r/ChicagoFishing • u/BallinCock • 15h ago
r/ChicagoFishing • u/agent_gibbz • Feb 01 '26
My biggest fish of 2026 (I look like im taking a huge sh!t)
r/ChicagoFishing • u/TheMisiak • Feb 03 '26
Perch Perch keepers from the other day. First time using minnows. Caught on the ice at the slip.
The smallest one was gonna be thrown back but he swallowed the hook and bled pretty bad. Decided to just keep him.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/Drone6040 • 12h ago
Skokie Lagoons downstream
Went a ways dawn stream from the lagoons and caught these guys as well as the biggest walleye I've ever had on my line. Unfortunately I didn't have a net for the walleye and when I went to take it off the hook he snapped the line.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/fleetwood_macbook • 16h ago
Late Fall River Smallmouth
I know it’s no tank but here’s my pb from my local spot on the DPR this year. 17 inches, willing to bet 2.8 mayyyybe pushing 3lbs. You tell me. Put up a hell of a fight in moderate current. Thought I snagged a turtle the way she was staying down and pulling drag. Awesome fish.
Plenty more late fall action to go looking at the forecast! Anyways, tight lines, go bears, FTP!
r/ChicagoFishing • u/RANK_AND_SMILE • 2d ago
A king and a couple of pike this weekend—crushed it after a long dry spell
*EDIT: Been informed this is, in fact, a Coho salmon. Not a king!
r/ChicagoFishing • u/Ok_Army_4915 • 2d ago
Hogs are still out and about at the lagoons.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/Minustrian • 3d ago
Rock Bass Absolutely slayed some rock bass out at the harbor today
not pictured: a singular round goby that i caught before realizing that i do not like handling gobies
r/ChicagoFishing • u/TheMisiak • 3d ago
Carp/Sucker Proud of this catch! Packbait. Chicago River.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/BallinCock • 3d ago
Multi Species Finally had a good day fishing 😤
r/ChicagoFishing • u/this-is-NOT-the-way1 • 3d ago
Smallmouth DPR
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Even if fishing wasn’t that great, there’s always entertainment on the Desplaines. Came up close n personal to an eagle and got to see this beast fly by.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/Odd_Interaction_7708 • 4d ago
Finally
Sorry if I’m not holding properly - first time catching
r/ChicagoFishing • u/bornslyasafox • 3d ago
Heard we were talking catfish this morning
This mornings catch y'all 😜
Caught several of these dudes this morning. Both on bobber and lure lines. Wasn't what I was targeting but anything is better nothin. On a serious note, fuck AI slop and bot accounts.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/No_School1414 • 4d ago
Dupage?
Anyone fished the west branch of the dupage recently? Any action? Thinking of wading it tomorrow.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/One-Presentation1940 • 4d ago
Other From Water to the Pan?
Hey so I want to catch a nice fish to cook. My wife never had one fresh and really wants to try because she loves getting new recipes. I just want to provide one. Call it corny or whatever but I’m just looking for places and species to try to fish for. All I got right now are two standard poles rigs and some night crawlers. Not that good of a fisher but will go for that one to send to the pan
r/ChicagoFishing • u/TheMisiak • 4d ago
Pack bait is undefeated. Also, Bear Down!!! [Chicago River]
r/ChicagoFishing • u/Randall_Conde • 4d ago
Questions Recommended Stocked Trout Location
Hey guys,
Asking to see if anybody has any recommendations for the Fall 2026 Stock Trout season. Went opening day with the kiddos to Sag Quarries and Wolf Lake but unfortunately didn’t get a single bite. The kids and I were using Trout Magnets, Crappie Bites from Leland’s Lures paired with Trout Magnets, Mule Fishing Jig and Soft Plastic, and Inline spinners but unfortunately got skunked. Jigs were tied in with a Loop Knot and Inline spinners with a Barrel Swivel and UL / L Rod&Reel combo
Wanted to take the kids again this Saturday as they’ve never caught any fish so really trying to give them a little taste of glory and get them HOOKED (Sorry lol)
Any recommendations are appreciated!
PS. I don’t know much about fishing either so could also just be my fault lol
r/ChicagoFishing • u/MobileBanana1598 • 4d ago
Any advice for fishing these high pressure days ahead. The bite is getting hard for these bigger fish. Thinking low & slow on texas rigs and TRD’s. Ft, big ol rock bass
r/ChicagoFishing • u/HauntingMouse • 5d ago
Fish are just a side effect to sunrise watching
Lost 2 on cranks, saw 3 caught
r/ChicagoFishing • u/dj_marx • 5d ago
what did I catch in the fox?!
dead clam boi snagged when fishing the concrete. Had a nasty worm friend or three on board.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/kklle • 5d ago
Questions How late in the year are you fishing open water?
The king run will be dying down soon and I want to fish as much as possible. How late are you typically fishing into fall and how does your technique change? Bass, northern, catfish, etc.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/heyimnewtoreddit86 • 5d ago
Any tips for the harbors right now?
With the weather being decent I'd like to get out to the lake the next few days. Any tips on what to use? Not sure if the salmon are still hitting.
r/ChicagoFishing • u/TWags1515 • 6d ago
Smallmouth PB Fox River Smallie: 5 lbs., 21”
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Here’s the girl I’ve been chasing all season. The Fox River has returned to “normal” levels, and I was flicking a jointed swimmer through a seam where calm meets chaos. She hammered it at that seam, left the water immediately after hook-set, and I was able to keep her below the surface the rest of the way in. She weighed 5.0 lbs. and stretched 21”, both on the dot. Just a gorgeous Fox River smallie. (Vid of weight in comments.) Have a great rest of the season 🎣
r/ChicagoFishing • u/Fun_Law7404 • 6d ago
Nice fishing evening, can you help me identify the first spotted fish
Fished the Chicago River and was pleasantly surprised since its late October. Crazy 5-6 species day. I also think one of those white fish is a perch while the other is a bass but lmk
r/ChicagoFishing • u/kakashi_69420 • 8d ago
Lake Trout/Late Salmon
This has been my first year going for salmon, and after months I’ve finally landed 2 kings and 1 coho. With the salmon beginning to run into creeks and the temps dropping, I wanted to give lake trout a shot. But I’ve also been hearing you can catch steelhead towards the end of the year.
I pretty much have foundational knowledge on targeting salmon. Use crankbaits, spoons, spinners, and jigging spoons to get a reaction bite. Salmon starting to come in when the lake flips, and fish harbors/harbor mouths.
For lakers, what conditions am I looking for? What lures/baits should I use? Am I going to be targeting the same locations as salmon (Diversey Harbor, Montrose Harbor, Jackson Harbor)? Which time frames should I expect?
Also, do steelhead also come as well? Or are their cycles similar to kings? Am I still using cranks/spoons?
Thank you so much for the help. This community is awesome!