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.

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