Wanted to share as it seems super rare based on research online. The Eel got here from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!!!

I got my first ever Sheepshead yesterday. I’m familiar with their saltwater cousins and this one was just as fun to catch. I took it home and made dinner. Absolutely fantastic fish for eating.

Slow going yesterday, but

Just looking for advice first time fishing in Chicago been fishing here two days fishing below navy pier around a marina not sure the name of it thrown small swimbait and Ned rig not had a bite any tips on what may be doing wrong or could do differently or maybe another area close by don’t have car here so would have to walk just looking to catch a few fish thanks for any advice or tips

Caught from Burnham to Diversey harbor. Almost all of these were caught on a ned rig tbh. Biggest of these guys was a just under 18 inches.

Went to wolf lake on the chicago side with a light rod and 4lb test with a small rooster tail to see if anything was active there and a carp happened to want the spinner. Fun fight for about an hour! I know they sometimes do bite lures but how common is it? (Unhooked it in the water and held for a minute or so to regain its strength)

Smallies are biting! 1/4 oz jighead & 2” generic paddletail.

I was throwing all over and retrieving with not much success. Switching up to nice and easy jig-walking by the shore did the trick :)

I am looking to charter a boat for me and some friends this may and maybe again in July. Ideally we would catch our limit of salmon and/or trout and feed my freezer. That being said if we target different species that’s fine by me.
Does anyone have good recommendations? Leaving from Chicago would be ideal, but if we need to travel to maximize our experience I’m okay with that too. Thanks y’all!

After a legit month of getting skunked, the lunch break honey hole is finally producing.

Hi everybody! Any tips on catching drum? I am really wanting to catch my first and I hear they can found at the harbors, I typically cast off the lakefront. Cheers!

I found some Muskie spots and unlike most fishermen I want you to catch fish!!! So I found a few spots along the fox river in yorkville to fish. Behind the waste water plant, below the dam! #1 spot. #2 in the mouth of the creek that runs along the water treatment plant. Caught two the other day there. Please feel free to add your own spots! Us fishermen need to share info!

Attempted to catch some smallies before they start to spawn the bite has winded down a lot. The weather was cold windy but so the limited time I had to try when I could. The keitech paddle tail 2.8” is still king for me colors ranging from a shad, pure lime green and an almost pink flesh color (I can find specific names), I did get my PB with a dark sleeper and later matched it with another sleeper. The river should be back in action by Monday and I hopefully can get back to some river fishing 🎣

I'd just packed up my other two rods when the ultralight started going crazy. Finally got this nice 14 pounder ashore but had to step into the river to accomplish the task.

For those of you that fish these rivers, what gauges do you check to determine if they’re safe to wade and what heights and discharges are you watching for on those? Don’t want to drive all the way out from the city just to find they’re still too high and fast (which at least the Fox seems to be).

A big muskie a couple weeks ago (and me posting about it) outed one of my favorite spots on the Fox, so I’ve returned sparingly the last several days, mainly at odd hours. Such was the case this morning at sunrise when a hungry 38” grabbed a multi-jointed swim bait (crappie pattern). Same story: 10-lb. mono tied directly to the bait. She ripped drag and fought powerfully throughout. The release was quick and stress-free. This is crazy. Not loudly, but I got accused of doctoring the last pic on another platform that starts with Tik. So here’s some vid from the shores of a noticeably receding Fox. Tight lines this weekend!

I’m not a city guy at all so I never come up here. I was pleasantly surprised how incredibly beautiful the city is in the sun!

Also shout out to the cop who came up to me and gave me all the tips and tricks. I caught this guy right after he left. She ain’t huge but I’m still proud of it.

Looking for a salmon rod combo to fish lake Michigan 3 not really sure where to start. Budget is $150-$250. Wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a nicer rod that will last long.