Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for November 13, 2025.

We’re waking up to **partly cloudy skies and a mild fall pattern, with today’s high topping out near 72 and a light west wind around 5 to 10 miles per hour**, according to the latest from Weather For You. Overnight, temps are sticking in the high 20s—but highs all week have made for downright comfortable November angling. **Waves this morning are running 3 to 6 feet, dropping later to 1-3 feet,** so expect some chop early, especially along exposed shorelines, as noted by the National Weather Service’s marine zone forecast. By afternoon, things calm down and the action should pick up for shore and pier fishermen.

**Sunrise hit at 5:57 AM, with sunset just before 5:46 PM, giving us almost 11 hours and 50 minutes of daylight today,** based on Tides4Fishing. The biggest tide swing is near midday—low at 5:12 AM, high at 11:28 AM, and a second low rolling in at 5:36 PM. Tidal coefficient is up at 70 and rising, so expect stronger currents and more movement just before and after that midday high, which can really fire up the bite in those comfort zones where bait piles up.

**Fish activity remains strong for late fall.** Reports from local bait shops and creel surveys this week say anglers are still finding good numbers of **coho salmon, brown trout, and some late kings cruising close to harbor mouths and the river outflows.** Steelhead are moving in and staging by river mouths, with a handful pushing up into the warmwater discharges. Perch are starting to bunch up deeper—try 20 to 30 feet off Navy Pier or the Burnham Harbor wall.

As for what’s working, those **stickbaits in silver, gold, or firetiger are hard to beat for trout and salmon near the surface, especially early and late. Cleos, spawn sacs, and nightcrawlers fished below a float are solid bets up by Montrose and Diversey Harbors.** The key is to move and check depths, as the warmer week has fish just off the break walls before dropping deeper midday. Throw in a slip bobber rig with a fathead for perch; locals are filling buckets when the schools run through.

If you’re running up the lake or west Indiana, **remember Michigan DNR’s November single-hook regulation at Grand Haven, Muskegon, and Whitehall/Montague piers—only one unweighted single-pointed hook, less than half an inch from point to shank, is allowed, and jigs or treble hooks are off-limits through the end of the month.** This protects spawning lake whitefish, which are particularly sensitive this late in the year. Check your rigs before heading out to avoid a ticket.

**Hot spots right now are the Montrose Harbor horseshoe, Navy Pier’s outer wall, and the power plant discharge at 95th Street.** Early risers have been rewarded at the Burnham breakwall, while the Calumet mouth is giving up mixed bags of trout, coho, and big perch as the sun dips.

A quick heads up: Lake-effect snow flurries have been spotted north of the city over the lake,

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Artificial Lure here with your Chicago and Lake Michigan fishing report for Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

This morning’s sunrise hit at 6:32, with sunset coming up early at 4:37 p.m. The city woke up to that unmistakable *November chill*, with arctic air and even some snow pushing in, according to Manistee News. If you’re gearing up, bundle up—those winds are nothing to sneeze at. The National Weather Service has a Gale Warning up for the lake from noon until at least 9 tonight. Expect south winds building to a screaming 30 knots by afternoon, gusting up to gale force and kicking up waves 8 to 11 feet, occasionally higher. By nightfall, it’s full-blown gales, so nearshore spots are safer and smarter today. Safety first out there.

Fish still gotta eat, and the action hasn’t stopped just because winter’s making itself known. Around Chicago’s lakefront, piers are producing, especially for steelhead and coho. While local news like Manistee News reports steelhead and coho being caught on the Michigan side, anglers here are getting good steel on spawn sacs under floats, especially near Montrose and Burnham Harbor. Coho numbers are lower than peak, but a persistent angler can get into them—try nightcrawlers or shrimp fished off the bottom when the wind settles.

Bass have remained surprisingly active on the inland stretches and harbor mouths. The Outdoor News Illinois fishing report from last Friday said bass action is still decent when you can get a bait down to them. Jigging blade baits and finesse jigs around dock pilings has been the ticket, with the colder water pushing them deeper but not shutting off the bite entirely. Live shiners are pulling strikes, but plastics on drop-shots are also turning fish. Ned rigs remain a steady late-fall standby, as proven up and down the system.

Walleye and perch are also coming in for those braving the conditions, especially off Navy Pier and the mouth of the Chicago River. Perch limits aren’t easy, but a few patient anglers are walking away with nice fish on small crappie rigs and fathead minnows, especially early morning.

For lures, with the water hovering in the mid-to-low 40s and clarity high after each cold snap, you can’t go wrong with natural-colored jerkbaits or small paddletails, worked low and slow. White and silver have been top colors. Steelhead are hitting pink and chartreuse spawn sacs under floats, while coho will take a minnow on a hair jig or a small spoon. Ned rigs and drop-shots are killer for smallies in deeper pockets, as pros like Kevin VanDam have shown across Michigan waters—just opt for the lightest weight you can keep bottom contact with in this wind.

A couple of hot spots? Montrose Harbor is always worth a stop this time of year—fish the north pier for steelhead and perch on calmer days. Burnham Harbor is another go-to, especially when the big lake is angry. The downtown wall along the Playpen can hold late-run bass and bonus coho, especially if the current is moving.

Today’s best t

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Monday, November 10th, 2025.

Lake Michigan woke up under a classic Midwestern whiteout this morning—Chicago and the southern lakefront are under a Winter Storm Warning, with double-digit snow totals stacking up fast and winds gusting past 30 mph. According to Fox 32 Chicago, conditions will be near-impossible for travel, especially along the lake, with snowfall rates exceeding three inches per hour in the heaviest bands. The National Weather Service warns of localized totals pushing 12 inches or more in spots, and whiteout conditions are likely along the shore. So, if you’re heading out, bundle up and use extreme caution—today’s for the diehards and locals who know their way around ice and slush.

As for the day’s rhythm, sunrise hit at 6:32 AM and sunset is set for 4:31 PM. There’s no true tidal swing in Lake Michigan, but wind-driven surge from those northerly gusts will make for extra chop and some wild current, especially on the open breakwalls.

Fishing action lately has been late-fall classic: steelhead and coho have been the stars along the piers and the mouths of harbors. Reports from Manistee News indicate steelhead and a good push of coho moving in as the water temps drop, mirroring what’s been confirmed by local anglers on the south and north side piers.

Best bets—focus on harbors and reedy pockets where warmer flow keeps things from freezing up right away, like Montrose Harbor and the Jackson Park Inner Harbor. These are reliable holding spots for trout and salmon this time of year, and they’re just sheltered enough to fish safely if you take your time.

On gear, the go-to lures lately have been 1/4 to 3/8 oz jigs tipped with white or pink plastics for steelhead, and flashier spoons and spinners when targeting coho. Local tackle shops are reporting great success on Z-Man GrubZ and TRD CrawZ plastics—bass and trout both are holding onto them, even with the cold. For a finesse approach, a drop-shot rig with a minnow-style soft plastic like the Strike King Dream Shot can turn stubborn smallmouth and even catch bonus perch on the slow days. Crankbaits, especially in firetiger or white, have also picked up active bass along breakwalls whenever there's a slight clearing in the weather. For bait, spawn sacs and waxworms remain top producers for steelhead—if you can keep them from freezing up.

Catch reports from Chicago’s harbor mouths show mixed bags—steelhead up to 10 pounds, plenty of fat coho in the 2-6 pound range, and some surprise smallmouth bass for those working deeper breaks with tubes or swimbaits. Anglers are still pulling in a few late-season perch in protected areas, but the school sizes have thinned out as water temps dive.

Hot spots for today: Montrose Harbor's outer seawall if you can bear the wind, and Jackson Park Inner Harbor for more shelter. Further south, Calumet Harbor can be hot for steelhead on warm flow days, especially after the snow eve

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Artificial Lure with your Sunday, November 9th, 2025 Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report, and folks—winter is kicking down the door this morning. We've got our first real November chill settled in with sunrise rolling in at 6:24 a.m. according to Lake Michigan, Chicago Fishing Report Today. If you haven’t layered up yet, you’re going to feel that northern wind cutting across the water, with gusts topping 30 mph and air temps hovering stubbornly around 29 to 34 degrees most of the day, per the UWM Post’s forecast. It’s the season’s first snowfall, so expect flurries and slippery piers, and watch the roads if you’re trailering in. By late evening, temps drop deep into the 20s with more lake-effect snow in the forecast through Monday—Fox32 Chicago has a Winter Storm Watch for the metro and lakeshore.

Sunset comes early, around 4:35 p.m. The solunar chart from Tides4fishing says the big feeding window will be late morning into early afternoon with the only high tide of the day at 11:28 a.m. That lines up with peak fish movement; low tides are at 5:12 a.m. and 5:36 p.m., so plan accordingly.

Recent action’s been mixed but still lively. Illinois Outdoor News reports a solid mixed bag this week. *Brown trout* and *steelhead* are staging at the river mouths and around harbor walls—spotty, but those putting in time near Montrose and Burnham are seeing results. *Perch* are biting deeper just off Navy Pier and north to Evanston—more jumbos this week, mostly 9–12 inchers. *Coho* still show up for those casting spoons and minnows, but the big wave of kings is long since pushed upriver. Smaller catches of bass and walleye were reported from the Calumet harbors and the stretch south to Hammond, especially for folks running jigs slow along the bottom.

What’s working? With water temps dropping fast, fish want an easy meal. Best baits now are live minnows, waxworms, and fathead rigs for perch. For trout and steelhead, try spawn sacs or dyed shrimp under a float—action perks up late morning through midafternoon. For artificial lures, classic silver or chartreuse blade baits and 3–4” swimbaits slow-rolled along the bottom are producing strikes from steelhead and the odd walleye. For brown trout and late smallies, suspending jerkbaits in natural patterns—think clown, silver/blue, or firetiger—are getting aggressive reaction bites, especially with some wind chop. Major League Fishing pros and locals alike recommend popping topwaters right at sunrise if the chop settles out, but the wind will likely keep most fish hugging cover and deeper water.

Hot spots for the weekend are:

- **Montrose Harbor:** Steelhead and browns off the wall near the discharge, especially during that late-morning sunbreak.

- **Navy Pier Deep Walls:** Reliable jumbo perch, with bonus trout below on a slipfloat and minnow rig.

- **Burnham/Northerly Island:** Mixing browns and perch, solid numbers if you work spawn sacks along the rocks or toss a blade bait parallel to the breaks.

Don’t overl

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November chill has settled in around Lake Michigan this morning, with sunrise coming at 6:24 a.m. and wind off the water making it feel every bit like early winter. Today’s weather features overcast skies, high temperatures brushing 50°F, and a biting northeast wind at 10 to 15 mph. There’s a chance of drizzle near the shore, but most of the city should stay dry through midday, with colder air and a touch of lake effect flurries drifting in late. The lake is lively but fishable, and those hardy enough to suit up are being rewarded.

Lake Michigan isn’t tidal like the coasts, but the solunar tables and minor wind-driven currents matter. High tide crests near 11:55 a.m., so focus your casts along breakwalls and harbor mouths around the late morning surge. Sunset’s at 4:49 p.m., and that late afternoon window should see an uptick in fish activity.

In the harbors, perch have become the mainstay for shore and small-boat anglers. Montrose and Belmont Harbor have both seen steady buckets filled with chunky yellow perch in the 9 to 12-inch range. Best bait has been small fathead minnows on drop-shot rigs or a classic crappie jig tipped with waxworm. Folks jigging through the rocks at Navy Pier and Burnham are doing well on soft plastics in natural browns and clear sparkle; perch are tight to structure and biting light, so a sensitive rod helps.

Steelhead are staging at the river mouths; early risers tossing spawn sacs or bright orange beads under floats just outside the Chicago River have landed several good chromers this week, with a few running over five pounds. The bite is best when the wind is lighter, but with today’s north breeze, drift your float a bit deeper and let the presentation work slow—steelhead are less aggressive in the cold and want a lazy meal.

Some diehard smallmouth and even the odd late king salmon are still around, mostly hanging near the mouth of the Calumet and Indiana border, sticking to deeper rocks 12-20 feet down. Blade baits in gold or silver, slowly hopped off bottom, have picked up the last surprise catches.

Recent catches reported in the Fishbrain network include solid largemouth and smallmouth from the Lakeview Park area, caught mostly on smaller football jigs and drop-shot rigs. Local guides suggest downsizing your lures, sticking to natural green pumpkin and smoke colors as water clarity is up and fish metabolism is dropping. Ned rigs, smaller jerkbaits, and tube baits remain steady fall producers.

If you want reliable action, the stretch from Montrose south to 31st Street Harbor is a hot zone for perch, while slip bobber rigs with minnows are key at Burnham—just watch the winds. For those casting from boats, the mouth of the Calumet River and Hammond Marina are still turning fish, especially if you soak live shiners after sunset.

The Illinois DNR reminds everyone that as surface water temps fall and clarity rises, fish will be tight to rocks, pilings, and steep drops. Slow and steady presentations, pinning your

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Artificial Lure here, with your November 7, 2025, Chicago Lake Michigan fishing report—ready to help you put a bend in that rod even as the cold settles in.

Winter’s grip is settling heavy over Lake Michigan, and yesterday’s weather proved it, with South winds hitting 30 knots, even touching gale force at times, and waves building up to eight feet by dawn. Today’s winds are calming a bit, shifting West at 15 to 25 knots, with waves laying down late to around one to three feet—fishable, but safety first on the piers and nearshore. Skies are mostly cloudy before a dry afternoon, and the mercury is chilly, tempting a hat and gloves. First light crept in at 6:30 a.m., and sun taps out early at 4:39 p.m. If you’re banking on the major bite, set your sights on dawn and dusk—the full moon last night means those low-light windows are your ticket, especially for predators on the prowl.

The salmon bite is the story right now. Big Chinook and bruiser coho have finished most of their run, but some nice hangers-on are still showing at Montrose and Burnham harbors. Early risers tossing medium spoons or silver crankbaits, or floating skein sacs under bobbers at the harbor mouths, found action this week. The night owl crew had luck too, with the full moon making those night sessions productive, especially for coho.

Steelhead are the next wave—overcast mornings with just enough chop on the water are big triggers. Locals have scored solid fish at Diversey and the mouth of the Chicago River tossing vibrant spoons (think orange or chartreuse) and jigs tipped with waxies. If you’re surf-casting, try anywhere with a warmwater discharge after a frigid night—steelies are cruising those currents.

Bass are still in play downtown and in the harbor corners—look for largemouth and smallmouth staging in slower water near shad schools. Ned rigs, downsized jerkbaits, and small swim jigs are getting picked up. Best colors this week have been watermelon red and green pumpkin for plastics, natural shad for hardbaits. The bass bite is fickle with the cooling water, so slow your retrieve and be patient.

Perch action is hit or miss. Ohio Street Beach and the Forty-Ninth Street groins are producing when it’s calm. Minnows and shrimp pieces under slip bobbers are working, especially around structure and pilings where weedlines gather baitfish.

For lure selection, the big guns have been silver or white spoons for salmon and steelhead, with many switching to heavier profile chartreuse or firetiger when the water’s stained post-blow. If you want to target smallmouth, a downsized drop-shot rig with natural, translucent plastics is a killer (dealers’ choice, but Strike King Half Shell and 3" Senkos are favorites). Vibrating jigs in perch patterns, blade baits bounced off bottom, and even 3/4 oz chartreuse spinnerbaits have done work when lake clarity drops but the bite is there.

Top bait shops report a fresh run of golden shiners and small fatheads, and regulars are grabbing spawn sa

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Lake Michigan-Chicago fishing report for Thursday, November 6, 2025.

The lake is serving up an authentic taste of winter this week. According to ABC7 Chicago, Arctic air from up north is pushing into the Midwest, dropping our high temps about ten degrees below average. Expect morning lows near 32°F and highs barely creeping over 40. Skies are overcast and the wind’s picking up strong off the water, with gusts at 10 to 20 knots increasing throughout the day, and waves building to a gnarly 8–11 feet, sometimes bigger per the National Weather Service marine zone forecast. As the week rolls on, gale warnings will be in effect, so keep an eye on wind and wave updates.

Sunrise rolled in at 7:20 AM and sunset’s at 5:46 PM, so daylight is shrinking quick—just about ten and a half hours to work with. The moon is just past first quarter, rising at 2:53 PM, and there’s a bump in fish activity around early morning (7:26–9:56 AM) and again after sunset into the evening (7:30–10:00 PM). According to WaterTemps.com and solunar theory, those windows are your best bet for targeting active fish.

Water temps near Chicago have plunged to around 32°F, right at the freezing mark. Most of the offshore action is slowing down and fish are moving deeper. Reports from anglers and recent catches show smallmouth bass and lake trout are still around, but you’ll need to outsmart ’em. Per Major League Fishing reports and local chatter, recent catches have leaned toward smallies in the current, flats, and adjacent deeper breaks. Lake trout are cruising the deeper edges and drop-offs, with a few browns showing up close to shore on chilly mornings.

Let’s talk lures and bait. If you’re chasing smallmouths, stick with reliable cold-water techniques:

- **Drop-shot rigs** with straight-tail worms (Morning Dawn is a killer color)—great for working deep breaks and rocky structure.

- **Tubes** and smaller soft plastics like Z Too jerkbaits get them biting when the bite is light.

- **Swimbaits** (such as 3–4" Storm Largo Shad or similar on a 3/8 oz head) can tempt suspended bass—start with a few casts to pick off the active ones.

- **Moonshine Trolling Spoons** or classic flatfish are still pulling in lake trout and browns when trolled slowly near the bottom and over deeper contours.

Live bait's a solid call for trout—try golden shiners or small lake shiners under a slip float if the wind allows. For browns and steelhead sniffing around river mouths, fresh spawn sacs or nightcrawlers will do the trick.

As for hot spots—two stand out this week:

- **Montrose Harbor:** Fish the inside wall and deeper outer rocks in the early morning; smallmouth bass and the occasional lake trout have been hitting tubes and drop-shot rigs, especially around current seams.

- **Burnham Harbor and the Navy Pier:** Both have been productive for mixed trout and bass, especially with the wind pushing bait into the corners. If you’re trolling, run deep

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This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Michigan and Chicago shoreline fishing report for Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

We’re waking up to typical fall transition weather—brisk winds, changing fronts, and fish on the move. Early this morning, sunrise hit at 5:57 AM, and you’ll have until sunset at 5:52 PM to get your lines wet, according to tides4fishing. Today’s only high tide crested at 11:28 AM, with low tide near 5:12 AM and again at 5:36 PM, so plan your fishing efforts close to those tide changes to maximize activity.

As for weather, the National Weather Service has us in a Small Craft Advisory until afternoon. South winds are already shifting strongly out of the northwest, gusting up to 30 knots, with waves building 3 to 6 feet. That’ll churn up bait and can really spark a bite in the harbors and protected piers, but use caution—only the most experienced small craft anglers should venture out today.

Water temps took a dive this week as unseasonably warm weather finally gave way to cool winds, and, per SnoFlo, you’ll want to focus your mornings or evenings for best success. A chilly stretch means most gamefish move deeper, but they’re still feeding hard ahead of peak winter.

What’s biting? Lakefront regulars reported solid catches of late-run Coho and King salmon lingering near Montrose and Diversey Harbors. Most salmon have colored up, but a few fresh silvers are still showing up as bonus fish for persistent casters—especially tight to the mouth during early daylight. Steelhead are starting to trickle in, with the best bites on nightcrawlers or medium golden roaches floated under a slip bobber off the breakwalls. Don’t be surprised by the odd brown trout either—spawn sacs and orange beads get the nod as “egg wash” peaks in most tributaries, as noted by Trails to Trout.

Harbors and nearshore structure are holding smallmouth bass, which have been caught in good numbers by anglers bouncing tube jigs and blade baits along rocky drops. Ned rigs in green pumpkin or chartreuse, as well as lipless crankbaits, are enticing aggressive fish fattening up for winter, according to Major League Fishing’s 2025 reports.

If you’re targeting panfish, navy pier and Belmont harbor are proven spots. Slip bobbers with spikes, waxworms, or small redworms will connect with late-fall perch and the occasional bonus bluegill when action is slow elsewhere.

Hot spots this week: Montrose Harbor is prime for mixed trout and salmon, especially on the windward side where chopped water means active baitfish. Burnham Harbor is another local favorite when the wind’s up, offering some protection and consistent bites. For those up for a walk, the rock piles around 31st Street produce smallmouth and perch, especially on overcast calm stretches between fronts.

Best lures right now: For salmonids, toss bright-colored spoons, orange spawn sacs, or ¼-ounce jigheads with white twister tails. Smallmouth are keying in on moving baits, so lipless cranks, blade baits, a

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report for Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. The city’s showing off those cool, classic fall vibes. Sunrise hit at 5:56 AM, sunset clocks in just before 5:54 PM, so you get nearly 12 daylight hours to put in the work. Tidal swing today is moderate, with low tides early at 4:36 AM and again at 5:07 PM, high tide peaking at 10:53 AM and then 11:29 PM—perfect for targeting fish moving with the flow around mid-morning.

Weather’s cooperating, too. We’re riding out temps in the upper 40s to low 50s, bright sunshine, and just a whisper of wind off the lake, shifting southwest at about 10-15 mph in the afternoon. If you’re boating, heads up: there’s a Small Craft Advisory north of the city from Winthrop to Wilmette Harbor until 5 PM, with waves 1-3 feet nearshore building to 2-4 feet later. Nice chop if you’re after big predators, but work sheltered areas if you’re on smaller rigs—safety before slabs, always.

Lake surface temps are 48 to 54 degrees, according to the National Data Buoy Center. That’s deep fall transition: fish metabolism is slowing, and presentations have to match—think slow and subtle.

Activity’s been solid, with a nice bump in the major bite window right now, roughly around 8:15 to 10:43 AM. If you’ve got to pick a time, hit the lakeshore now or prep for dusk—you’re looking at optimized conditions with moving water and low light.

Here’s the skinny on species and catches:

- Bass: Smallmouth and largemouth numbers have slowed but haven’t shut down. Anglers slinging drop-shot rigs with green pumpkin worms or craws around city harbors—Burnham and Diversey especially—landed a mixed bag, mostly on 4-inch Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General. Mid-depth boulder patches (8-15 feet) plus Ned rigs or Z-Man Trick ShotZ have put smallmouth in the net. Move slow, let the bait soak—cold water bass are a patient bunch.

- Perch: Schools are staging tight around Montrose Harbor and Navy Pier. The ticket has been live minnows on drop-shot, tiny Swedish Pimples, and even micro plastics. Docks and pilings are holding jumbos—tip small jigs with spikes or waxworms for the best shot.

- Trout: Browns and lake trout are coming close to shore this week. Spinners and metallic spoons early will get bites, and those trolling breakwalls with shad-pattern crankbaits or flutter spoons are reporting good hookups. For trophy browns and lake trout, white tubes or hair jigs bounced on the bottom are working.

- Salmon: Main runs are wrapping but there are still some late kings and the odd coho lurking in deeper pools of city tribs. Drift natural spawn sacs or pink egg patterns along the bottom. Water’s running clear, so drop down your leader size for pressured fish—Northern Angler notes trout are hot for any fresh egg imitations.

Top lures and baits: green pumpkin and craw soft plastics for bass, Ned rigs, Z-Man finesse rigs, and Maxscent worms. For perch, live fathead minnows, tiny spoons, spikes on small

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Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure here with your November 3rd, 2025 Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report.

We’re waking up to classic early November in the Windy City: sunrise at 5:56 AM, sunset right before 5:54 PM according to Tides4Fishing. Tidal swing today is moderate—we’ve got low tide at 4:36 AM and 5:07 PM, while the high tide hits at 10:53 AM and again at 11:29 PM. That midday tide push is always worth noting, especially if you’re targeting structure-oriented species that feed aggressively as water moves.

Weather-wise, we’re holding in the upper 40s to low 50s, with sunshine and mild winds reported around 5 mph from the lake, and just a slim chance of rain. Lake surface temps are running between 48 and 54 degrees per the National Data Buoy Center, which means we’re getting deep into the fall transition, but no hardwater yet.

Fish activity is steady, with the morning major solunar bite hitting roughly 8:13 to 10:43 AM according to Watertemps.com. If you want to maximize your chances, plan to hit the water for those windows and then again at dusk.

Now to what’s being caught: Bass action is still present but slowing. Anglers targeting harbors and river mouths in the city, like Burnham and Diversey, have reported a mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth bass, mainly on slow presentations like drop-shots with green pumpkin worms and craws. Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General in 4-inch green pumpkin remains a killer, according to patterns from Mille Lacs pro anglers. If you’re after smallmouth, focus on mid-depth boulder fields in 8-15 feet—try drop-shotting Z-Man Trick ShotZ or a Ned rig. These finesse rigs are taking numbers as bass school up, but be patient: the bite’s more subtle as water cools.

Perch are starting to bunch up as well—look for tight schools around Montrose and Navy Pier. Live minnows on drop-shot rigs or tiny spoons like Swedish Pimples are accounting for numbers. Nightcrawlers and small jigs tipped with spikes or waxworms are taking panfish and the occasional jumbo perch around marina docks.

Lake trout and browns are active close to shore. Spinners, spoons, and crankbaits are generating strikes, particularly early. Trollers just outside the breakwalls are hooking up on shad-pattern crankbaits and flutter spoons. For bigger trout, white tube jigs or hair jigs bounced along the bottom work best.

Salmon runs in Chicago’s tribs are mostly played out, but a few stubborn kings and cohos linger in the deeper pools. Go natural: drift spawn sacs or pink egg imitations right along the bottom. With the water running clearer thanks to little recent rain, lighter leaders are helping to fool pressured fish. According to recent Northern Angler reports, egg wash is huge and trout are keying on fresh spawn—mimic with beads or yarn flies for a shot at steelies.

As for hot spots, here are two sure bets:

- **Montrose Harbor**: Schools of perch and some late-run trout, especially on outer walls and inside the harbor mouths.

- **Na

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