and catfish are good, especially in the northeast bay. Unverified reports of two large muskies in the 50-inch range. Lake was 57 degrees Tuesday. NOTE: Lakeside paid $100 to Marvin Cole for winning the 2008 Shabbona Lake Walleye Night with a 19-inch, 2.8-pound walleye he caught on the dam face with a crawler.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN: FREMONT: Excellent: Guide Bill Stoeger said the walleye fishing has been so good the boats were stacked last week as thick as during the white bass run. Best has been drifting. White bass are picking up, too. The next several weeks should be outstanding, first for walleye, then a mix of walleye and white bass, then white bass right on schedule for Mother's Day.
ILLINOIS HUNTING
DEER: Next Wednesday is the first deadline for the fall firearm season. TURKEY: The first north season had a reported harvest of 2,510, up from 2,288 last year, according to Paul Shelton, forest wildlife program manager. Second season in the north runs through Thursday; third season, north, is Friday-April 30. After two seasons, the south zone harvest was 2,581, down from 2,602 last year. Third season in the south ends today; fourth season, south, is Thursday-April 30.