Ice fishing in Chicago is gaining popularity as conditions become ideal for anglers
Chicago: Ice fishing is really taking off in the Windy City. The latest fishing report shows that conditions are looking great for anglers. With solid ice forming, folks are excited to hit the lakes.
For those looking to fish from piers, you can grab your pier passes at Park Bait, Bridgeport Bait and Tackle, or Fishtech in Morton Grove. These passes are good starting November 15 and cost just $10. They give you access to several piers at popular harbors like Jackson Park and Montrose.
If you need parking, the same bait shops are selling parking passes for the Chicago Park District. For $20, you can park in designated lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors for two months. Just shoot an email to fishing@chicagoparkdistrict.com if you have questions.
North side of Navy Pier is open for fishing too! Anglers can snag discounted parking for $9 daily, but you need to be out by 10 a.m. to get that deal. You can even prepay for parking online.
Speaking of fishing, the Chicago Fishing Advisory Committee is meeting on January 30 at the 31st Street Harbor community room. If you have any questions, just email chicagofishingadvisory@gmail.com.
For those needing to sharpen their auger blades, Fran Connelly is your go-to. He’s been sharpening blades for 25 years. You can find him on Facebook or drop off your blades at Lee’s Bait & Tackle locations.
Ice fishing in the Forest Preserves of Cook County is also producing some nice catches. Larry Green recently caught a bunch of largemouth bass, and reports say the ice is about five inches thick, which should only improve.
There’s an ice fishing clinic coming up on Crystal Lake, and Dave Kranz from Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy shared that this weekend is looking promising for ice fishing. He’s been hearing about 5-9 inches of ice, and he expects even more by the weekend.
Ken “Husker” O’Malley is back on the ice too, focusing on shallow weeds. He’s been catching bluegills using a glow pink jig. The ice is clear but a bit slick, so be careful out there!
Rob Abouchar had a great day fishing for bluegills at Island Lake. He reported catching a lot of fish using wax worms. He even helped some friends land a big bass. It’s prime time for ice fishing right now!
In the Chain O’Lakes area, Hermann’s is hosting an ice fishing tournament on January 19. Art Frisell from Triangle Sports and Marine says bluegill fishing is good, especially in shallow waters.
Overall, ice fishing is in full swing across the region. With good ice conditions and plenty of fish to catch, it’s a great time to grab your gear and head out!
