Northern Illinois Fishing Report – September 7th, 2012

Chain

White and yellow bass are hitting Mepps spinners, pinkie jigs or live bait. Pike are being caught around creek mouths. Muskies and walleyes are fair. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. Bluegills and crappies good, falling into deeper waters (8 to 15 feet). Bass are also biting well as water has cooled some in recent days. Bigger fish are starting to move shallow, though the best bet is still fishing weed edges with soft plastics. Some fish also coming on frogs over the weeds. Walleyes are good at the bridges on leeches and crawlers when there is moving water.

Shabbona

Crappie fishing is good, but you will have to look for them. They are deep in the east bay deep trees. Look for them 20 feet down right down to the bottom of the lake. Crappies are also being caught in the deeper structures like the three fish cribs that are located on the northern part of the road bed. Use crappie minnows, Aberdeen hooks and slip bobbers for best results. Walleye fishing is fair with some larger fish showing up. Look for walleyes on the deeper flats, the steeper drop offs, the deeper weedlines and the rock piles. For best results use jumbo leeches. Bass fishing has slowed a bit. Some bass are being caught over the rockpiles by anglers using leeches. For some very exciting action use Scum Frogs on top of the weed mats or lily pads.

Braidwood

Catfish are good on shrimp and cheesebaits. Bluegills very good on waxworms and red worms at Mazonia. Good bass fishing at Mazonia, but clear water can make for tough fishing.
DuPage Forest Preserve: Bass and bluegills good in deep water at Corey Lake. Mallard Lake good on catfish, crappies and walleyes. Silver Lake at Blackwell slow and weedy. Pratt Lake slow.

Heidecke

Walleyes good on crawlers and jigs. Catfish fair, with several from 4 to 6 pounds reported on stinkbaits or crawlers.

Lake Michigan (Chicago Area)

Panfish best in harbors. Perch  slow from shore. Harbors holding good panfish near weeds. Kings, coho, browns and rainbows being caught in 50-80 feet of water.

Lake Michigan (Waukegan)

Kings and coho slowing, but being caught in 50-90 feet, depending on time of day, on spoons, Dodgers or flies.