Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report Today

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Monday, December 22nd at 8:22 AM. Winter's locked in tight—National Weather Service says southwest winds hitting 30 knots over southern Lake Michigan today, shifting west tonight with gusts possible and waves 6-9 feet building to 8-11 feet. ABC7 Chicago calls for cloudy skies, highs around 39, lows near 37—stay bundled, no tidal action on this big lake but water levels steady high from recent rains. Sunrise was 7:18 AM, sunset 4:24 PM, short days mean fish hugging structure.Fish activity's slow but steady in the cold—perch and whitefish leading recent catches from Chicago harbors, with some walleye jigged deep off piers. Local reports from Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report podcasts note smaller panfish hauls last week, 10-20 perch limits for patient anglers, a few 4-6 pound walleye on vertical jigs. Coho and steelhead quieter till spring thaw.Best lures now: tiny 1/32-ounce glow jigs tipped with minnows or maggots—MidWest Outdoors swears by 'em for panfish through ice edges. Live bait rules: small minnows or worms on teardrops for perch, alewives if you snag 'em for whites. Rigs heavy for wind—3-4 foot leaders, 8-pound test.Hot spots: Navy Pier breakwall for perch if you brave the gale, and Montrose Harbor for sheltered jigging—watch for freezing spray overnight per NWS.Bundle up, fish safe, check ice if venturing out. Thanks for tuning in—subscribe for daily updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Sunday, December 21st. Man, winter's grip is tight on the big pond today—National Weather Service says northwest gales hitting 30 knots, dropping to 15-25 later, with freezing spray and waves 5-8 feet easing to 4-6. Temps hovering around 10-20°F, frigid bluster whipping off the lake like always in December. No real tides on fresh water, but solunar charts show waxing gibbous moon pushing subtle bite windows at sunrise 'bout 7:15 AM and sunset around 4:25 PM.We're deep in classic winter shoreline mode—stay outta the open lake, it's a gale warning till early morning. Fish activity's slowed but steady in sheltered spots; recent reports from Spreaker's Lake Michigan Chicago updates note trout and perch holding tight. Anglers pulling limits of 8-10 inch perch schools, plus coho and steelhead in the 3-6 lb range—dozens reported last week off harbors. Walleye scarce but possible on deep edges if you brave it later.Best play: Hit Chicago harbors like DuSable and Burnham for perch on small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or spikes—drop 'em 10-20 feet near structure. For trout, slender spoons or live emerald shiners on dead sticks, jig subtle. Lures shining are Chaos Tackle flashers with smaller spoons; live minnows rule bait right now per fishing forecasts.Hot spots? Northerly Island piers for perch crowds, and Wilmette Harbor northside breaks if winds dip—shelter's key, bundle up.Thanks for tuning in, folks—subscribe for daily bites! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report.We’re locked into classic winter shoreline mode on the big pond. The National Weather Service marine forecast is running a gale warning up and down the southwest corner of the lake, with west to northwest winds pushing 30 to 40 knots and open‑lake waves in the 10‑to‑14‑foot range offshore. Closer to the Chicago lakefront you’re still looking at a heavy chop and dangerous spray, so this is a **shore‑only or stay‑in‑the‑harbor** kind of day.According to the Chicago forecast from ABC7, air temps are hovering in the 30s with a damp feel, scattered flurries or sprinkles, and wind chills dropping into the 20s. Sunrise is right around 7:15 a.m., sunset a little after 4:20 p.m., so your prime light windows are that first hour after sunrise and the last 60–90 minutes before dark.Lake Michigan isn’t tidal like the ocean, but we do get seiche swings and wind‑driven water levels. With strong westerlies stacking water on the east side of the lake, the Chicago shoreline will fish a bit “low,” pulling bait and gamefish tight to structure and inside harbors where they can get a break from the rollers.Recent shore reports around Chicago’s harbors and the south end, shared on local boards like The South End and various lakefront Facebook groups, have been showing:- **Brown trout** and the odd **steelhead** off harbor walls and inside slips. - A few **lake trout** cruising close, especially on deeper outside walls when the lake lays down. - Light but steady **perch** action in protected corners when you can find cleaner water and small pods of fish.Counts haven’t been crazy – think ones and twos, maybe a half‑dozen browns for someone grinding all morning – but the quality has been solid, with browns in the 4–8 lb class and some bigger lake trout showing after dark.Best producers right now:- **Lures:** - Size 3–4 silver/blue or gold **Little Cleos** and other spoons slow‑rolled near bottom. - White or alewife‑pattern **swim jigs** and 3–4" paddletails on 1/4–3/8 oz heads along harbor walls. - Bright orange or chartreuse **spawn sacs** under a float for trout, drifted parallel to the wall. - **Baits:** - Fresh or salted **golden roaches**, fatheads, and shiners on a simple slip rig. - **Waxies** or spikes on tiny jigs for perch when they slide in. - Steelhead and browns are still loving cured **salmon or trout eggs** in small net bags.Downsize line – 6–10 lb fluoro leaders – and fish slow. Water is cold, fish are lazy, and most bites have been that soft “heavier weight” feel rather than a slam.A couple of local hot spots to key on:- **Burnham and Monroe Harbors:** Work the inner walls, corners, and any slightly darker, deeper pockets. On calmer days, casting spoons off the outer wall toward the lake can turn up browns and the occasional laker. - **Diversey and Montrose Harbors:** Classic winter shore‑trout territory. Focus on the bridges, channel neck‑downs, and spots where current or wind funnels bait. Nighttime slip‑bobber rigs with live bait or spawn can be deadly here.If the lake ever gives you a short weather window, the north‑side reefs and crib edges would be prime for lake trout with big blades and white tubes, but with the ongoing gales, plan on staying inside the rocks and dressing for freezing spray.That’s your Lake Michigan, Chicago rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss tomorrow’s update.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report.We’ve got classic winter-city vibes on the lakefront: cold, windy, and rough. The National Weather Service marine forecast out of Chicago has west winds running 20 to 30 knots at times with waves still in the 4- to 7-foot range offshore, calming closer to 1 to 3 feet tight to shore as the day wears on. According to the Chicago sailing charter reports, nearshore conditions in Monroe and Burnham can be fishable from shore and the harbors, but it’s no day for small boats.Sunrise came in right around 7:15 this morning, with sunset just after 4:20 this afternoon, so your prime shore windows are that first hour after sun-up and the last hour of light when the fish slide a little shallower.Lake Michigan isn’t truly tidal, but there is some seiche and wind-driven water movement today. With this west wind, water’s getting pushed off the Chicago side a bit, so you’ll see slightly lower water along the concrete and better current in the slips and harbor mouths. That extra push helps stack bait and perch in the corners and around any remaining weed clumps or rock transitions.Recent reports from Chicago shore anglers and local bait shops have been steady on **yellow perch** with a mix of smaller **lake trout** and the odd **brown trout** inside the harbors. Most perch are running 8 to 11 inches with a few 12-inchers in the mix. Lake trout have been mostly eaters in the 3- to 6-pound class for the guys casting heavier gear off the piers when the wind lets them.Perch bite has been best on:- Live or dead **fathead minnows** and **rosy reds** on simple crappie rigs or drop-shot setups.- Soft plastics like tiny **Gulp! Minnows** and **ice jigs** tipped with waxies.Trout and salmon hunters are doing better with:- Casting **3/4- to 1-ounce spoons** in silver, gold, or glow.- **Jigging raps** and heavy blade baits worked just off bottom on the outer walls and near discharge areas when you can safely reach them.With the water cold and churned, fish are glued tight to structure. Think slow, deliberate presentations: let that minnow sit just off bottom, pop it once in a while, and give them time to eat.Best lure and bait choices right now:- For perch: small tungsten ice jigs, teardrop jigs, and size 8–10 hooks with **fatheads**, **spikes**, or small pieces of worm. Chartreuse, glow white, and firetiger do work in our stained winter water.- For trout: heavy **Krocodile-style spoons**, Little Cleos, and white or pearl **swimbaits** on 3/8- to 1/2-ounce heads. Add a bit of flash or glow tape for the low-light bite.A couple local hot spots to key on:- **Navy Pier and Monroe/Burnham Harbor walls**: Perch along the inside edges, especially around any pilings, boats left in, or corners that trap bait.- **Montrose Harbor and the Montrose horseshoe**: Classic Chicago winter perch zone; watch for packs of locals with short rods and buckets. When they slide inside, follow them.- **Calumet and the south-end slips** if you’re willing to drive a bit: dirtier, warmer water and often a stronger perch bite when downtown slows.Dress for it: layers, windproof outer shell, and hand protection—you’ll be fishing slow and your hands will be in the water all morning. Ice can form on the rocks and ladders, so move carefully and don’t push it on days the wind really howls.That’s your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Artificial Lure here, checking in from the big pond off Chicago.Lake Michigan’s got some teeth this morning. The National Weather Service has a Small Craft Advisory running for the nearshore from Wilmette down past Calumet, with west winds building 15 to 25 knots and leftover 4–6 footers outside the harbors. Offshore, the open-lake forecast is stacked with gales, so this is very much a stay-tucked-in-the-harbors kind of day.According to the Wilmette Harbor Club forecast, air temps are riding just above freezing with wind chills in the 20s and low 30s. Skies are mostly cloudy, with just enough breaks to tease you. NOAA’s tide and current predictions put our seiche swings on the mild side today, but you’ll still see that subtle up‑and‑down inside Navy Pier, Burnham, and Calumet turning the current on and off around the ends of docks and rock seams.Sunrise hit right around 7 a.m. over the skyline, with sunset coming a little after 4:20 this afternoon. That gives you a short but very defined low‑light window, and that’s when the bite has been best all week.Recent action along the Chicago lakefront has centered on three players: lakefront trout, harbor perch, and a few bonus smallmouth. Local pier rats and charter skippers have been reporting mixed bags of brown and lake trout off the outer walls of Montrose and Diversey on spoons and live bait, plus steady perch inside the slips around Calumet and 87th Street. Most guys are scratching out 10–20 keeper perch in a session when they stay mobile and hop dock to dock. A handful of chunky harbor smallmouth have been coming as accidental catches while guys drag minnows for perch.With this cold, the fish are glued to structure and slow. Best bets:- For trout on the outer walls: big chrome and gold spoons, white tube jigs on 3/8 to 1/2 ounce heads, and shiner‑tipped spawn sacs drifted just off bottom. Long, sweeping lifts with plenty of pauses.- For perch in the harbors: small fathead minnows or rosy reds on plain hooks or tiny jigheads, dropped tight to pilings and cribs. Tip with a waxie if bait’s scarce. Light line, barely move it.- For smallmouth: hair jigs, finesse tubes in green pumpkin, and subtle blade baits yo‑yoed near the bottom on the sunny sides of rock and seawalls.Hot spots to circle today:- **Montrose Harbor and the outer horseshoe** – decent mixed trout shot outside, and perch roaming the inside wall and northern slips when that seiche nudges some current.- **Calumet Harbor and the slips along the river mouth** – more protected from the west wind, and that area’s been giving up the more consistent perch limits and surprise bronzebacks.Dress for that wet west wind, stay inside the walls, and remember: today’s a precision game. Slow down, fish vertical, and let the cold-water fish make the first move.Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Monday, December 15th at 8:22 AM. Winter's grip is tight—National Weather Service marine forecasts show gale warnings kicking in late tonight through tomorrow morning across Lake Michigan, with southwest gales to 35-40 knots today, freezing spray, and chances of snow showers. Waves building to 8-12 feet occasionally 16 feet near Chicago from Wilmette Harbor to Michigan City, so stay docked if you're small craft—it's nasty out there. No real tides on the big lake, just seiche swings keeping current mild. Sunrise around 7:15 AM, sunset by 4:25 PM CST—hit those low-light windows hard.Fish activity's slowed with the cold front, but steelhead and coho are staging in tributaries like the Chicago River and Calumet, per local angler chatter. Recent reports from Chicago fishing groups note small limits of 4-8 pound steelhead on yarnies and spinners, plus scattered lake trout in 40-60 feet off Navy Pier, and a few perch pods near breakwalls. Boats last week pulled 10-15 fish days when they braved it, mostly skamania steelhead running hot pre-freeze.Best lures now: Match the hatch with 3-4 inch swimbaits or spoons like Moonshine or Silver Buddy in chrome/blue for steelhead—slow roll 'em deep. Ned rigs or tubes in green pumpkin for bottom bouncers. Bait kings are emerald shiners or skein on jigs; fatheads work if you're shore-bound.Hot spots: Navy Pier structure in 30-50 feet for lakers and steelies—watch your graph for bait balls. And Montrose Harbor breaks for perch and early coho—grind slow if you mark fish.Bundle up, fish smart, and respect those gales.Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the next report.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Sunday, December 14th at 8:22 AM. We're deep in that Arctic grip—National Weather Service says northwest winds hitting 30 knots nearshore, freezing spray warnings through morning, waves 4-6 feet occasionally to 8 feet subsiding later to 2-4 feet. Partly cloudy skies, small craft advisory till noon. No tides on this big lake, but water temps are hovering in the low 40s from recent reports. Sunrise was around 7:10 AM, sunset 4:20 PM—short days, bundle up.Fish activity's tough with the cold blast and wind. Recent catches around Chicago piers and harbors show perch starting to stack up shallow, some limits of 8-10 inchers on minnows or small jigs. Coho and steelhead are sluggish offshore, but a few anglers jigged up smaller kings and browns last week per Lake Michigan Angler updates. Bass reports from Michiana spots nearby highlight smallmouth on 1/2-ounce green pumpkin jigs with craw trailers—perfect for rock and weed edges this time of year.Best lures right now: Buckeye Spot Remover shaky head with Zoom Trick Worm for bottom bouncers, or a green pumpkin jig skipping docks. For cold water reaction bites, try a weightless Yamamoto Senko or swim jig. Live bait kings it—minnows on light jigs for perch and trout, nightcrawlers if you can get 'em down.Hot spots: Navy Pier breakwall for perch if you brave the spray, or Montrose Harbor for sheltered jigging. Stay safe out there, winds ease afternoon.Thanks for tuning in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report.We’re locked in a full-on Arctic pattern this weekend. The National Weather Service open-lake forecast is calling for stiff northwest winds pushing up near 30 knots, with 6–10 footers offshore and freezing spray building through tonight and into tomorrow. Closer to shore it’s more manageable, but still rough and bitter – this is serious cold-water gear-only weather.According to SolunarForecast’s Chicago tables, the better feeding windows today line up around the early morning and mid‑afternoon majors, so that first light to mid‑morning window is worth grinding, then again toward late afternoon as the wind eases a touch.Sunrise is right around 7:10 local, sunset just after 4:20, so you’ve got a short, gray-light day to work with. These low, stable winter light levels usually help the bite once you find fish; you’re not relying on a midday sun window.Water temps along Chicago’s lakefront are sitting in the upper 30s to very low 40s in harbors and discharge areas. That’s put most action into two zones: warm-ish pockets and deep wintering edges. Local pier regulars and shop chatter out of the South End report light but steady mixed bags the last few days – mostly lake trout with a few bonus brown trout and the odd coho around warm discharges and harbor mouths. Perch catches have been spotty, with small pods producing a dozen or two keepers if you land on them.For lake trout and browns, think slow and subtle. Jigging heavy blade baits and 1/2‑ounce spoons tight to the bottom has been the ticket, just like winter patterns Wired2Fish lays out for cold-water bass – same idea, different species. Snap them up, let them flutter back to bottom, long pauses. Chrome, gold, and white with a touch of glow are producing. Big white or alewife‑pattern swimbaits on 3/4–1 oz jigheads are also connecting when fished painfully slow along the rocks.If you’re chasing perch inside the harbors, downsize. Small jigheads tipped with minnows or waxies, or classic perch rigs with live minnows, are outfishing artificials. Natural colors – browns, greens, and subtle chartreuse – on tiny plastics will clean up when they’re finicky.A couple of hot spots if you’re braving it:• **Montrose Harbor and the outside horseshoe** – Deep wintering lakers along the rocks on big spoons and blades, and roaming pods of perch inside when the wind lets you fish vertical. • **Burnham and Calumet area discharges** – Any warm water coming out draws browns and the occasional early coho. Work jerkbaits and swimbaits just outside the color line, and heavy spoons deeper.For lures, locals are leaning on:• 1/2–1 oz casting spoons (Kastmaster‑style, Johnson‑style) in chrome/blue, chrome/green, or gold. • Blade baits in silver and gold for vertical work. • 3–4 inch paddle‑tail swimbaits on heavy heads in white, smelt, and goby tones. • Inside harbors: tiny ice jigs, tungsten teardrops, and small crappie tubes tipped with live bait.Bait-wise, lake trout and browns are mostly coming on artificials, but a lively shiner on a slip rig or float near bottom will steal the show on slow days. For perch, live minnows are still king, with worms and spikes as backup when shops run short.Safety note: with these northwest winds and freezing spray warnings offshore, pick protected water, wear a real flotation suit or life jacket, and treat every surface like black ice. One slip in this water can end your day fast.That’s it from Artificial Lure on the Chicago lakefront. Bundle up, fish slow, and stick to those warm pockets and deep edges.Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report.Nearshore on the Chicago stretch, the latest National Weather Service nearshore marine forecast out of Chicago/Romeoville has northwest winds around 10 to 15 knots this morning, easing and swinging a bit west later, with waves dropping from 3–5 feet down toward 1–3 as the day goes on. Air temps are winter‑cold, skies mostly cloudy, with a few snow showers possible tonight. Plan on a raw, damp lakefront, and dress like you’re ice‑fishing in the wind tunnel.Sunrise is right around 7:05 a.m., sunset close to 4:20 p.m. The low‑light windows continue to be the best shots for active fish, especially that last 60–90 minutes before dark along the rock and harbor mouths.Lake Michigan doesn’t really have tides like saltwater, but we do get seiche swings and wind‑pushed water. With today’s northwest breeze and easing waves, expect slightly higher water piled on the Indiana side and a gentle fall on the Chicago shore as the wind lays, which can loosen up bait and perk things up along the riprap.Recent action around the Chicago harbors has been classic early‑winter. Shore anglers and hardy boaters have been picking at mixed bags: lake trout, a few browns and steelhead, and the odd late coho or king. Most reports put catches in the “a few per angler” range if you grind: one to three fish is realistic, with lake trout making up most of the catches on deeper structure and off the harbor mouths.Best baits and lures right now:- For lake trout and browns: heavy spoons in silver, chrome‑blue, and glow patterns; jigging them vertically off the bottom on deeper walls or off the end of the piers is producing. Blade baits and jigging Raps in natural or alewife colors are also doing work when fish are hugging the breaks.- For steelhead and remaining coho: spawn sacs, shrimp, or waxies under a float in the harbors, especially around warmwater inflows and boat slips. Bright beads and small jigs tipped with waxies or plastic bugs are good when the water cleans up.- For smallmouth on the rare soft‑weather days: think true winter mode. Drop‑shot rigs with small minnows or finesse plastics, Ned rigs, and tubes dragged painfully slow over rock and concrete transitions. Midwest bass forecasts for winter point to drop‑shot, blade baits, and long‑pause jerkbaits as top producers, and that lines up with what locals are seeing when the water’s clear and below the mid‑40s.Live bait: medium golden shiners and fatheads, fished on slip floats or simple bottom rigs around the harbor corners, still put fish in the net when artificials get the cold shoulder.A couple of local hot spots to try:- **Burnham and Monroe Harbors:** Work the outer walls and the gaps, especially on the lake‑side rock and any slightly deeper corners. Vertical jig spoons or blades, or run spawn and minnows under a float along the wall.- **Calumet / Indiana line area:** When conditions allow, the industrial shoreline and warm discharges draw bait and trout. Heavy spoons, jigging Raps, and live minnows on three‑way rigs near current edges can be lights‑out.For pier rats staying in the city, the Montrose and Diversey harbor mouths are solid winter bets whenever the wind and ice allow safe access. Focus on edges where deep water meets rock, and don’t be afraid to camp on one good stretch and let the fish cycle through.That’s the word from the big pond. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan – Chicago shoreline fishing report.We’re riding a big-wind pattern on the south end today. The National Weather Service marine forecast for the Winthrop Harbor to Wilmette stretch is calling for strong south winds pushing up toward 30 knots, building 8–11 footers offshore with a gale warning posted. Nearshore piers and harbors are fishable if you stay tucked in, but the main lake is no place for small craft. According to Fox Weather, a series of fast-moving clippers is sliding through the Midwest, keeping things cold, windy, and unsettled.Sunrise came in right around 7 a.m. Chicago time with sunset just after 4:20 p.m., so you’ve got a tight low-light window. With heavy chop outside, most of the action is in protected water: inner harbors, river mouths, and wind-shaded walls.Lake Michigan doesn’t have tides like the ocean, but NOAA notes we do get short-lived seiche swings and wind-driven water levels. With this south blow, expect higher water pushing into the Chicago shoreline and stronger current around harbor mouths and river discharges.Fish activity: cold-water mode now. Shore reports around the Chicago lakefront the last few days have been steady for brown trout and some lake trout off Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham. Steelhead are poking into the Chicago and Calumet river systems and staging near warm-water and discharge areas. Mixed panfish and the odd perch are coming out of the inner slips when the wind lets you drop straight down.Best baits and lures from local chatter:- For browns and lakers on the big-lake side of the harbors, throw **spoons** (Kastmaster, Little Cleo, KO Wobbler) in silver/blue, silver/green, or glow, 3/4 to 1 ounce. - Crank **medium swimbaits** and paddle-tails (3–4 inch white, alewife, or smelt colors) on 3/8–1/2 ounce heads along the rocks. - Dead or salted **spawn sacs** under a slip float, plus live **golden shiners** or large fatheads, are putting fish on the deck for the bait soakers. Pink and chartreuse mesh bags have been hot. - For steelhead in the rivers and slips, folks are drifting hair jigs tipped with waxies or spawn, and running small **inline spinners** in bright orange or chartreuse when water has a stain.You’re not going to see huge numbers in this weather, but quality is there: a handful of browns in the 4–8 pound class and lake trout into the teens have come off the Chicago cribs line and the outer walls when boats could sneak out between blows, and shore guys are seeing one to three trout per long, patient session.Couple of local hot spots:- **Montrose Harbor and the north wall**: classic Chicago winter water. Work the harbor mouth, inside corners, and the horseshoe with spoons and spawn. The north wall gives you that deep edge close to shore and catches roaming trout. - **Burnham and the Calumet area**: Burnham’s inside corners and slips are holding browns and a few steelhead. Further south, the Calumet River mouth and nearby slips get that slightly warmer, stained water that turns fish on during these wind events.With this kind of gale-driven chop, safety comes first: stay inside the harbors, bring ice cleats for the concrete, and don’t fish alone on the outer walls. Focus your effort around dawn, last light, and any mid-day weather breaks when the sun peeks out and the wind backs off a notch.That’s the bite around Chicago’s slice of Lake Michigan today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report.We’re locked in a true early‑winter pattern now. According to the National Weather Service marine forecast out of Chicago, we’ve got lingering small craft advisories, with northeast to east winds swinging around and gusting into the 20‑knot range, waves running 3 to 6 feet and higher offshore, and on‑and‑off snow showers. That’s keeping most small boats at the dock and pushing the bite toward harbors and protected shorelines.Sunrise around Chicago today is right around 7:00 a.m. with sunset about 4:19 p.m., based on the solunar tables from SolunarForecast. That gives you a short, cold window of light, and the best feeding periods are lining up late morning and again mid‑afternoon, so no need to rush the first cast in the dark.Lake Michigan doesn’t have real ocean tides, but the solunar tables and barometer swings are helping trigger fish. With all the recent snow and cold the Chicago media have been talking about, water temps are low and still dropping, which slows things down but stacks fish tight to structure.Shore and harbor action has been the play. Local reports out of Montrose and Diversey harbors have been showing steady numbers of perch with a mix of size: lots of 7–9 inchers, but enough 10–12 inch fish to make a trip worthwhile if you’re willing to sort. Steelhead and a few brown trout are cruising Navy Pier, Burnham, and the river mouth, especially on those cloudy, snowy days. Down toward Calumet, guys are still scratching out some late‑season smallmouth in the warm‑water plumes and deeper rock, but the window is short.On numbers, expect a bucket or two of perch for a dialed‑in angler fishing all morning, maybe 20–40 keepers if you move around and stay on the school. Trout are more of a one‑to‑three‑fish game per angler right now, but they’re quality fish when you connect.Best baits and lures: For **perch**, think small and subtle. Live minnows on 2‑hook rigs, spikes or waxworms, and tiny soft‑plastics on ice jigs are working. A simple drop‑shot with a #8 hook and a fathead minnow right on bottom is putting fish on the board. Gold, chartreuse, and glow white are your confidence colors. For **steelhead and browns**, spawn sacs under a float in the river and harbor mouths are still king, especially in pink, chartreuse, and peach. Inline spinners and smaller spoons like Little Cleos and Kastmasters in silver‑blue or gold‑orange are taking fish when the wind lets you work the wall. For **smallmouth**, slow it way down: tube jigs, hair jigs, and small swimbaits dragged painfully slow on the bottom, 15–25 feet, near rock and current seams. Natural goby and green pumpkin patterns are hard to beat.Couple of hot spots to circle: Montrose Harbor and the adjacent horseshoe have been a perch factory when the wind lets you tuck in out of the waves. Work the dock edges and any deeper holes. Calumet Harbor and the river mouth have been a solid bet for mixed‑bag action: perch along the walls and bottom, with a shot at a winter smallie or a roaming trout when the discharge is running.Given the waves, the cold, and all that ice building on the shoreline that Fox Weather’s been showing along the lakefront, use your head out there: cleats, a life jacket even from shore, and keep an eye on that wind.That’s it for today from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

This is Artificial Lure with your Chicago Lake Michigan fishing report.We’re coming off a winter storm sliding through the metro, with the National Weather Service calling for a few inches of fresh snow and temps stuck in the 20s and low 30s, plus a stiff north wind pushing 15 to 25 knots on the nearshore from Wilmette Harbor down past Northerly Island. That’s putting 3–6 footers on the lake and kicking up some serious chop. Not small-craft friendly, so bank anglers have the safer play today.According to the Chicago-area solunar and tide tables, minor “tide” swings and seiche action line up with the midday window. Sunrise is right around 7 a.m. with sunset just before 4:20 p.m., so your best shot is that late-morning to early-afternoon push when the north wind eases a hair and the water’s had a chance to bump a degree.Bite-wise, it’s classic early-winter Lake Michigan. South End reports and local boards are showing good **perch** action in spurts, a few bonus **brown trout** and **steelhead**, and some night-timed **burbot** for the grinders. Most perch limits have been coming in 8–11 inches, with a few jumbos, but you’ve gotta weed through. Trout catches are singles and doubles, but quality fish pushing 6–10 pounds when they show.Best bank program for perch right now:- **Bait:** live minnows, softshells if you can find them, or red worms on a drop-shot or simple crappie rig.- **Artificial:** 1/16–1/8 oz jigheads tipped with gulp minnows or small plastic grubs, slowly lifted off the bottom.For trout and the odd salmon cruising the warm-water and harbor mouths:- Cast spoons like Little Cleos or Kastmasters in silver/blue.- Floating spawn sacs or waxworms under a slip float.- On calmer stretches, small crankbaits or twitching suspending jerkbaits can move fish even in this cold, reaction-bite style.If you’re after burbot after dark, soak cut shiners or fatheads on the bottom with a simple Carolina rig and let it sit.A couple of hot spots to circle today:- **Montrose Harbor and the outer wall** – Perch are sliding in and out with the weather; use minnows tight to the rocks and inside corners, and cast spoons off the pier edges for trout.- **Calumet Harbor / 95th Street area** – When the wind lets you, this stretch has been giving up perch along the slips and steelhead around current and discharge edges. Work slow; the cold front has them a little sulky, so finesse pays.Dress for the wind, watch for ice on the rocks and piers, and don’t push it in these waves. The fish are here, but they’re making you earn it.Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Good morning folks, Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report.We’re locked in a brutal early-winter pattern. AccuWeather and ABC News are both talking about an Arctic blast and polar-vortex driven cold pushing wind chills well below zero around the lake, with spray freezing into icicles on the Michigan side and snow on the Chicago shoreline. Expect stiff northwest to west winds 10 to 20 knots and 1–3 foot waves on the Illinois nearshore, per the National Weather Service marine forecast.Sunrise is right around 7 a.m. with sunset just after 4:20 p.m., so your prime windows are a short first light bite and a quick dusk flurry. With the cold, today is a low-activity day overall: fish are glued to deeper, more stable water and tight to structure, moving in short feeding bursts.Recent shore reports around Montrose, Diversey, and Navy Pier have been a grind but not dead. Guys braving the cold have picked off a few lake trout and the odd brown trout on bottom rigs and slow-rolled hardware. Numbers are low, but quality is decent—think a fish or two for the persistent angler instead of fast limits.Best bets right now:- For lake trout: heavy silver or white spoons, blade baits, and 3–4 inch paddletails on 3/4–1 oz jig heads, worked painfully slow near bottom. Tip with a minnow head if you can. - For browns and steelhead nosing around harbors: spawn sacs under a slip float, or a small pink or chartreuse jig tipped with waxies or shrimp, fished just off the rocks. - For perch when they slide in: small crappie minnows or fatheads on plain hooks or tiny jigs, tight to bottom, very subtle movements.Live bait is king in this cold. Emerald shiners, fathead minnows, and spawn are outfishing artificials, but if you’re throwing lures, keep it slow and simple: silver/blue spoons, white tubes, and natural shad-colored swimbaits.A couple of hotspots to try:- **Montrose Harbor and the horseshoe**: Deep water close to shore, rock and concrete edges holding what little warmth there is. Good shot at lakers and a bonus brown. - **Navy Pier and downtown wall**: Classic winter structure with deep troughs; when the wind lines up, it funnels bait and gives you a crack at trout and the first waves of perch.Given the cold and the Small Craft Advisory level conditions we’ve had, I’d call today a hardcore-only day. If you go, dress for real winter, watch the ice on the rocks, and keep your trips short, targeting those dawn and last-light windows.That’s the word from the big lake. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Let me search for more specific current Lake Michigan fishing conditions and recent catch reports.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Good morning folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan and Chicago area fishing report for Thursday, December 4th, 2025.We're looking at some challenging conditions out on the water today, so let's break down what you need to know before heading out.**Weather and Water Conditions**Northwest winds are running 10 to 20 knots this morning, becoming west and diminishing to around 10 knots by afternoon. We've got partly cloudy skies clearing throughout the day, which is good news. Waves are running 4 to 6 feet, occasionally reaching 8 feet, but they'll subside to 2 to 4 feet as the day progresses. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect through this afternoon, so be cautious out there.**Fish Activity**Walleye and smallmouth are the stars right now around Lake Michigan. The cold front that moved through has these fish actively feeding, especially during prime morning hours. Water temperatures are in the low 40s, which means slower presentations and vertical jigging are your best bets. We're also seeing excellent perch action mixed in with solid walleye opportunities.**Best Techniques and Lures**For this time of year, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades or tandem Colorado-willow combinations are absolutely crushing it. The vibration and blade flash help fish locate your bait in these colder conditions. Ned rigs and tube jigs are fantastic for dragging along the bottom. Blade baits—especially 1/2-ounce options—work great for vertical jigging. Crankbaits and jerkbaits will also produce if you're working shallower structure.**Hot Spots**Head to the nearshore zones from Wilmette Harbor down to Gary. The structure around Calumet Harbor and the transitions along gravel banks have been holding excellent fish. Early morning bite times are prime—get out there before 9 AM for the best action.Thanks for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe for daily updates on conditions around Lake Michigan. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Good morning folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan and Chicago area fishing report for Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025.Let's start with the weather. We're looking at southwest winds running 15 to 25 knots, becoming west 15 to 25 knots in the afternoon. A small craft advisory is in effect from midnight last night through 9 AM this morning, so keep that in mind if you're heading out on the water. We've got a slight chance of snow showers in the morning with snow showers likely in the afternoon, and waves are building to 3 to 5 feet. The sun came up at 6:32 this morning and will set at 7:16 PM tonight, giving us just over 12 hours of daylight.For the bite, the morning feeding window is prime time right now. Your major feeding times are hitting between 1:23 AM and 3:23 AM, with another major window from 1:47 PM to 3:47 PM. The morning is shaping up to be your best opportunity with good plus conditions predicted for the day.On the tackle side, the lake Michigan bite is on during these prime morning feeding times. For lures, you'll want to stick with noise-making topwaters and walking baits—those always do well this time of year. Squarebills and flat-sided cranks like Shad Raps are money when the water's this cold. Bass are grouping up tight on hard structure like rock transitions and little drains, so a Red Eye Shad worked with precision will put fish in the boat.Recent reports from the lake show consistent action, especially during these early morning hours. The cold front moving through has fish aggressive and feeding hard before the snow picks up this afternoon.I'd recommend heading out to the nearshore zones off Wilmette Harbor or focusing your efforts near the hard bottom transitions between Calumet Harbor and Gary. These areas are holding feeding fish right now.That's your Lake Michigan report. Thanks for tuning in and make sure you subscribe for daily updates.This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Good morning folks! This is Artificial Lure with your Monday fishing report for Lake Michigan and the Chicago area.Let's start with what Mother Nature's throwing at us. We just came off a brutal weekend—Chicago O'Hare picked up over 8 inches of snow, the highest November single-day snowfall since 1951. But here's the good news: conditions are settling down a bit today. Sunrise is at 6:32 AM and we're looking at sunset around 7:16 PM, giving you just under 13 hours of daylight to work with. Water's still a bit rough from yesterday's gale force winds, but winds are dropping to 10 to 15 knots this afternoon.For tides, we're looking at a coefficient of 36, which is running low, so don't expect dramatic tidal swings working in your favor today.Now, here's where it gets interesting. According to the solunar data, we've got major feeding times from 7:26 AM to 9:26 AM and again from 7:52 PM to 9:52 PM. That's prime time, folks. Minor activity is 2:19 AM to 3:19 AM and 1:19 PM to 2:19 PM if you're desperate.Recent tournament reports from the region show anglers are having solid success on drop-shots with soft plastics like PowerBait MaxScent worms. Smallmouth are also crushing soft plastic shads in green pumpkin and watermelon patterns on main-lake humps. For largemouths, oversized squarebill crankbaits that match local shad forage are producing, especially if you're targeting shallow cover.I'd focus on the shallow grass and piles along the breaklines—get in 4 to 15 feet of water where you can cover ground with a trolling motor. Calumet Harbor and the areas north of Wilmette are your hot spots right now.Grab your drop-shot rig, throw some soft plastics, and get out there during those morning windows. The bite should be on.Thanks for tuning in and don't forget to subscribe for daily updates!This has been a quiet please production. For more, check out quiet please dot ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Good morning, folks! This is Artificial Lure with your Monday morning fishing report for Lake Michigan and the Chicago area. Let me tell you, we've got some interesting conditions shaping up for today.First, the weather—and this is important. We're dealing with the aftermath of a record-breaking winter storm that just hammered the region over the weekend. Chicago saw over 8 inches of snow on Saturday alone, the highest single-day November snowfall at O'Hare on record. But here's the thing: we've got another weather system moving in this evening. Expect 1 to 3 inches of fresh snow between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., so if you're heading out, get on the water early.For sunrise and sunset, you're looking at a 5:57 a.m. sunrise and 5:45 p.m. sunset, giving us just under 12 hours of daylight today. That's a tight window, folks.Now, the tidal situation on Lake Michigan is moderate with a tidal coefficient around 70, which means decent tidal movement. Maximum high tides here top out around 2.2 meters, so nothing extreme, but enough to move some fish.As for what's biting—largemouth bass are grouping up in deeper water this time of year, typically 5 to 35 feet down. They're hanging around wood and sparse grass patches. A lipless crankbait like the SPRO Aruku Shad works great for ripping through vegetation, and clear iridescent shad colors are your go-to. If the bite's tough, drop down to a finesse rig or drop-shot setup.For spotted bass, they're suspending around bait in the deeper structure. Small swimbaits on light jigs in the 1/8 to 3/16 ounce range should produce. And if you're targeting smallmouth, remember they're nomads in winter—keep moving if you're not getting bites quickly. Light fluorocarbon line is essential in cold water.If you want to hit some productive water, check out Wilmette Harbor Club just north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. It's got good access and decent structure. Wind conditions are looking at about 6 knots from the northwest with water temps hovering around -5 to -3 Celsius—brisk out there.Get all your gear before you leave the dock, and be safe in these winter conditions. Thanks for tuning in, and make sure to subscribe for daily updates on what's happening out on the water.This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Hey folks, it's Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Sunday, November 30th, 2025.Well, we've got ourselves some pretty gnarly conditions out there today. A gale watch is in effect with south winds gusting to 30 knots this afternoon, building those waves to 8 to 11 feet occasionally reaching 14 feet. Tonight it's looking even meaner with south gales to 35 knots and waves pushing 10 to 14 feet occasionally 18 feet. Not exactly a day for the faint of heart, but if you've got the grit for it, there's still fish to be caught.Sun's coming up at 6:32 AM and setting at 7:16 PM, giving you just over 12 hours of daylight to work with. Your major bite windows today are hitting hard from 2:27 to 4:27 AM and again from 2:57 to 4:57 PM. The minor windows are running 7:37 to 8:37 AM and 11:29 PM to 12:29 AM.As for the bite, we're still in that solid fall run pattern. Chinook and coho salmon are pushing into the harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are your best bets. Work spoons, crankbaits, and skein under floats along the pier heads and harbor mouths. Those north winds we've been getting are actually stacking the bait, so that's working in our favor when conditions allow.Steelhead are showing on the structure with bright spoons and waxies on jigs, especially around the warmwater discharges. Lake trout are prowling the breakwalls—slow-roll swimbaits or bounce heavy blade baits in 15 to 30 feet of water. Inside the harbors and Chicago River, smallmouth and largemouth bass are feeding up on shad. Target current seams and marina corners with ned rigs, jerkbaits, and small swim jigs.For hot spots, I'd suggest hitting the Diversey Harbor mouth early before this storm really intensifies, or post up at Montrose Pier if you're feeling brave. Just be smart out there—visibility is going to get dicey, and those conditions are going to be treacherous.Thanks for tuning in, folks. Make sure you subscribe for more updates and stay safe out there!This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Hey folks, it's Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Saturday, November 29th, 2025.Well, we've got ourselves a real winter day shaping up. A winter storm warning is in effect from 3 a.m. this morning through 6 a.m. tomorrow, so conditions are going to be challenging out there. Expect 6 to 12 inches of snow with the heaviest action hitting this afternoon—we're talking 1 to 2 inches per hour from noon through 6 p.m. Winds are gusting up to 30 mph with wind chills dropping into the teens and twenties. Sunrise was around 6:40 a.m., and sunset comes early at 4:18 p.m., so you've got a tight window today.As for the bite, we're still in that solid fall run pattern. Chinook and coho salmon are pushing into the harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are your best bets. Dawn and dusk are prime, though today that window's getting squeezed tight by the storm. Work spoons, crankbaits, and skein under floats along the pier heads and harbor mouths. Those north winds we've been getting actually stack the bait, so that's working in our favor when conditions allow.Steelhead are showing on the structure with bright spoons and waxies on jigs, especially around the warmwater discharges. Lake trout are prowling the breakwalls—slow-roll swimbaits or bounce heavy blade baits in 15 to 30 feet of water. Inside the harbors and Chicago River, smallmouth and largemouth bass are feeding up on shad. Target current seams and marina corners with ned rigs, jerkbaits, and small swim jigs.For hot spots, I'd suggest hitting the Diversey Harbor mouth early before this storm really intensifies, or post up at Montrose Pier if you've got the grit for the conditions. Just be smart—visibility is going to get dicey, and those roads will be treacherous.Thanks for tuning in, folks. Make sure you subscribe for more updates and stay safe out there this weekend.This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1PnThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI