Good ice fishing reports continue from Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin with fishing seemingly getting better over the last week. Expect safe ice on most lakes with some of the thinnest places still holding at least 5 inches. We expect that the lows next week will keep the ice around for a while. The best local reports have come from Bullfrog Lake, Horsetail Lake, Wolf Lake, and Arrowhead Lake. Many others, including ponds, are producing great Bluegill, Crappie, Bass, Trout, Walleye, and Pike. The most consistent results have been on the tried and true Ice Jigs, Spoons, and Jigging Baits. We have started carrying Lake Effect Jigs, and they have been a very popular option tipped with a Soft Plastic, Spike, or Wax Worm. Medium Roach Minnows are still producing for Bass, as Small and Large Fathead Minnows continue to catch Trout and Crappie.
We are still hearing word of Lakers being caught in the city, mostly on Spoons and Medium Roach Minnows. Perch fishing has been fair, with 87th being our most common report over the last three weeks. Anglers fishing open areas are still targeting Perch with a Perch Pounder tipped with a Fathead Minnow or Night Crawler. If you venture towards Wisconsin, the reports from Milwaukee and some of the surrounding harbors have been astounding. The Steelhead and Brown Trout bite is very good, on both Jigging Baits and Live Bait options.