Fresh McHenry County Fishing Reports

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Fresh Fishing Reports from McHenry County

Overview of 2025
Overview of 2025
June 11, 2025
Well... it has been a very busy 2025. We put the boat in at Michigan City April 10th where fishing early season was fantastic, cohos and quite a few early Kings. The boat is now licensed in three states.... Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Yes we passed all of our inspections and have all required equipment etc for all three states. Back to the fish report we came to Chicago around May 7th and have been running trips here. These photos are a combination of Michigan City Indiana and here in Chicago. Early season Chicago was pretty good. Not quite as good as last year but on certain days it has been. We have also had more King Salmon caught this year to date than last year. We've taken several trips out of Belmont and done well. Once we got into June it was a little spotty to find the silvers and a few days we spent catching big trout but then the silvers showed up again and we have been nailing them recently. This morning on a scouting trip we ran North in 50-80 feet of water and quickly caught 8 coho in about 90 minutes. Great eating fish. Two days the Top Dog Won the Zillion Fishing Tournament out of Belmont Harbor! The tournaments objective is to fish for as many species as you can catch of the five main known species, you have King & Coho Salmon, Lake, Brown and Rainbow Trout. Often 3 species catch will win the tournament, last year a boat caught 4 and edged the Top Dog by one spot. This year the plan came together and we caught a Grand Slam .... all five species, and the largest King Salmon. Anyway, I will make another report and include photos from the tournament.
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What anglers said about fishing in McHenry County

Long pants might not be a bad idea as there may be some annoying flies landing on you if there is no wind and you are close to shore.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Long pants might not be a bad idea as there may be some annoying flies landing on you if there is no wind and you are close to shore.
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Go with a quality charter. Fishing can get tough in mid June as the water temperature starts to increase.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Go with a quality charter. Fishing can get tough in mid June as the water temperature starts to increase.
Top Dog Charters
Top Dog Charters
If youโ€™re fishing this area, plan for morning or evening if you want the best bite. Afternoon is always less predictable.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
If youโ€™re fishing this area, plan for morning or evening if you want the best bite. Afternoon is always less predictable.
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Our first trip which we started at 10am. Now that we know what to expect, our next booking will be an early morning time slot.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Our first trip which we started at 10am. Now that we know what to expect, our next booking will be an early morning time slot.
Xtasea IV Charters
Xtasea IV Charters
Make sure you put bug spray, sunscreen before you get in the boat! We learned that the smell of it can deter fish as they are very sensitive to scents Who knew! Also highly recommend a jacket or sweater, while the sun was out not too bad but the breeze was chilly!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Make sure you put bug spray, sunscreen before you get in the boat! We learned that the smell of it can deter fish as they are very sensitive to scents Who knew! Also highly recommend a jacket or sweater, while the sun was out not too bad but the breeze was chilly!
Top Dog Charters
Top Dog Charters
Go with the best. It is so worth having an experienced Captain,great equipment, and good weather don't hurt either.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Go with the best. It is so worth having an experienced Captain,great equipment, and good weather don't hurt either.
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Morning trip is great, highly recommend using Jawzon Fishing Charter while in Waukegan.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Morning trip is great, highly recommend using Jawzon Fishing Charter while in Waukegan.
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Go expecting the best time ever! Pack snacks and plenty to drink for the kids. Bring joy to the boat and you'll enjoy this memorable experience for the rest of your days!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Go expecting the best time ever! Pack snacks and plenty to drink for the kids. Bring joy to the boat and you'll enjoy this memorable experience for the rest of your days!
Book Me A Boat โ€“ 39' Flybridge
Book Me A Boat โ€“ 39' Flybridge
Be patient, listen to the captain and just enjoy the thrill of landing a big one!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Be patient, listen to the captain and just enjoy the thrill of landing a big one!
Long Gone 3 Charters
Long Gone 3 Charters
It all depends on the weather, just like anything else, but if the fish are there, you'll get them
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It all depends on the weather, just like anything else, but if the fish are there, you'll get them
Abby Fishing Charters
Abby Fishing Charters Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Realize the 10 a.m. trip probably wonโ€™t get you as many fish as the early morning trip.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Realize the 10 a.m. trip probably wonโ€™t get you as many fish as the early morning trip.
Kinn's Sport Fishing - Winthrop 36'
Kinn's Sport Fishing - Winthrop 36'
Just listen to your guide on how to fish for each specie of fish that you are fishing for. The guides are experts.
Very good
4.0 / 5
Just listen to your guide on how to fish for each specie of fish that you are fishing for. The guides are experts.
Unlimited Guide Service โ€“ Ice Fishing
Unlimited Guide Service โ€“ Ice Fishing
Absolutely! Beautiful lake and a lot of water to cover and spread out with other fishermen
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Absolutely! Beautiful lake and a lot of water to cover and spread out with other fishermen
Unlimited Guide Service Walleye / Musky / Pan
Unlimited Guide Service Walleye / Musky / Pan
Expect to catch some fish, but not the allowed limits. Just enjoy the day on the water.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Expect to catch some fish, but not the allowed limits. Just enjoy the day on the water.
Book Me A Boat โ€“ 39' Flybridge
Book Me A Boat โ€“ 39' Flybridge
Just have fun. You canโ€™t really control what type of fish you will catch.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Just have fun. You canโ€™t really control what type of fish you will catch.
Top Dog Charters
Top Dog Charters
Make sure to get the Lake Michigan Salmon stamp along with your fishing license, and bring motion sickness meds if youโ€™re not used to being out on the open water.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Make sure to get the Lake Michigan Salmon stamp along with your fishing license, and bring motion sickness meds if youโ€™re not used to being out on the open water.
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
We fished early morningโ€ฆ. And the captain was able to put us on the fish right away! Itโ€™s worth getting up early!!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
We fished early morningโ€ฆ. And the captain was able to put us on the fish right away! Itโ€™s worth getting up early!!
Long Gone 3 Charters
Long Gone 3 Charters
Thereโ€™s plenty of parking and public restrooms. Thereโ€™s even a restaurant, so if youโ€™re tired after your trip stop in there for a drink and a bite!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Thereโ€™s plenty of parking and public restrooms. Thereโ€™s even a restaurant, so if youโ€™re tired after your trip stop in there for a drink and a bite!
Breezy 1 Sportfishing
Breezy 1 Sportfishing
Yes, it was our first time fishing in Chicago. We visit the city often but this was our first time fishing.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Yes, it was our first time fishing in Chicago. We visit the city often but this was our first time fishing.
Thin Blue Line Fishing Chicago 33ft
Thin Blue Line Fishing Chicago 33ft
I was the only one on our trip that had fished on Lake Michigan previously. I informed captain Jim and he did everything to make the trip a great adventure for everyone.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
I was the only one on our trip that had fished on Lake Michigan previously. I informed captain Jim and he did everything to make the trip a great adventure for everyone.
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot
Jawz-on Charter Services 36 foot