Got out for the first time in 2025. Hit the warm water outflow on the main branch again, landed seven and lost two in about 75 minutes. Dragging a 3.25 Rage Swimmer on a 5/32 Bass Dope EWG ned head. Current really did most of the work, and I did not have to let the bait sit too long before strikes. Last two of the day were 16" & 17" respectively.

https://preview.redd.it/tjz8k8ssqtge1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=844fcad9b7b5d713b037fc2be0279d2b2788fa3e

https://preview.redd.it/mx4cr9ssqtge1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4784a332f1d78e024ed677f092d377f0b4de32bd

Any luck with the harbors? 87th/89th too far for me! Thanks in advance!

Can anyone give me a few places with fish that isn’t iced over in the chicago area of desplaines river?

Yesterday I went out to Beck Lake for the first time. It seems like a popular spot based on the number of holes punched. Easy access to the lake / deep water off of the boat launch.

Conditions: ~45°F + increasing winds throughout late morning into early afternoon.

Ice: 10-12" of clear ice. Some slush on top from the recent warm temps

Fishing: I fished anywhere from 19 in to about 3 FOW. I marked a lot of suspended marks in the deeper sections of the lake but they were not interested in what I was offering.

I caught a lot of small bluegill + perch. They seemed to be moving quite a bit. 1-2 fish out of each hole, then I wouldn't mark anything for a while. Ended up punching a bunch of holes and hole hopping to stay with the school.

My buddy and I set out tip ups as well. Started a tipup in the deep section about 1ft off of the bottom. I also set some along weed lines + transitions to deep water. No action to report on the tipups.

Bait: spikes + small/ large fatheads. Gills + perch came on tungsten jigs tipped with spikes. I tried a few different color patterns and caught fish on all of them. Fire tiger seemed to be the best pattern.

Good luck this weekend. Let's hope this weather doesn't totally destroy the ice.

Made my monthly trip to Michigan and fished for a few hours at trail creek. Managed to get this buck on a spinner within the first hour. Missed another fish, but I’m pretty sure I snagged it since it didn’t surface at all and the spinner popped out when it went on a run upstream

For eg: What rod and wheel spinning combo for salmon shore casting with links to a trusted fishing website of the combo

For the average beginner fisher that will come here that might need 1-3 poles for different types of applicaions that wants to buy once with a good product

Hi! New to ice fishing and fishing in general. Any spots to recommend for icefishing/ fishing in general along the northshore suburbs? Thanks!

Was on the ice for about 5 hours and only managed to get this one on a tip up. Was it slow for anyone else today?

Hey guys , the end of next month I will be starting a YouTube channel based in the Chicagoland area, but I will fish and make content in different states and places outside of Chicago. The kicker to my fishing content is that i love to grill so I will be bringing my mini grill along on each video and grilling up something for lunch. I’m wanting to link up with fishermen and make them apart of videos. A first handful of videos will be at some of my honey holes in the area. Any guest or subs that join me for any video, we will briefly talk about why you fish and what fishing means to you. Thoughts?

Checked out the expo over the weekend bought some lures from smaller companies which I can’t wait to try out in spring. My question in regards to lures lets say mega bass, any body have sites where prices are a bit more “fair”? Currently been searching eBay and bidding for “lure lots” and having good success just curious to see if other people have certain sites they go to for sales or deals

Runs through Sunday and is $15 to get in.

Hey all! Please forgive this post if it’s been answered already (but link me to it!).

I’ve lived in downtown Chicago for several years but have never fished here — once it thaws a bit, I’d love to start. Can someone run down the basic equipment I ought to buy so I can fish the river and Lincoln Park lagoon? I’ll have access to a fishing boat this summer, so I’d also love to have the equipment to fish in the lake then. Plus any other tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Anyone ever have any luck with flat heads in Elgin ? I’m from the area and would like to find a good catfish spot in Elgin

Anybody been out on Wampum lately? I'm wondering if anyone knew how thick the ice is.

I’m planning some fishing trips to go with my grandma during the summer. What are of the best spots we can go?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solaceoak/the-dockstrap

Rod Holder I created

Hello me and a buddy are going to go ice fishing this weekend for Brown and Rainbow Trout and I was wondering if anyone had some good harbors to hit or harbors that you can ice fish at. Also any tips would be appreciated.

Hello! I’ve been a lifelong fisherman that grew up in Wisconsin that is used to relatively shallow lake fishing. I just got a decently sized sailboat and would love to do some fishing off of that this summer. We are keeping it in one of the Chicago harbors so the fishing would be done on Lake MI.

Only this is I have no idea where to start for gear (rods, reels, quality of life items, what lb test line, lures, everything!)

Looking to get all of the gear recommendations you have so I can start to do some shopping. Thanks in advance!

Hello does anybody know if the harbors are frozen and safe to fish? I was going to go ice fishing with a friend this weekend and wanted to go for brown trout

Me and my father got on the ice in university park I got a bunch of bluegill my old man hooked this guy!!! Was the only one worth getting a picture of. Going to try the chain o lakes and hopefully get some crappie. Good luck out there be safe and stay warm

when do the perch typically stop schooling up in the 87th St slip/navy pier?

Just wondering if it'd be worth going tomorrow before this little warm-up we have coming.