MIDWEST FISHING REPORT
AREA LAKES: Bass ( plastics in open weed pockets) and bluegills ( in weeds or bedding) will be the best bets for Memorial Day weekend.
AREA RIVERS: Barring major rains, should be good river fishing for weekend.
ILLINOIS: Levels have stabilized. Catfish are going. Some white bass.
KANKAKEE: State Park visitors, remember 102 bridge is out. Several readers report good walleye action, especially below Wilmington.
CHAIN O’LAKES: Triangle: Channels warmed into 70s. Bass are good shallow. Bluegills are or will be spawning. Catfish are good on stinkbait or crawlers. Muskie picking up. Walleye around current and some out on main- lake areas.
COOLING LAKES/ STRIP PITS: MAZONIA: Jon’s Bait: Redear and bluegills bedding. LASALLE: Blues remain top bite. Water warming rapidly.
HEIDECKE: Jon’s: Crappie and walleye best things going. Some muskie.
BRAIDWOOD: Jon’s: Warming rapidly. Small catfish top bite.
DELAVAN/ GENEVA, WISCONSIN: DELAVAN: Dave Duwe: Crappie, bluegills and largemouth are shallow. Walleye are average at night. Arden Katz: Shoreline scum makes casting tough.
GENEVA: Duwe: Fishing a bit behind. Bluegills and pumpkinseeds hitting in 3 to 4 feet. Walleye above average at night. Rock bass very good.
DOWNSTATE: LAKE OF EGYPT: Jason Johns: Crappie from the weeds to brush in 30 feet; best on cork and minnow. Bass on anything. REND: Johns: ‘‘ Crappie are everywhere ( 1 to 15 feet)” on cork and minnow.
LAKEFRONT: Perch fishing is closed through June 15.
CHICAGO: Park Bait: Some coho off Montrose horseshoe. Drum bite beginning. Capt. Bob Poteshman: Lakers are very good for boaters ( move until you find them).
WAUKEGAN: Salmon Stop: Mixed bag in 190 feet. Good lakers; best on fly and spin- and- glow flashers. Some shallower ( 50 to 100 feet).
NORTH POINT: Poteshman: Some coho starting on the beach. Best bet remains deep for a mixed bag.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: Muskie season north opens Saturday. EAGLE RIVER: Chamber of Commerce: For pike or walleye, try new weeds. Bass near spawning.
MINOCQUA: Kurt Justice: Crappie ( finishing spawn) and walleye ( in 12 to 14 feet over wood or rock) are very good. Bluegills and catch- and- release smallmouth and largemouth are good to very good.
NORTHWEST INDIANA: With more stable weather, bluegills and redear are picking up at Willow Slough. Slez’s Bait: ‘‘ Lakers as many as you want in 60 to 80 feet; good as ever it’s been.’’ Some kings and coho in 45 to 55 feet off Michigan City and west. A few trying for perch.
SHABBONA: Lakeside: ‘‘ Good news for fishing’’ as water warms through 60s. ‘‘ Tons of crappie.’’ Topwaters to night crawlers for bass. Lots of walleye. Muskie picking up.
WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN: FREMONT: Bill Stoeger: About three- quarters of white bass aren’t spawned. ‘‘ River is full of fish.’’ Those drifting with a halfcrawler and a sixteenth- ounce jig are limiting on walleye.