Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report Today

Lake Michigan’s Chicago shoreline greets us today, Sunday, November 2, 2025, with classic late fall vibes—crisp, sunny skies and just enough northwest wind to keep your casts interesting. Sunrise hit at 5:57 AM, and we’re looking at sunset right around 5:45 PM, so set your alarms if you want to hit the prime bite windows early or soak up those last golden rays at dusk. Tide is minimal today, but you did have a low at 5:12 AM, another coming at 5:36 PM, and the day's only high at 11:28 AM according to Tides4Fishing.

Conditions are cool and calm with the mercury hovering just under 49°F, humidity slipstreaming at about 62%, and a light breeze at 5 mph out of the northwest. No rain forecasted, and the lake’s gentle 1–3 ft chop means it’s friendly enough for bank and small craft action, just keep your eye out after 3 PM, when winds are due to swing southwest and gust up to 25 knots, with a renewed Small Craft Advisory from the National Weather Service. Early risers can get after it before the lake gets too rowdy.

Let’s talk fish. The annual salmon run is in its waning weeks—Chinook and coho have been thick in the harbors this past month, particularly Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham. Early birds with spoons or twitchy crankbaits under floats have landed some solid salmon catches, especially in the low light at dawn and dusk. Locals using skein or spawn sacs right at the pier heads found active, aggressive fish after a north blow. If you’re chasing the last of the run, slide by those harbors at first or last light with those baits.

Steelhead have started to trickle in, especially around the warmwater discharges on chilly overcast days. Bright spoons and waxies on jigs have been the ticket—get those in the current seams and let them flutter. Lake trout are prowling the breakwalls, but you’ll need to slow-roll a swimbait or bounce a heavy blade bait in 15 to 30 feet when the lake flattens.

Inside the harbors, bass are feeding up for winter. Both smallmouth and largemouth are chasing shad—ned rigs, jerkbaits, and swim jigs fished along current seams or rocky marina corners will get hammered. For perch, action’s hit-or-miss, but perks up on calm mornings; live minnows or bits of shrimp near weed edges and pilings work best. Perch catches have been decent, especially near Fullerton Beach and Twelfth Street Beach, with the occasional bonus keeper pulled at Jackson Park Beach.

Top baits right now:

- Spoons (silver, chartreuse on stained water days)

- Swimbaits (for lake trout)

- Waxies, spawn sacs, and shrimp bits (perch, panfish)

- Ned rigs, jerkbaits, small swim jigs (bass)

Live minnows and wigglers outfish artificials as temps drop, so keep some ready. Shrimp is a sleeper for perch and late-season trout. Slow everything down—fall fish are feeding heavy but won’t chase a fast retrieve.

Hot spots for today:

- Montrose Harbor (salmon, steelhead, trout)

- Diversey Harbor (bass, late coho, perch)

- Fullerton Beach and Jackson Park Beach (perch, panfis

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Artificial Lure here with your November 1st, 2025, Lake Michigan fishing report for Chicago and nearby waters.

Kicking off this cool Saturday, temps are hovering in the low-50s along the lakeshore, and conditions are mostly sunny early, turning partly cloudy by midday. According to the National Weather Service, we’re looking at west winds 10-15 knots, with waves around 1–3 feet, which should settle out through the afternoon.

Sunrise hit us at 5:57 this morning, and sunset is at 5:45 tonight. The tidal swing’s not huge this far inland, but for you die-hards, today’s low tides are at 5:12 a.m. and 5:36 p.m., with a single high tide right before lunch at 11:28 a.m.—timing nicely with some of those major bite windows.

Lake Michigan’s surface temps near Chicago are hanging in the upper-50s—cold enough for the fall run to be in full swing. Salmon action’s prime right now. Montrose, Burnham, and Jackson Park harbors are filling up with both chinook and coho pushing in closer to shore. Early birds at dawn and those sticking around dusk are getting steady hookups, especially after a good north wind pushes bait into the harbors. Folks are catching salmon on bright spoons, crankbaits, and especially skein or spawn sacs fished under a float or on the bottom near pier heads. According to fishingreminder.com, classic silver or chartreuse spoons and size 13–15 crankbaits are turning heads, and don’t overlook the effectiveness of matching that profile when the water gets stained.

Steelhead have started popping up—best on overcast days, hitting bright spoons or smaller waxworm-tipped jigs, particularly near warmwater discharges and harbor mouths as nights get colder. Some anglers have nabbed lake trout working breakwalls and deeper drop-offs—try a slow-rolled swimbait or a heavy blade bait bounced 15–30 feet down when the lake lays flat.

River and harbor bass are feeding up on shad as they prep for winter. Smallmouth and largemouth are being found along current seams and in marina corners, and the top presentations are ned rigs, jerkbaits, and swim jigs. Perch action’s been spotty, but the bite improves on those calm, chilly mornings; minnows and shrimp pieces around weed edges and pilings are working best.

Best spots right now? I’d hit Montrose Harbor and Jackson Park Harbor if you’re targeting salmon, especially at dawn. For those after mixed-bag action, the river near the Wild Mile and Fullerton or North Avenue Beaches are worth a walk with lighter gear, as smallmouth and perch school up in those areas. Beaches with deeper holes or irregular wave breaks—like 31st Street and Ohio Street—are holding roaming fish. Plus, sheltered marinas like 59th Street can offer a bit of everything in late fall.

Don’t forget, after a night of wind, stained water is a secret weapon—try baits with some flash or rattle and lean into those chartreuse accents for visibility. For the salmon, floating spawn sacs and heavy-clearing cranks are your ticket. For bass, subtle ned ri

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Friday, October 31, 2025.

Sunrise was at 7:20 AM and sunset’s coming up at 5:49 PM, giving us a nice chunk of daylight, perfect for chasing the fall run. Weather’s seasonably cool—upper 40s at dawn climbing to the mid 50s later, mostly clear with a light south wind 10 to 15 knots. Waves running 1 to 2 feet, real manageable for pier walkers and boaters. Water’s cooling fast, hovering in the low to mid 50s, and that means it’s prime time for salmon and steelhead around Chicago harbors like Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham.

Chinook and coho salmon have been pushing into the harbors, especially morning and evening. Dawn bites are best—salmon are smashing spoons, crankbaits, and spawn sacs under floats. If you see a north wind stacking bait near the pierheads, get out there. Spoons in metallic finishes have been the steady producer, but if the water gets a little cloudy, try a chartreuse or loud pattern for extra flash. Steelhead are showing more and more, mostly on overcast afternoons. Target them with bright spoons, waxworms on jigs, or bounce a swimbait along those warmwater discharges when the nights fall cold.

Lake trout are on the prowl, but you’ll need to work for them. Slow-rolling swimbaits or heavy blade baits in 15 to 30 feet near breakwalls is the trick. They’re not thick on the inside yet, but those deep pockets are holding a few quality fish.

Inside the harbors and along the river, smallmouth and largemouth bass are fired up on shad. Ned rigs, small jerkbaits, and swim jigs along current seams and marina corners are the ticket. Largemouth are holding tight to manmade structure and weed edges, while smallies are cruising rocky points. If the water’s clear, go subtle—think natural colored Ned rigs or drop shots. If there’s a stain from the last blow, bump up to spinnerbaits or chartreuse swim jigs for better visibility.

Perch are in and out—hit-or-miss action, but pick up on calm mornings. Minnows or shrimp bits work best near weed patches and piling edges. If the wind lays down and the water clears, expect to see some nice stringers showing at popular spots like 31st Street Beach, North Avenue, and Jackson Park. Be ready at first light and fish slow; bites taper off fast as the sun gets higher.

Best baits this week? Spoons for salmon, spawn sacs for stubborn ones. Bass are on Neds, jerkbaits, and small swim jigs. Perch want live minnows, but keep some shrimp handy just in case they get finicky. For steelhead, bright spoons and waxies are top choices.

Hot spots right now:

- Montrose and Burnham Harbor: loaded with salmon at dawn.

- Jackson Park Beach: consistent perch bite and roaming bass.

- 31st Street Beach: great for early-morning steelhead and perch when the wind lets up.

Pro tip: a slightly stained lake after a north wind means louder lures and chartreuse accents outfish clear, subtle stuff.

Not many updates on amounts, but most of the Chicago harbors are

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you the latest from the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago on this brisk Thursday, October 30th. Early risers were rewarded with a 7:20 AM sunrise and calm water nearshore, but don’t let that fool you—out on the main lake, northeast winds were gusting up to 25 knots this morning, with wave action rolling in at four to six feet, dropping a bit as we move into the afternoon according to the National Weather Service. If you’re venturing off the piers, exercise caution and check wind forecasts closely.

We had a balmy stretch for late October, but this dip back into fall temps has the salmon run buzzing again. The big news right now is the push of **Chinook and coho salmon** sliding into the harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are all seeing action before sunup and again towards dusk as cooler temps trigger the last good flurry of the run. Anglers casting **spoons and crankbaits** near the harbor mouths at first light landed a mix of both species, with the best bites coming right after a north wind—those wind-rolled chop days are still prime.

Not to be outdone, **steelhead** are appearing near warmwater discharges and shadowy corners on overcast days. Your best bet? Throw bright metallic spoons or waxworm-tipped jigs on a float near current seams. A few **lake trout** have even been caught tight to the breakwalls by patient anglers bouncing heavy blade baits or working swimbaits along the bottom, mostly in 15 to 30 feet of water when things settle down.

Inside the rivers and harbors, especially on the Chicago River and marina pockets, the **bass bite** is still hanging on. Both smallmouth and largemouth are feeding up, with ned rigs, small swimbaits, and jerkbaits drawing hits around structure where shad have stacked. Edges of marina docks and slower current seams produced the steadiest action—try a darker profile when the lake muddies up, or switch to chartreuse lures for extra visibility.

**Yellow perch** may demand a little patience but are worth pursuing on the calm, overcast mornings. The most consistent numbers came from the edges of weed beds and around pilings near 31st Street Beach and Jackson Park Beach. Top baits: small minnows or bits of raw shrimp on perch rigs, and don’t overlook slip-bobbers—they let you hover that bait in just the right spot. Reports mention a few bonus white bass snatching shiners along the same structure.

*Top tip from local docks*: After a wind event, check for stained water and don’t be shy with noisy lures or those with flash—visibility makes a huge difference this time of year.

Recommended Hot Spots:

- **Montrose Harbor**: Still plenty of salmon hovering in the mouth and along the outer wall right at first light; occasional steelhead reported near the discharge.

- **31st Street Beach**: Good for mixed-bag action—perch early, then a shot at trout or bass as the sun rises. Keep moving if you’re not getting bit—sometimes only fifty feet separates the hot hole from the skunk.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Wednesday, October 29th, 2025.

Brisk fall weather has fully settled over the lakefront, with the water temp near Chicago hovering around 48°F according to Watertemps.com. Early this morning at sunrise, which hit at 7:21 a.m., skies were overcast, air cool (about 49°F), winds steady at 14 mph out of the west. The pattern continues: cool, damp, breezy, but good air quality and very little rain—classic October steelhead and salmon weather.

Lake conditions are lively. The National Weather Service says expect waves 8–11 feet, with gusty southerly winds building toward 30 knots this afternoon. If you’re planning to get out on a boat, check local marine advisories—this is a shore angler’s kind of day, especially in the harbors and protected marinas.

The fall salmon and steelhead run is surging. According to FishingReminder, big numbers of chinook and coho salmon are pushing into the harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are all seeing early-morning and dusk action, especially with a stiff wind stacking bait. Spoons, vibrant crankbaits, and skein or spawn sacs under a float are working great along the pier heads. On overcast days like this, steelhead are showing, taking bright spoons or waxies on a small jig, especially near warmwater discharges where the temperatures are just a bit up.

Inside the harbors, the bass bite is not done yet. Smallmouth and largemouth are busy feeding on shad. Anglers are picking up fish along current seams and tucked away in marina corners, using ned rigs, jerkbaits, and compact swim jigs. The perch bite is spotty but perks up on calm dawns—try small minnows, bits of shrimp, or soft plastics near weed beds and pilings.

Bait and tackle for today: for salmon and steelhead, spoons in silver/blue or gold/orange, or crankbaits in natural baitfish patterns, are top producers. Don’t overlook skein under float for king and coho—firecured eggs or small spawn sacks in pink or orange. Waxworms tipped on a bright jig entice steelhead, especially when visibility drops after a blow. For bass, the Ned rig and downsized jerkbaits in shad or green pumpkin are reliable.

Hotspots today: Montrose Harbor remains the most consistent for both salmon and steelhead. Diversey has seen a steady rise in king action the past week, and Burnham Harbor is quiet in the afternoon but solid at dusk, especially on the lakeward wall. Don’t count out the Chicago River mouth and corners of the marinas—bass and a few perch are holding there, especially with some current.

If you’re shorebound, make sure to track water clarity. After a blow, a bit of stain will often outfish gin-clear conditions, so use louder, flashier lures if the water has some chop and color.

For today’s minor and major movement periods, FishingReminder says the first bite window kicked off just after sunrise, running through 9 a.m., with the next running at dusk, from about 6:40 to 9 p.m.—prime times for not jus

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Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report for Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, bringing you everything you need to know to plan the perfect day on the water.

We’ve woken to crisp autumn air—temperatures started near 40 and we’ll top out close to 57 under mostly sunny skies according to WSBT’s morning drive forecast. Winds were breezy through the night, mostly out of the east at 15 to 20 knots, stacking waves in the 3 to 6 foot range, according to the National Weather Service. Small Craft Advisories are in effect, so exercise caution if you’re venturing out past the breakwalls. For shoreline warriors, that wind’s just enough to keep things interesting and bring fresh fish in tight.

Sunrise hit at 7:19 AM this morning and sunset wraps us up at 5:54 PM. That gives you an early start and a long lunch bite if you’re chasing the fall run. No true tides on Lake Michigan, but that east wind is pushing some water up against the Chicago lakefront, especially near harbor mouths and river mouths—prime ground for big migratory fish.

Right now, the season belongs to the salmonids—chinook and coho salmon are pushing hard into the harbors like Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham at dawn and dusk. Locals have been scoring consistent limits tossing spoons and crankbaits along pier heads and inside the slips. When the bite gets picky, go old school with skein or spawn sacs under a float—action heats up right after a decent north or east wind lays baitfish against the rocks, as detailed in FishingReminder’s October update.

Steelhead are showing on the gray days, especially when you rip bright spoons through the channel mouths or soak waxies on jigs along warmwater discharges. These fish are cruising, so don’t be afraid to move until you connect. Lake trout are prowling the outer breakwalls and shipping channels—slow roll paddle-tail swimbaits or bounce a blade bait in 15 to 30 feet when conditions allow.

Bass anglers, don’t miss out—both smallmouth and largemouth are feeding hard on shad around current seams and marina corners. Ned rigs, jerkbaits, and undersized swim jigs are all putting up numbers. Grab your plastics and work slow, especially as the mornings get cooler.

Perch bite is still hit-or-miss, but best on calm, sunny mornings. Inside harbors and around pilings, a small minnow or a bit of shrimp on a drop shot is the ticket.

Local favorites for hot spots:

- Montrose Harbor pier—classic for salmon and steelhead this time of year

- 31st Street Beach in the morning for perch and roaming trout

- Burnham Harbor’s northern wall at daybreak for a shot at big kings

- Jackson Park Harbor for a mixed bag, including bonus largemouth

Bait and lure rundown:

- For salmon: bright spoons (silver/blue, orange), crankbaits with some flash, or skein on floats

- Steelhead: gold or chartreuse spoons, waxworms or live minnows on small jigs

- Bass: Ned rigs in green pumpkin, suspending jerkbaits, subtle swim jigs

- Perch: fathead minnows or shrimp o

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It’s Artificial Lure coming to you straight from Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline with a live fishing report for Monday, October 27th, 2025.

We’re waking up to partly cloudy skies and an air temperature hovering just below 50°F. The water temperature near Winthrop Harbor is about 49-50°F, with a touch of chill in the breeze—expect east winds pushing 15 to 20 knots today, gusting higher by evening, and a small craft advisory is in effect from last night through Tuesday. Surface waves are three to six feet, with some pushing as high as eight, so shore fishing is safer for most today as the wind stacks bait into the harbors and along windblown points.

Sunrise came at 7:17 AM, and sunset is set for 5:53 PM, which gives anglers a solid, crisp autumn day. Best activity aligns with the major solunar period: roughly 4 to 6:30 AM, and again 4 to 6:30 PM, with a solid dusk bite on tap this evening. According to FishingReminder and the National Weather Service, these low-light windows are prime.

Now, let’s talk fish. Reports from the city harbors—Montrose, Burnham, and Jackson—and out west near Michigan City all point to a classic late-fall pattern. King salmon have thinned out after a strong September, but fresh catches of coho and lake trout are still hitting deep-water trollers. Shore anglers are cashing in as well: brown trout have pushed tight and can be seen staging around the rocks, especially after sunrise.

Pier anglers have gotten into mixed bags of perch, with some groups pulling limits using fathead minnows or bits of nightcrawler on drop shots tight to the bottom. Crappie and bluegill are present but grouped deep. A few bonus smallmouth are still lurking around harbor mouths and rocky points—try the stretch from Diversey to Montrose for bass chasing schools of shad.

For those targeting trout and salmon, chrome and chartreuse spoon patterns—like the Little Cleo or Kastmaster—have been hot as the water cools. If you’re working the bottom for perch or bonus walleye, stick with perch-color blade baits, small jigs tipped with spikes, or classic minnows under a slip float. Early-morning and late-afternoon crankbaits and jerkbaits in shad or natural perch shad tones are drawing aggressive reaction strikes, according to the latest catch logs and local guides.

With water temps in the high 40s to low 50s and a stiff east wind, fish stack up on the windboned sides—fish the upwind pier, the marina entrance, or close to current seams. Make sure to bring a net—multiple reports out of Jackson Park have browns pushing eight pounds in the past three days on live shiners and glow spoons.

Hot spots to hit today? Try Montrose Harbor for mixed species action just after dawn, especially on the southern seawall—Word on the lake is, folks are landing trout and perch before the bite slows around 10 AM. Further south, Burnham Harbor is giving up jumbo perch along the bridges and pilings—just look for the crowd and drop your minnow straight down.

Always check the

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Artificial Lure reporting on this brisk Chicago morning, October 26th, 2025—here’s your Lake Michigan fishing roundup for the city and harbors.

Sunrise hit just after 7:16 AM, and sunset tonight will fall around 5:55 PM. No tides here, but conditions do shape the bite: overnight drizzle and northeast winds yesterday cooled things down, settling lake temps into the upper 40s near shore. The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for clear skies and highs drifting near 41°F, with moderate east winds building toward evening—expect waves of 2 to 4 feet, occasionally higher this afternoon. If you’re running a small craft, watch for a small craft advisory by nightfall.

Fall means the salmon run is still the story. Cooler October days have Chinook and Coho stacking into the Chicago harbors—Montrose, Burnham, and Diversey are seeing real action at first and last light. Dawn bite is strong on chrome spoons and crankbaits pitched along pier heads and breakwalls. Veteran locals are drifting skein sacs or spawn bags under floats, especially right after a north blow when bait flushes in. Word from FishingReminder is limits of coho coming on pink and orange patterns, especially around the Montrose horseshoe.

Steelhead are showing up on overcast mornings. Try tossing bright spoons or working waxworms on tipped jigs—warmwater discharge spots and transition areas near the river mouth are your best bet as night temps drop. A handful of lake trout have also prowled the breakwalls at Diversey and Jackson Park; slow-rolling big paddletail swimbaits over 15–30 feet or bouncing heavy blade baits can produce a surprise thumper.

Inside the harbors and the Chicago River, bass anglers are reporting the fall feed is fast—smallmouth and largemouth are crushing shad along current seams and near marina corners. Ned rigs, jerkbaits, and compact swim jigs have been money, especially on a light wind. Perch fishing has been spotty but picks up when it’s calm; bring live minnows or chunks of shrimp and work them near weed edges or pilings.

Best baits and lures right now:

- Spoons (chrome, orange, and pink for salmon and steelhead)

- Crankbaits, especially shad colors and bright chartreuse for low visibility

- Ned rigs and small swim jigs for bass

- Blade baits and large swimbaits for lake trout

- Live minnows, waxworms, or shrimp for perch

Hot spots for Chicago shoreline action:

- Montrose Harbor: Best place for fresh-run salmon, with active steelhead in the mix.

- Burnham Harbor: Good for both coho early and late, plus mixed bag bass along the marina.

- Jackson Park Inner Harbor: Perch bite improves after calm stretches, and the occasional big bass comes at sunrise.

A couple bonus pro tips: Track the water clarity—if it’s stained after a wind, swap to lures with louder profiles and chartreuse flash. When the lake lays down, focus on pier heads and breakwalls, and always fish early or late for a chance at the most aggressive fish.

Fall patterns mean big fish are n

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Lake Michigan Chicago — Saturday, October 25, 2025 — This is Artificial Lure with your morning fishing rundown.

We woke up to brisk fall air about 47°F, and crisp sunshine over the big lake. Winds have been light, east at 8 mph, holding the waves steady at 1 to 3 feet. Lake surface temps are hovering near the low 50s, so the bite is ramping up for those late-season gamefish. Humidity sits at 73% and there’s no rain in the forecast. Sunrise hit at 7:13 AM, with sunset coming at 6:00 PM tonight — good daylight for working the nearshore structures and pushing the last drift after work. According to the NOAA tide charts, your best tidal movement comes early with a low at 3:08 AM and a solid high at 10:10 AM, so mid-morning action should be hot.

Fish activity has picked up nicely these past couple days. Local chatter and angler reports along Monroe Harbor and Montrose say that perch are moving in thick near the breakwalls and slips; several buckets filled this week with keepers running 9–11 inches, mostly on live fathead minnows and shrimp. Salmon crowd is mostly gone, but the last few kings and cohos were landed last weekend near the river mouths, mostly on glow spoons at daybreak and jigs tipped with skein in the low light. Steelhead are starting to show at the pier heads and along the river mouths, with bright chrome caught on spawn sacks and pink worms.

For the bass crowd, smallmouth are snapping on tubes in rocky areas close to Navy Pier and Burnham — green pumpkin and smoke colors are working great. Chartreuse spinnerbaits tossed around weed edges have produced some bonus largemouth too, especially on a sunny warm-up.

The best lures for today:

- For perch, nothing outperforms a light drop-shot rig with a lively minnow—if you have shrimp, try it for the picky ones.

- For steelhead, go with spawn sacs or a small brightly colored jig tipped with wax worms. Pink and orange were top colors in yesterday’s bite.

- For bass, finesse tubes, Ned rigs, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are doing the work.

- Pier anglers should toss 3/8 oz silver Kastmasters or glow Cleos if you want one last chrome flash from a salmon.

Live bait tip: Perch and steelhead are hitting best on fresh baits; pick up fathead minnows or waxies at your local shop. If the bite slows, tip your hooks with small bits of shrimp—the school will turn back on.

Hot spots right now:

- **Montrose Harbor**: Perch have stacked up around the inside slip and along the northern wall. Both morning and late afternoon bites are excellent.

- **Navy Pier/Parking Lot Wall**: Smallmouth bass numbers have been great; fish tight to the rocks at dawn and dusk.

- **Chicago River mouth**: A handful of steelhead taken in the last 48 hours, especially after the minor morning tide.

Overall, with the solunar major window running late morning and warming east winds, today is prime for soaking baits and tossing artificials along the harbors. Cloud cover will roll in by noon, so get your best effort

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Artificial Lure here with your Friday, October 24, 2025 fishing report for Chicago and the southern rim of Lake Michigan.

Bitter cold is the story this morning—expect a freeze warning to continue through early hours, as overnight lows dipped into the upper 20s and low 30s across much of Chicagoland, with lingering frost right up to the shoreline. Bundle up, because winds are set to gust out of the northwest at 10–15 knots through midday, tapering off north at 5–10 by afternoon. Waves are running 2–4 feet early, falling to a far more manageable 1–3 feet by midday, and the sun’s out in full force. Get a thermos ready and gloves on—feels like we’re in late fall fishing now according to the National Weather Service Marine Forecast. Sunrise hit at 7:12, sunset is lining up for 5:58 this evening, and fishing times peak around 4–6 PM and from 4:30 to 6:30 AM, per the solunar chart. It’s a short, crisp day on the water.

Water clarity on the lake edges is mixed after steady northwest winds and last night’s frost. The perch bite is starting to rebound, with schools found schooled up near Jackson Park and Montrose. Early birds drifting fathead minnows and whole baby shiners right off the bottom are picking up both respectable numbers and size. Shrimp is a secret bait this week—if the schools turn neutral, pinch a raw piece onto a small hook and hang it under a slip bobber just off the rocks. Some jumbos came in last night along the North Avenue breakwall.

Steelhead and coho reports are trickling in—fish are pushing in close now that nights are dipping near freezing. Spoons, light spinners, and small crankbaits fished slow on rocky transitions at Diversey or through the river mouths at Calumet should find action, especially in the major afternoon windows. Remember, these fish can be hot and gone in a flash, so work the water thoroughly.

Walleye and smallmouth bass are still worth targeting for the die-hards. Pull slow with Lindy rigs tipped with golden shiners along deeper rock piles in Burnham Harbor or cast chartreuse tube jigs for bass around pier heads; dusk is by far the hot window. Leadhead jigs with soft plastics in natural or white tones, slowly bounced and paused, are catching the more sluggish pockets of fish, especially after wind laydowns, as recommended by Great Lakes Angler.

Surprisingly, some late-season pike are still active in the Chicago River and harbor cuts. Large jerkbaits or a live sucker will draw out the bigger fish, but expect short strikes—cold snaps will put them off for a few hours at first light.

For hotspots: Montrose Harbor’s horseshoe pier is a perch magnet right now—school tightly along the north side and work the drop. For steelhead and coho, try the Calumet River mouth, especially after lunch when things warm up just a hair.

Quick tips: Stay mobile, keep your presentations slow and low, and upgrade your fluorocarbon leader if targeting steelhead or wary perch on clear mornings. Don’t forget to check your guides for i

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