Chicago fishing: Fishable ice inches back in

Farm ponds and backwaters of the Fox River have 3-4 inches of ice based on the reports I’m hearing from customers. I’m sure by the weekend, with the forecast cold we will have much more than that. Check out my Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy facebook page for updates almost daily!

Here’s a recap from the first day of the new year. Ice in the guides is not a bad thing if you’re setting the hook on fish. The rain from the last few days have bass stacked up in areas with current. The active biters were found in wood Berkley Fishing. The bait of choice was a 1/4 oz weedless jig paired with a Berkley Fishing max scent chigger craw. This is the perfect setup in this cold water. Today they wanted it slowly dragged on the bottom. They were barely picking up the jig so line watching was a must. When that overcast came back the bite tapered off. Not a bad way to start off a new year.

***Update IL ice conditions*** I checked out a number of lakes and ponds this afternoon. Larger lakes have areas that sill have open water due to the winds. Smaller lakes that are wind protected have locked up. Retention ponds are locked up as well. The snow storm that is coming tomorrow will be down in central to southern IL. That is good news as the forecast for the next two weeks looks very favorable for building ice. Be patient as we will be back to drilling holes soon.

Come on out to the Tinley Park fishing, travel and outdoor expo this weekend the 10th through the13th. Make sure to stop by the Husker Outdoor booth 302. I will also be speaking Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm
both days.

TTYL

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Hi Dale The ice firmed up enough for some ice fishing Sunday afternoon. I set a couple tip ups but had no takes. I also did some jigging for panfish. Some very brightly colored bluegill and sunfish came through the hole. The custom jigs and spins ratso tipped with waxworms was getting the action. The best time was as the sun was setting.

On the music front we are firming up February 22nd at Mackies Hideout in McHenry for the conscious rockers reggae band. And plans moving forward for Gozortenplat in Las Vegas in June. That will mean a couple tune up shows in April or May in Chicago and Milwaukee.

Tight lines and good health!

Rob

Fishing Report – 1/6/2025

By Mike Norris

Big Green Lake: Anglers took advantage of the mild weather during the holiday season to get out in boats and troll for walleye from sunset through the early evening hours. Anglers locating walleyes on sand flats in 7 – 14 feet of water reported the best success, with a few walleyes exceeding 10 lbs. Catches of lake trout were also reported, though the trout season was closed during December. These fish were immediately released. A major cold air mass moved across the area in early January, and with ice reforming in the launch ramp areas, fishing from a boat in now out of the question. Beyer’s Cove now has eight inches or more of ice, and hard water anglers are catching bluegills and perch. The center of the lake remains wide open. The early inland trout season opened Saturday January 4^th and runs through Friday May 2^nd.

Fox Lake: Ice cover is now 9 – 10 inches thick throughout the lake and Fox Lake has become my area’s hot spot for ice anglers. Crappie fishing remains very good for anglers jigging with a minnow in 10 – 14 feet of water off of Maple Point. Bluegills are good on small jigs tipped with wax worms in the “Jug.” Northern pike fishing with tip-ups rigged with medium to large shiners is good out from the “Boat House.”

Lake Puckaway: There is a solid eight inches of ice out front of “Good Old Days” and anglers are doing well for northern pike with tip-ups rigged with medium shiners. The same goes for walleyes, though the walleye bite is better after sunset.

Winter hrs are as follows,8 am to 5pm during the week ,weekends sat 7am to 4 pm ,Sunday the same starts 1/13/25 thank you my freind

A new year and positive outlook for ice anglers. Following the warm up and rain that took the snow off the ice on the lakes, bitter cold has moved in to build our ice base unimpeded. A couple light dustings of snow have all but blown off with the recent winds. Creepers are a MUST!! Our local emergency room reportedly had 90 cases of people falling and being hurt in one day! Be very CAUTIOUS!!

Fishing took a bit of a dip from the previous weekend, but not surprisingly. Last weekend was a new moon period PLUS very warm (averages above 35 degrees). Cold (sub-zero) plus wind (really sub-zero) has thinned out the ice crowd for the time being.

Crappie: Very Good-Good – Best over basins of 18-23’. Roaming schools taking waxies on Rattlin Kastmasters, Tikka Flash. Minnows on tip-downs (tough in single digit weather). Lots of catches reporting 9-11” eaters with slabs to 14 ½”. Some Crappies in weeds mixed with Gills, but these fish seemed to be reluctant to bite. Best on tiny jigs (#12-#10) tipped with pink/bubble gum plastics.

Bluegill: Very Good-Good – Deeper weeds of 8-12’. Waxies or plastics (red, purple, browns best) on #3:#4 tungsten jigs. Subtle colors best when they need “convincing”. Some Gills being found suspended out away from weeds in 14-20’ taking wigglers and spikes fished 3-5’ off bottom.

Walleye: Good-Fair – Action slowed and reports of light biters picking up tip-up bait, moving a bit then dropping, sign that smaller bait such as small shiners, smaller sucker or large fatheads on #12 trebles would be better set-up. Despite that, still some very nice Walleyes being caught, many in the slot to be released (20-26”). Cold snap may have had a lot to do with recent reluctance.

Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A little slower and deeper. Still nice Pike in the low to mid 30” range. Suckers and shiners as per usual along deep weed edges of 10-14’.

Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Getting a few more reports of Perch working mud flats adjacent to weeds taking wigglers on Hali jigs and #2 Swedish Pimples. Also, some action in 5-8’ weeds on medium fatheads or a couple waxies on Northland Forage Minnows.

Largemouth Bass: Fair – Action slowed as temps dropped. Still a few anglers catching Bass on jigs tipped with waxies meant for Gills or Perch in weedy flats.

Whitefish: Not a lot of reports. But the few anglers catching Whitefish on #5-#6 Swedish Pimples tipped with waxies or a minnow head.

With ice thickness reports of 10-13” and building (the lakes are “BOOMING”), this coming weekend should provide even better access. Snowmobiles, ATV’s and UTV’s are fine, should have safe truck travel once lakes reach 14-15” of ice. Little snow in the forecast and mild temps in the mid 20’s for the weekend.

Ice Fishing Tournaments

January 11^th – 17^th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 – Lake Nokomis

January 11^th – 31^st year - Rainbow Ice Jamboree – Rainbow Flowage

January 18^th – Kurt’s Minocqua Madness - WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain

January 18^th – 10^th Annual Iceholes of the North – Sponsored by Team Retreat Musky Club – Various lakes

March 1^st – KISS - WIFA Highschool – Minocqua Chain

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sports Shop
– Like us on FaceBook

Still groups fishing the slips and doing ok [for perch] just have to weed thru the small ones.

After the rain we had a fresh lil batch of steelhead came into nwi tributaries. Voodoo jigs tipped with waxworms and spawn saks doing best.

Ice fishing is getting closer here in nwi. Slez’s Bait Shop has all ice gear and bait in stock and ready to go.