Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Tuesday, November 25, 2025. We’re off to a cold and blustery start for Thanksgiving week, with shifting winds and a little snow in the forecast. According to the National Weather Service, expect east-southeast winds at 10 to 20 knots, wave heights of 2 to 4 feet, and a chance of rain and snow as the day goes on. That’s making conditions a bit rougher out there, so keep safety in mind and check those updated marine forecasts.

Sunrise hit at 6:59 a.m. and sunset will tuck in at 4:23 p.m., giving you those short fall hours to work with. The tide chart from Tides4Fishing shows a high at 10:43 a.m. and lows just before dawn and right around sunset. That prime late morning high tide might just be your window for strong bites—classic fall timing for this lakefront.

Fish activity’s been patchy but encouraging, especially for the folks braving chilly mornings. Local reports say the smallmouth bass bite is still holding steady around the rock piles and breakwalls, with anglers landing decent numbers on drop-shot rigs and smaller swimbaits. This season’s clear water and cool temps mean more finesse—using a downsized Strike King Half Shell or even a natural-colored Yamamoto Senko on a drop-shot is the ticket, according to advice from northern bass pros.

Crappie anglers are seeing tighter schools and some bigger slabs this week—those winter patterns kicking in early. Try a Bobby Garland Baby Shad in black night or black/chartreuse on a 1/32-ounce jighead for the finicky bite, a recommendation Wired2Fish swears by for these cold fronts. Work the harbors and the slips; Navy Pier and Montrose are always hot bets when those crappies start stacking.

Perch reports are decent, though the bite is best on calmer afternoons after the wind dies down a bit. Drop down live emerald shiners or Gulp! Minnows close to the bottom around Calumet Harbor and 31st Street. Keep moves slow and hover just off the rocks—perch are hugging deep for warmth.

Chinook and coho are mostly out of the rivers, but diehards are still picking off a few steelhead at river mouths. Spawn sacs and bright beads under floats work well after the snowmelt bumps up some flow.

Lure of the week? For bass, a natural-patterned Ned rig or a compact jerkbait in ghost minnow if the water’s glassy. If wind picks up, don’t be shy to toss a heavier spinnerbait with chartreuse painted blades—clear water calls for more visible vibrations, as Kevin VanDam has pointed out in fall conditions.

Top local hotspots today:

- **Montrose Harbor:** For smallmouth and crappie, especially off the pier or the horseshoe.

- **Calumet Harbor:** Good for both late perch and the occasional steelhead after weather swings.

- For walkers, try Burnham’s shorelines for staging smallmouth and last-chance pike as temps stay just above freezing.

Bundle up, use caution around icy piers—and if you land a good one, snap a pic and let those slot fish go to keep t

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Good morning, Chicago anglers. It’s a crisp Monday, November 24th, and the winds are howling across Lake Michigan. The National Weather Service is calling for south winds at 10 to 20 knots, with waves building to 1 to 3 feet near shore and a chance of rain tonight. The sun rises at 6:14 AM and sets at 7:28 PM, giving us a long day to work the water. The moon is waxing gibbous, and according to Solunar Forecast, the best bite windows are between 9:39 AM to 11:39 AM and 9:59 PM to 11:59 PM, with minor peaks around 4:31 AM and 3:54 PM.

Fishing activity has been steady, especially for steelhead and salmon. Jeff Elliott Outdoors reports that just about every lure is getting attention out of Grand Haven, except for stickbaits. The South End notes that anglers are targeting salmon, steelhead, perch, and smallmouth bass, with most fish showing up near the drop-offs and river mouths. The bite has been aggressive, with plenty of action on both artificial and natural baits.

If you’re heading out, focus on the nearshore areas from Gary to Burns Harbor and the Chicago harbor. The National Weather Service nearshore forecast shows south winds at 10 to 20 knots, with waves around 1 to 3 feet. This is prime time for trolling or casting spoons and crankbaits. For steelhead, try silver or gold spoons, and for salmon, go with flashier lures like Kastmasters or Hot Shots. If you’re after perch or smallmouth, small jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics are working well.

For bait, fresh cut bait is always a solid choice, but don’t overlook artificial lures. Captain Experiences notes that artificial lure fishing and trolling are popular, and most anglers are having success with a mix of techniques. If you’re shore fishing, try casting spoons or spinners near the piers and breakwalls.

Hot spots to check out include the Chicago harbor, Montrose Point, and the mouth of the Grand Calumet River. These areas are seeing consistent action, especially in the early morning and late evening.

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Hey folks, it's Artificial Lure here with your Friday morning Lake Michigan fishing report for November 21st, 2025.

Let's start with the conditions. We've got sunrise at 5:58 AM and sunset at 5:43 PM today, so you're looking at a short day on the water. The weather's holding steady with clouds and some showers possible down south, highs in the low 50s. Nothing too gnarly out there. Tides are running with a high at 2:16 AM and another at 2:34 PM, both around 1.6-1.8 meters, so decent tidal movement to work with.

The water's been producing solid action lately. Brown trout fishing is making a real comeback on Lake Michigan, and anglers have been crushing it with jigging spoons – the 3/8 to 1/2-ounce silver and pearl white spoons are absolute money. Three-inch white tube jigs on 3/8-ounce heads are ripping too, especially when you swim them instead of dragging bottom. Minnow baits and jerk baits like Husky Jerks and X-Raps are deadly in water under 10 feet this time of year. Don't sleep on soft-plastic paddle-tail swimbaits either – stick with pearl white or shad colors, keep them small around 2.5 to 2.8 inches.

Over at the E55th breakwall and other Cleveland-area spots, anglers have been loading up on Perfect 10s, Husky Jerks, and Bandits at dusk. That's your pattern right there.

For hot spots, hit up any of the Chicago harbors and breakwalls – they're premium for browns and smallmouth. Second choice would be anywhere you find shallow rock structure less than 12 feet deep where bait congregates.

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you today's boots-on-the-shore fishing report for Lake Michigan and the Chicago lakefront, Thursday, November 20th, 2025.

We woke up to classic late-fall conditions in Chicago: thick cloud cover, a cool high near **52°F**, and a light southeast breeze—steady at about 10 mph, keeping wave action manageable around 2 to 4 feet in the early morning, calming down closer to midday according to the National Weather Service. Water temps near Winthrop Harbor are hovering just above **43°F**—brisk enough to keep fish metabolisms slow but still trigger late-season feeding[abc7chicago.com][watertemps.com][NWS Marine Forecast].

**Sunrise** hit at 6:54 this morning, with sunset predicted for 4:23 this evening. Fishingreminder says the major bite windows today are early—**6:02–8:02 AM**—and again right before dark, **6:16–8:16 PM**. That matches what we see every November: your best shot is sliding into the harbor before first light or coming out just as the streetlights flicker on.

This week, it's all about the **salmonids** and lake-run trout pushing into urban harbors and along the breakwalls. Reports out of Montrose, Burnham, and Diversey harbors say the **coho and chinook salmon** run is winding down, but there have been some solid morning hook-ups on spawn sacs under floats, brightly colored spoons, and even twitching crankbaits across pier heads. A few **steelhead** and **lake trout** are mixing in—the steelhead especially favoring an overcast day and brighter metallic spoons or little jigs tipped with waxworms near warm water discharges. Fish are scattered: you might need to move and change tactics, so pack both flashy and natural colors, especially when water gets murky after a north wind rolls through.

On the bass front, inside the harbors and river system, **smallmouth and largemouth bass** are still chewing but moving slower. Locals have had luck slow-rolling ¼ oz ned rigs, working small suspending jerkbaits along marina corners, and bouncing swimbaits or tubes around current seams—especially where shad are gathering late in the year. If you’re game for a cold-blooded bruiser, a big slow-rolled glide bait can move a stubborn November bass, as seen in recent catches with 7" Molix Glide Baits on Michigan lakes. Think a slow, steady retrieve right along a drop or weed edge, and don’t be afraid to experiment—late-fall bass like a challenge[Extreme.Outdoorsmen/YouTube][instagram.com/molix_official].

**Perch** are still a wildcard—some mornings see buckets filled near Navy Pier or the pilings inside Burnham, usually on live minnows or small bits of shrimp. When they're finicky, it pays to go finesse: use lighter line, maybe a small feather jig tipped with waxie.

For **bait and lure selection**, here’s what’s working best:

- **Spawn sacs**, skein, or waxworms for steelhead and trout.

- **Bright spoons** (chartreuse/silver, orange, or classic gold) or 3–4" crankbaits for salmonids.

- **Swimbaits**, ned rigs, and jerkbait

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Here’s your Chicago fishing report for Wednesday, November 19th. The weather’s mostly cloudy, with highs around 46 and lows near 41. There’s a chance of showers, so keep your rain gear handy. Sunrise is at 7:27 a.m., and sunset is at 5:09 p.m., so plan your sessions tight between those hours. The lake’s seeing east winds around 10 to 15 knots, with waves 1 to 3 feet, and a small craft advisory is in effect until early this morning, so if you’re out on a boat, stay alert.

Lake Michigan’s fall run is still going strong. Chinook and coho salmon are pushing into Chicago’s harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are hot spots. Dawn and dusk are producing the steadiest action, especially after a north wind stacks bait. Steelhead are showing up on overcast days, and a few lake trout are prowling the breakwalls. Inside the harbors and the Chicago River, smallmouth and largemouth bass are feeding up on shad, and the perch bite is hit-or-miss but perks up on calm mornings.

For salmon and steelhead, work spoons, crankbaits, and skein or spawn sacs under floats along pier heads and harbor mouths. Bright spoons and waxies on jigs are working well for steelhead, especially around warmwater discharges. For lake trout, slow-roll swimbaits or bounce heavy blade baits in 15–30 feet when the lake lays down. Bass are hitting ned rigs, jerkbaits, and small swim jigs, especially around current seams and marina corners. Perch are taking minnows or bits of shrimp near weed edges and pilings.

Two hot spots to try: Montrose Harbor for salmon and steelhead, and the South Branch Chicago River for bass. Track water clarity—slightly stained water after a blow can outfish crystal clear, so switch to louder profiles and chartreuse accents when visibility drops.

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Artificial Lure here with your Tuesday, November 18th fishing report for Lake Michigan, Chicago. The lake greeted us this morning with crisp late-fall air—temperatures starting off in the upper 30s, working up close to 50 as the day rolls on. Winds are variable: calm right now, but look for a gentle northwest shifting northeast this afternoon, and picking up southeast later into the evening. Skies will be mostly cloudy, and a little rain might sneak in overnight. Waves out on the lake are modest, at 1 to 3 feet, so small-craft anglers should have an easy go for the daylight hours according to the National Weather Service.

Sunrise hit at 6:42 AM and we’ll lose daylight at 4:27 PM, so you want to fish prime time early and late. Tides4Fishing puts the major solunar window from about 8:12 to 10:12 this morning, with another minor uptick around sunset—a key pattern all season.

The big story for November is the late-run salmon, with both chinook and coho still staging near the harbor mouths and inside spots like Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham. Earlier this week, shore anglers reported hooking multiple coho to 5 pounds at sunrise, and a couple of bronzed-up kings weighing into the teens. Skein under a float, spawn sacs, and darker colored Krocodile spoons brought the most takes. Don’t overlook the simple silver/blue or chartreuse Little Cleo—after a north blow, stained water calls for a rattle spoon or something flashy. The bite turns off once that sun gets high, so get there early and stay persistent.

Bass anglers are still connecting with solid smallmouth in the river mouth and marina cuts, particularly after a push of baitfish. Ned rigs in green pumpkin and weightless stick baits work well, but a slow-rolled white or shad swimbait is a good bet during off-light conditions. Some largemouth are hanging near dock pilings and deeper boat slips, where jighead minnows and jerkbaits have been productive. Major League Fishing notes that a 3-inch minnow imitator on a 3/16-ounce jighead is dominating—worth a try here in Chicago’s harbors.

Don’t sleep on yellow perch if you’re looking for a tasty panfish stringer. The perch bite is still hit-or-miss, but some slabs are coming in from Navy Pier and the breakwalls south near 95th Street. Live fathead minnows or bits of shrimp on drop-shot rigs, fished vertical near weed edges or pilings, account for most catches.

Two Chicago hotspots you’ll want to hit:

- Montrose Harbor, for the persistent salmon and fat smallies feeding near the harbor mouth.

- Burnham Harbor, where both perch and late-coho can be found and the bass bite has stayed fair into mid-November.

Water clarity is the key—it’s turned a bit murky after last week’s winds, and that’s helping daytime action. In off-color water, switch to chartreuse or bright orange lures and something that rattles.

Fishing pressure is light as many folks have packed away the rods, but the action’s still here for those braving the cold. Trout are starting to show ne

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Good morning, folks. This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan fishing report for Monday, November 17th, 2025.

We're looking at excellent conditions out there today. Sunrise came at 5:57 this morning, and we've got until 5:45 PM to get after them. The tidal coefficient is sitting at a solid 70, which means we're dealing with some meaningful tidal movement and currents. Your first low tide hit at 5:12 AM, and we've got a high tide at 11:28 AM with water heights around 1.5 meters. That second low tide comes in at 5:36 PM. Get out there while that morning high tide is building.

Weather-wise, we're looking at mostly sunny skies with northwest winds running 6 to 10 knots throughout the day, gusting up to 17 at times. Waves are running about a meter with 5-second periods. Temperature's hovering around 5 to 7 degrees Celsius, so dress warm.

Now, here's what's been happening on the water. We're deep into that fall transition period right now. Bass are still feeding aggressively before they lock down for winter, and you can still catch them all day with the right presentation. Recent reports show anglers are having success with deep presentations—spoons, glide baits, and big worms in the 18 to 35-foot range. Shallow work is also producing, especially around structure with wacky-rigged soft plastics.

For specifics, green pumpkin colors are absolutely crushing it. Try a green pumpkin Zoom Trick Worm on a wacky rig, or flip a three-quarter ounce jig with a matching trailer around any hydrilla you can find. If you're working deeper water, the spoon bite is hot. A Lake Fork Flutter Spoon in natural colors will get bit.

Target the secondary structure and main ledges. You can find fish as shallow as eight feet and down to 35 feet, depending on the conditions and how aggressive they're feeling.

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Hey everyone, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Sunday, November 16th, 2025.

We're waking up to some dramatic weather changes today. Temperatures are dropping about 20 degrees from yesterday, settling into the low 30s by tonight. Expect some serious wind coming through—this is a wind machine day, so drivers of high-profile vehicles and boaters should be extra cautious. We've got choppy water and hazardous boating conditions out there, so if you're heading to the lakeshore, use your best judgment.

Looking at today's tides for Chicago, we've got our first tide at 3:55 AM at 0.4 meters, followed by 10:19 AM at 1.5 meters, then 4:26 PM at 0.4 meters, and wrapping up around 11:04 PM at 1.5 meters. The solunar activity is sitting at 60, which is right in that average zone—decent bite potential throughout the day.

Now, for the fish activity, we've got some solid opportunities out there. Trout and salmon are still active on Lake Michigan this time of year, and smallmouth bass are biting too. Perch fishing has been decent as well. Spybaits have really taken off for smallmouth in open water—these little hardbaits with tiny props on each end are fished subsurface without much angler action, and they're producing fish consistently.

For your lure selection, definitely bring spybaits if you're targeting smallmouth. Strike King spinnerbaits with double willow blades are working great too—go with white and chartreuse combinations around three-quarter ounce. Jerkbaits are solid bank fishing options this time of year, and vertical jigging is excellent for November. Position yourself over marked schools and use jigging spoons or blade baits.

I'd recommend checking out the north end of Lake Michigan and hitting some of those deeper structures. The 4 to 8-foot range is prime real estate right now, especially in areas with a bit more stained water that warms up faster.

Stay safe out there with these winds kicking up. The warming trend comes back mid-week, so if today's gnarly, you can wait it out.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Saturday, November 15, 2025.

We’re waking up to an unusually **mild November morning**, with the mercury pushing into the low 60s by midday under mostly cloudy skies, thanks to a warm southwest breeze running 15 to 20 mph and gusting higher at times. The water will have a moderate chop, with waves building from 1 to 2 feet this morning up to 2–4 feet by mid-afternoon according to the National Weather Service Marine Forecast, so keep an eye on those rollers if you’re heading out in smaller craft. A **Small Craft Advisory** is in effect starting at noon—be prepared and use caution, especially on the open lake.

**Sunrise** was at 6:57 AM and **sunset** will come early at 4:46 PM. The **tide is minimal** as always on Lake Michigan, but the pressure change and warm air ahead of tomorrow’s cold blast will have fish on the move. **Solunar tables** peg this morning’s peak bite from 6:00 to 8:00 AM, with a minor feeding window around 1:30 to 3:30 PM. The moon is nearing first quarter, adding a little extra juice to those low-light periods.

Now for the good stuff—**what's biting:** This week, the focus has been on the last of the **salmon run** mixed with some stellar nearshore trout action. The big push of **chinook and coho salmon** into local harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham—has mostly tapered but a few silver fish are still being hooked at first light, especially on skein or spawn sacs under floating rigs and on bright spoons tossed near pier heads. If you’re walking the rocks, slow-rolling chrome or chartreuse crankbaits has enticed some stubborn coho, particularly after windy nights with stirred-up water.

**Steelhead** are picking up the slack in the harbors and river mouths on cloudy days, with bright spoons, small swimbaits, or waxworms on marabou jigs. Target them in current seams and near any warmwater discharge areas—these spots have seen bursts of fish at midday as air temps rise.

A handful of **lake trout** have been prowling just outside the harbor arms and along the deeper breakwalls. Dragging heavy blade baits or paddle-tail swimbaits in 15–30 feet has gotten reward bites, especially when the lake lays down in the afternoon sun.

**Bass** are anything but done. Both smallmouth and largemouth are fattening up on shad and baitfish inside the harbors and along the Chicago River. Ned rigs and finesse swim jigs have produced steady action, with jerkbaits drawing strikes when the chop settles. Focus on marina corners and docks, current edges, and deeper weedlines.

**Perch** have started showing again, but the bite remains hit-or-miss. The most consistent hauls have come on calm mornings using live minnows or bits of raw shrimp fished tight to the bottom, particularly near pilings and weed patches. If you get into a school, you can fill a bucket quickly.

**Top lures and baits this week**:

- Spoons (Little Cleo, K.O. Wobbler, orange/gold patterns)

- Crankbaits (ch

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This is Artificial Lure, your local angling expert with the Lake Michigan fishing report for the Chicago area, Friday November 14, 2025.

Sunrise hit at 6:37 a.m., and sunset arrives at 4:29 p.m. Temps this morning hovered between 33 and 41°F, with a brisk south wind ramping up from 6 to 9 knots. Skies are clear and the lake is calm near shore, but remember, off the main breakwalls, waves can pick up fast as winds build later today, so stay smart and safe if you’re venturing out. The National Weather Service notes the big stuff—waves 8 to 14 feet—will hold north and offshore, but our nearshore waters will get choppier by midday. As always, wear your PFD and check that forecast if you’re thinking about running out wide.

Recent weather saw a round of lake-effect snow and steady precipitation in the region, especially up toward Indiana and southwest Michigan. That fresh cold has dropped water temps into the low 40s, signaling late fall patterns: fish are transitioning to their winter haunts. In the city harbors—Montrose, Burnham, and Diversey—the bite has slowed but is still happening for anglers putting in the time.

Anglers this week found fair numbers of **coho salmon**, some scattered **steelhead**, plus **whitefish** moving in on the rocks and piers. Reports near Navy Pier have seen early morning coho caught using small spoons and spawn sacs. A handful of perch are showing up, but it’s not hot and heavy—look for them to improve on warmer afternoons or if north winds ease.

Bass anglers, according to BassForecast and regional trends, should seek out deep structure and main-channel edges, especially where there’s any current or warm inflow. The late fall pattern calls for finesse: throw **suspending jerkbaits** like the KVD series, or slower-moving Ned rigs and drop-shots with natural soft plastics. Jigs with craw trailers dragged slowly get attention from both smallmouth and largemouth, especially near marina rocks and docks as they hold any remnant heat. On the few warmer afternoons, try a flutter spoon or blade bait when you locate schools in deeper holes.

For panfish, action is spotty but persistent anglers vertical jigging with small tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or a crappie minnow are picking up bluegill and crappie in deeper pockets off Burnham and Jackson harbors.

**Best hotspots for today**:

- **Montrose Harbor**: Early coho along the outer wall with half-ounce Little Cleo spoons and salmon eggs on slip bobbers.

- **Navy Pier and DuSable Harbor**: Steelhead at first light—try floating spawn sacs or drifting nightcrawlers under a slip float.

- **Jackson Harbor**: Mixed bag—whitefish, perch, and some panfish mid-morning over deeper water, especially with wax worms and live minnows.

Tides aren’t a factor in Lake Michigan, but current and wind shifts do matter. After today’s sunrise, south winds could push warmer surface water toward shore, possibly juicing late-morning activity in protected harbors. If you notice any muddy runoff (

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