Site Staff

Lake Michigan: Rough water and cold have kept most anglers off the lake, but the few that have gone out in recent weeks are finding there are still browns and steelhead hanging around. Spawn sacks under a float are working well as well as the standard tinsel or white tube jig tipped with wax worms. The

Crab Orchard Lake: Catfish action has slowed somewhat. Bluegill action also has slowed, although some fish are still being caught along the rip rap on crickets and wax worms. Bass action is good on a variety of baits fished around shallow cover. Baldwin Lake: Catfish are on the move and those that are being caught are small.

Lake Sara (Effingham): The crappie bite has been hot. The bait of choice is small jigs tipped with wax worms or spikes under floats. Skipping under the deeper docks or finding the submerged timber and green weeds is working. Coffeen Lake: Bass have slowed down, but a few being caught on spinners. Some catfish being caught on leeches.

Fox River: The walleyes are slowing down with the cooler weather and have switched over to a minnow bite.  Jig and minnow combinations as well as single hook and splitshot with a minnow fished in the deeper holes have been producing fish.  Smallmouth fishing has slowed down, but if you can find the warm water