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.

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