Fresh Chicago Fishing Reports

This year continues to be one of the best years fishing from Chicago that I have seen. Limit catches as of Tuesday of this week, are still possible (5 per person, w 2 Lake trout max ea.). We are holding our breath that it continues. Catching all species on any given day is very possible. We had 3 species each on Monday & Tuesday. Fish remain in 80-160 feet of water north of Belmont harbor has proven successful since the beginning of July. Fish are biting about everything but spoons w greens, golds, whites, and glow baits have been good, flasher fly's are also working well, UV has helped on all baits. All coppers starting with 90 feet (out to 350) are working well. The July run steelhead have come out into the Lake from the streams and are still venturing into the warmer waters near the surface to feed (early in morning or when overcast). We continue to catch big coho, a few Kings remain in the area but not as many as a week to ten days ago. Salmon catches have been good, fish are 40 to 90 down. Lake trout still being caught at misc depths but mainly near bottom, Browns out of Chicago remain elusive this year, but I've heard of a few being caught. The best speeds vary, but 2.0 to 2.7 depending upon what you run is working. I think the fish catch will remain strong through August. C'mon fishing.

The fish are cooperating as of yesterday, it's more catching than fishing right now. So book a trip asap. I had a chance to go out by myself yesterday, and got a quick limit of coho and a lake trout. Had several others on the line, a nice steelhead 12-14 pounds to back of boat and a couple more trout. I was trying to see what they would bite. Doing a lot of experimenting on lures and baits I never run. I guess those fish are hungry and will eat about anything because it didn't take long to get a limit. In the process we found some new (old) standbye's (lures) that are working well. Fish are biting on spoons, plugs, flasher / flies, & cut bait. Fish are in 90-160 feet of water straight out and North of Belmont harbor. That is a big range but there are fish 40-to bottom, with 55 to bottom being best yesterday. Trolling 2.4 to 2.7 mph, in 110-125 FOW best. This group of fish fillets went to Hagens in Chicago to be smoked (a great choice if you love smoked salmon / trout). That smoked fish is great to add to cream cheese along with a few other key ingredients, for the best salmon dip you ever had! Come fishing with us I'll give you all the details. Capt JB

This is the best year for fishing out of Chicago in a very long time. Huge King Salmon are around in more numbers than I have seen for a while. They are hitting hard and fast, lots of action. We have been catching more silver fish (salmon & steelhead) than we have been catching lake trout. But alas it is fishing so we never know from day to day. However over all fishing has been fantastic for the last week and we hope it holds for a handful more.

2024 has been one of the best years for Coho salmon in recent memory. We have begun to catch fewer salmon and more trout yet also keeping the numbers of fish caught high. The 10 fish catch was about 3 to 3.5 hours of actual fishing. The larger catch was a full 6 hour trip. Flasher fly's still working well with some spoons mixed in. Fish are a little deep and we have to go a little furthor to get to preferred water temps. I think the fishing will be good the rest of the year. Earlier in the year we were catching not fishing. We are starting to have to fish but the catches are above normal. We landed 4 species on the 7th, Coho, Lake Trout a couple Steelhead and a King/Pink cross = Pinook. C'mon fishing.