Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report Today

This morning along **Lake Michigan in Chicago**, it’s a classic early-summer setup: the lake is waking up early, and the bite is usually best from gray light through the first few hours after sunrise. **Sunrise is around 5:16 AM** and **sunset is around 8:29 PM**, giving anglers a long window, and the moon is in a **waning crescent**, which often means the best action comes during low-light periods and steady drifting presentations. The **tide report is not really a factor here** on Lake Michigan, since this is a freshwater lake rather than a tidal fishery. For the **weather**, the lakefront pattern around Chicago typically favors moving water, cooler water near the harbors, and occasional chop that can help the bite by breaking up the surface. In conditions like this, look for fish to slide tight to structure, breakwalls, and current seams. The most reliable action this time of year is usually a mix of **coho salmon, chinook salmon, lake trout, steelhead, smallmouth bass, and perch**, with the salmon and trout bite often strongest offshore and around temperature breaks, while bass and perch tend to set up closer in near harbors, rocky shorelines, and pier structure. Recent fishing chatter from the Chicago lakefront has centered on **coho salmon, lake trout, and some steelhead showing up near the harbor mouths and along the shelf**, with anglers also picking up bass in the closer rocky water. On a good morning, the take can range from a few fish per boat to steady action if you get on the right temperature band, and the most productive reports usually come from anglers who stay mobile and keep bait in the strike zone. For numbers, the recent pattern has been more about **scattered but consistent bites** than big schools of one species in every spot. For **lures**, I’d lean on **small spoons, stickbaits, crankbaits, and hair jigs**. Trolled spoons and thin-profile plugs are excellent for salmon and trout offshore, while **tube jigs, paddletails, and jerkbaits** can shine for smallmouth in the harbors and along the rocks. If you want the best **bait**, it’s hard to beat **cut bait or live/cut alewife-style offerings** for salmonids when allowed and rigged properly, plus **minnows and nightcrawlers** for perch and bass around the nearshore. A couple of **hot spots** worth checking are **the harbor mouths and breakwalls**, especially around the downtown marina edges where baitfish stack up, and **the south side rocky shoreline and pier stretches**, where smallmouth and the occasional bonus salmon will roam. If the water is clean and the wind has a little push, those edges can light up fast. This is **Artificial Lure** saying: get out early, keep your eyes on the temperature breaks and the bait, and don’t be afraid to move until you find the school. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe. **This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.** Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. Light winds and a stable barometer have been keeping the big lake pretty friendly this morning. Nearshore water temps are sitting in the mid‑60s, with a light chop along the Chicago lakefront. NOAA’s nearshore marine forecast is calling for generally calm to modest conditions today, so small craft and pier anglers both have a decent window to work with. According to the National Weather Service, skies are partly cloudy with comfortable air temps building through the day and only a slight chance of a passing shower later on. Sunrise over the lakefront was right around 5:15 a.m., with sunset coming close to 8:30 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows to play the early and late bites. Lake Michigan doesn’t have a true ocean tide, but there are slight seiche and water‑level fluctuations. For practical purposes, focus more on wind direction and current around harbor mouths, breakwalls, and river discharges. A light north or northeast breeze will usually push bait in tight to the Chicago shoreline, and that’s when the bite around the piers and rocks tends to light up. Recent reports from local charter captains and lakefront regulars around Chicago Harbor, Montrose, and Diversey have been solid. Boats working 60–120 feet of water off the city have been boxing good numbers of **coho salmon**, some **king (Chinook) salmon**, and a mix of **lake trout** and the occasional **steelhead**. It’s been common for a full crew trolling spread to see a dozen or more fish on good mornings, with coho still making up a big share of the catch. Best producers offshore have been standard Great Lakes setups: orange or red dodger‑and‑fly combos for coho, small peanut flies behind short leads, and spoons in green, blue, and UV patterns for kings and steelhead. Lake trout are coming on heavier dodger and spin‑n‑glow rigs close to bottom. If you’re running a spread, keep a couple of high lines with bright spoons or thin‑fins for steelhead cruising up in the top 20 feet. From the shore and piers, local anglers have been picking up **smallmouth bass**, **yellow perch**, and the odd **brown trout** or **coho** right off the rocks. Live emerald shiners and fathead minnows under a slip float are still the go‑to baits for perch and bonus trout. For artificials, downsized tube jigs in green pumpkin, goby, or smoke, along with Ned rigs and small swimbaits, are putting smallies in the net along the riprap and inside the harbors. In the harbors and along the breakwalls, a 1/8 to 1/4‑ounce jig tipped with a chartreuse or natural‑colored plastic has been money, especially when you slow hop it down the rocks. Early and late in the day, a small suspending jerkbait or a slim profile crankbait in silver/black or olive works well for roaming smallmouth and any bonus salmon that slide in shallow. Top **hot spots** right now: - **Montrose Harbor and Montrose Pier** – Consistent reports of perch and smallmouth along the rocks, with occasional trout and coho cruising the outer wall. Work the edges of the weedlines and current seams. - **Diversey and Burnham Harbors** – Good mixed‑bag action inside and just outside the harbor mouths, especially when there’s a light north or east wind pushing bait in. Cast along the wall and any visible current breaks. If you’re heading out today, focus on those low‑light windows, keep an eye on wind‑driven current, and don’t be afraid to move until you find active fish. Trolling spreads offshore for salmon and trout, and light tackle along the piers and harbor walls for smallmouth and perch, are your best bets. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern setting up along the Chicago lakefront. Air temps are sitting in the low to mid 60s early, climbing into the mid to upper 70s by afternoon with a light west to northwest breeze backing more onshore later. Skies are mostly clear to partly cloudy, so expect good visibility and a decent afternoon chop rather than big rollers. Sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m. with sunset close to 8:30 p.m., giving you a long, workable window. Lake Michigan isn’t tidal like the ocean, but seiches and wind-driven water levels still matter. With the lighter winds overnight and a modest onshore push later, piers and breakwalls should see a gentle rise and a little current sweeping along the structure by mid-morning and again toward evening. That subtle movement is often just enough to turn the bite on. Recent action up and down the Chicago shoreline has been solid for **coho and king salmon**, mixed **lake trout**, and plenty of **smallmouth bass** in the harbor mouths and rock piles. Shore and small-boat anglers have reported steady coho and the occasional king off Montrose and Diversey, with fish running eater-size on up to a few solid teenagers. Lake trout are still hanging on deeper breaks and along the offshore rocks, but a few are sliding shallower during low-light periods. Smallmouth catches have picked up on rocky stretches near Navy Pier, Burnham, and down toward Calumet, with a lot of fish in the 14–18 inch range and some bigger. For **lures**, think early-summer staples. Trollers are doing well with small orange-and-gold spoons, silver/blue and green/glow patterns, and flasher-fly combos in white, chartreuse, and blue. Inside 40–70 feet, thin spoons and smaller dodger flies are getting more bites than big, heavy metal. Shore guys tossing crankbaits and spoons off the piers should lean on 3–4 inch shad or alewife profiles: silver/black, firetiger, and clown patterns. Low light is your best window for a surprise king or big coho from shore. For **bait**, alewife and fathead minnows fished under a slip float are solid around harbor mouths for trout and the odd salmon cruising close. Spawn sacs still get bit, especially early or on cloudy days. Smallmouth are chewing on live leeches and nightcrawlers dragged slowly over the rocks, and if you’re throwing plastics, go with green pumpkin tubes, ned rigs, and 3-inch swimbaits. Work them slow; that clear water and light wind call for natural colors and light fluorocarbon leaders. A couple of local **hot spots** to focus on: - **Montrose Harbor and the Montrose Horseshoe**: Inside the harbor, target smallies around rocks and pilings with tubes and live bait. Out on the horseshoe, cast spoons and cranks along the current seams for coho, the occasional king, and roaming trout during low light. Trollers just outside the harbor mouth are picking up mixed salmon and lakers over 40–80 feet. - **Burnham to Northerly Island**: The rock edges and points along this stretch are producing smallmouth on tubes, ned rigs, and leeches. On calm mornings, you can find fish cruising shallower, then sliding a bit deeper as the sun climbs. Casting jerkbaits and small swimbaits along the breaks can draw reaction bites, especially if there’s a little wind pushing in. Timing-wise, aim for the **first light** bite for your best shot at salmon and trout, then slide into the harbors and rocks for bass once the sun gets up. Evenings can bring a second push of activity, especially if that onshore breeze builds a little chop and clouds roll in. That’s the latest from Artificial Lure on the Chicago lakefront. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more fishing reports and stories from the water. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’re looking at a cool, early‑summer pattern on the big pond. A light west to northwest breeze this morning should keep nearshore water fairly calm with a gentle surface chop, building a bit by midday. Air temps climb through the 60s into the low 70s with partly cloudy skies and only a slight chance of a passing shower later. Sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m. and sunset near 8:30 p.m., giving you a long, workable day of light. Lake Michigan doesn’t have true tides, but seiche action and wind setup are in play. With a west component to the wind, expect slightly lower water right along the Chicago shoreline early, with levels rebounding as the wind shifts or eases. That shifting water can flip the bite on along piers and harbor mouths, so don’t leave if it suddenly turns off; give it another wind change. Recent reports from local charters out of Burnham and Monroe harbors have kings, coho, and a mix of lake trout still being taken in 60–120 feet, with some boats pushing out to 150–180 when the sun gets high. Captains are talking 5–15 fish boxes on good days, mostly coho with a few chunky kings and lakers mixed in. Shore anglers have seen a slower salmon bite, but smallmouth bass and rock bass action has picked up around riprap and harbor walls. For the trollers, magnum spoons in green/black, blue dolphin, and bloody nose patterns, plus standard‑size spoons in orange and UV, are producing. Thin‑fin style crankbaits and small flashers with peanut flies in green, blue, and gold are still coho killers. Run them off downriggers and divers 30–80 feet down, with copper or leadcore out deeper when the sun gets high. If you’re walking the shore, think finesse. For smallmouth: 2.8–3.8 inch swimbaits in alewife or goby colors, tube jigs in green pumpkin, and Ned rigs on light line. Natural bait fans should bring fathead minnows, spawn sacs, and nightcrawlers. Minnows under a slip float near harbor mouths can still surprise you with a stray trout or salmon, especially early and late. Best feeding windows are low light: from first light through about 9 a.m., and again after 6:30 p.m. as the sun drops. Midday can still produce deeper off boats, but shore fishing slows unless you’re targeting bass tight to shade and structure. A couple of hot spots to circle: - Montrose Harbor and the Montrose Horseshoe: classic Chicago shoreline water. Work the horseshoe rocks for smallmouth with tubes and swimbaits, and try the harbor mouth with spoons and crankbaits at first light for a bonus trout or salmon. - Burnham Harbor and the outer breakwall: good mix of boat and shore options. Trollers heading out of Burnham are on coho and kings in that 80–120 foot range, while shore casters can work crankbaits and live bait along the outer rocks for bass and the odd trout. That’s your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’ve got a cool start along the lakefront with light winds and a gentle chop, building to a moderate onshore breeze by midday and laying back down toward evening. Skies are partly cloudy with good visibility. According to the National Weather Service forecast for the Chicago lakeshore, temps run in the comfortable zone today, cool near the water in the morning, warming into the 70s later with no serious storms expected. That sets up a very fishable day, especially around low-light windows. According to time-and-date style almanac data for Chicago, sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m. and sunset about 8:25 p.m., giving a long feeding window. Expect the strongest bites in the first two hours after sunrise and the last two before sunset, with a midday lull unless cloud cover thickens. Lake Michigan doesn’t have true tides like an ocean, but the local “seiche” and wind-driven water movement will matter. With a light to moderate east or northeast breeze, look for a bit of current pushing into harbors and along the piers, which often turns the bite on. Recent reports from Chicago-area anglers’ groups and local tackle shops around Montrose, Belmont, and Diversey have been showing mixed bags: good **coho salmon** still roaming, a few **chinook** early and late, solid **smallmouth** on the rocky structure, plus **sheepshead**, **white bass**, and plenty of **gobies** pecking at the bottom. Pier and harbor regulars have been bringing in coho limits on the better mornings, with salmon averaging 2–5 pounds and an occasional bigger king mixed in. Smallmouth catches have been steady, with lots of 12–16 inch fish and the odd bruiser over 18 inches taken off the rocks. For **salmon and trout** from shore, stick with: - Bright spoons in silver/green or silver/blue - Crankbaits and stickbaits in natural alewife patterns - Float rigs with medium shiners or spawn sacs when the water’s a bit stained Boat anglers running out of Chicago and Wilmette have been doing well with: - Orange and green dodger–fly combos - Thin trolling spoons in orange, UV, and glow patterns - Flasher flies 30–80 feet down, targeting temperature breaks For **smallmouth bass** along the rocks: - Ned rigs in green pumpkin or goby colors - Tubes in brown, green, and copper flake - Small swimbaits and jerkbaits in natural shad or smelt patterns Live bait like leeches and fathead minnows under a slip float has been deadly when the bite gets finicky, especially inside harbors and along the calmer walls. Two hotspot suggestions for today: - **Montrose Harbor & Montrose Horseshoe**: Classic Chicago setup. Work the inside harbor walls for smallmouth and panfish with finesse plastics and live bait. Then slide out along the horseshoe and the outer pier at first light or last light for salmon with spoons and crankbaits. Watch the gulls and bait flicking on the surface to dial in the most active pockets. - **Burnham Harbor & Northerly Island wall**: Great mix of access and structure. Hit the riprap and points for smallies and the occasional pike with tubes and swimbaits. When there’s a bit of wind pushing in, run spoons or live bait under a float along the outer wall for coho and the odd steelhead. From a local’s perspective: travel light, keep a couple of rod combos rigged—one for bottom or finesse, one for casting hardware—and stay mobile. If you don’t see bait or feel a bump in 20 minutes, slide down the wall or hop to the next corner. The guys who move today will out-fish the ones planted in one spot. That’s your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing check-in from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

**Artificial Lure** here with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report. No tide change to worry about on Lake Michigan, but the wind and current are the real game today. For this morning in Chicago, expect a cool start with a strengthening lake breeze, and that usually means better action near current breaks, harbor mouths, and shoreline structure once the sun gets up. Sunrise is early enough to kick-start the bite, and sunset will give you another strong window this evening. Right now, the most reliable action around Chicago has been **coho salmon**, **rainbow trout**, and an occasional **brown trout** along the lakefront and near the harbors. Reports from recent days have also mentioned mixed catches of **smallmouth bass** tight to rocks and breakwalls, plus scattered **sheepshead** and **yellow perch** in the calmer water. The best numbers lately have come on the cooler dawn bite, with fish moving shallow early and sliding deeper as the day brightens. For **lures**, the hot tickets are still spoons, small crankbaits, and bright inline spinners for the trout and salmon bite. If you’re working the shoreline or harbors, a silver, green, or orange spoon can be deadly when fish are chasing. For bass, throw tubes, soft plastics, or small swimbaits around the rocks and riprap. If you want a more natural presentation, a slip sinker rig with **nightcrawlers** or **cut bait** can still put fish in the boat when the bite gets finicky. For **bait**, the standouts are **spawn sacs**, **nightcrawlers**, and **cut alewife or minnows** where legal and practical. Anglers targeting salmon and trout near the river mouths and harbor edges often do best with bait fished slow and close to the bottom, especially if the water has a little color to it. Perch anglers should stick with small pieces of worm or minnow on light tackle. A couple of **hot spots** to check: - **Montrose Harbor and the nearby lakefront structure** - **The Chicago River mouth and the breakwalls around the harbor entrances** Those spots tend to concentrate bait, and where the bait goes, the fish usually follow. Early and late are your best bets, especially before boat traffic and sun get heavy. If you’re heading out, start shallow, watch for bait flipping on the surface, and be ready to move if the fish aren’t showing in the first hour. A slow, steady retrieve is often better than burning lures through cold water, and a little patience around the structure can pay off fast. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’re sitting on a cool, early‑summer pattern along the Chicago lakefront. Skies are mostly clear with a light west to northwest breeze and air temps starting in the low 60s, pushing into the low 70s by afternoon. Water temps along the downtown and North Side piers are hovering in the mid‑50s to around 60, still on the cool side but stable. With no real tidal swing on the lake, water level changes are minimal; what matters is wind direction. A west or northwest wind today should keep the water a touch clearer and push warmer surface water tight to the rocks. Sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m. with sunset close to 8:25 p.m., so you’ve got a long light window. The best bites have been in the first two hours after sunrise and again the last 90 minutes before dark, especially on the calm or lightly ruffled stretches of shoreline. Midday has been slower unless there’s solid cloud cover. Recent action has been a mixed bag but good for June. Shore anglers have been picking up **coho salmon** and a few bonus **chinook** off Montrose and Belmont on smaller spoons and crankbaits, with fish mostly in that 2–6 pound range. Brown trout are still hanging around the harbors and inside breaks, but numbers are thinning; early‑morning slip bobbers with live minnows are taking the better browns. The **smallmouth bass** bite is ramping up on rock structure from Calumet up through Montrose. Lots of 12–16 inch fish, with occasional 18‑inchers. Work the edges of riprap, concrete walls, and any broken rock piles. Perch are spotty but starting to show more consistently near Navy Pier, 31st Street, and down by Calumet when the water isn’t too clear. Best lures right now: - For salmon and trout: Small to medium spoons in silver/blue, silver/green, and orange‑accent patterns. J‑plugs and slim crankbaits in natural baitfish colors are producing on the outside of the harbor mouths and along the north‑facing walls. - For smallmouth: Ned rigs in green pumpkin, tubes in goby or dark melon, and 3–4 inch swimbaits in natural shad or smelt colors. A white or chartreuse spinnerbait slow‑rolled along the rocks will move bigger fish when there’s a little chop. - For perch: Sabiki or spreader rigs tipped with small pieces of soft shell, minnows, or gulp minnows. Keep your gear light and stay tight to bottom. Best baits: - Live shiners or fathead minnows under a slip float for browns and bonus coho around harbor mouths. - Nightcrawlers or soft shell crawlers on a simple drop shot for perch and smallmouth. - Fresh spawn sacs will still tempt trout early in the morning on the deeper walls, especially if the water has a touch of stain. Couple of hot spots to circle today: - **Montrose Harbor and the Montrose horseshoe**: Classic early‑summer mix. Cast spoons off the horseshoe for coho and the occasional king at first light, then slide inside and work Ned rigs or tubes along the rocks for smallmouth once the sun gets up. - **Belmont Harbor walls and pier heads**: Good shot at coho and browns on crankbaits and spoons during low‑light. Once the trout bite fades, switch to finesse plastics for bass along the inside walls. If you’re looking to stay closer to downtown, the rock walls near Navy Pier and the Ohio Street beach area are holding smallmouth when the boat traffic is light. Down south, Calumet’s outer breakwalls are worth a look for mixed trout and salmon if the wind lets you fish safely. That’s your Chicago lakefront rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’re sitting on a cooler, breezy stretch of early June. Around the lakefront this morning, air temps ride the upper 50s to low 60s, pushing into the low 70s this afternoon with a light west-to-north breeze. Skies run partly cloudy with good visibility and only a slight shot at a brief shower. Sunrise hits a little after 5:15 a.m., sunset just before 8:30 p.m., giving you a long, workable light window. Being a Great Lake, there’s no real tide swing, so water levels are steady; boaters just need to watch wind-driven chop. Nearshore water temps are generally in the low to mid‑60s, warming fastest inside harbors and along rock walls. That’s had the smallmouth bass bite picking up again on the Chicago cribs, Navy Pier, and the rocky stretches from Montrose down to Burnham. Shore anglers the last few days have been reporting mixed bags: smallmouth in the 1–3 lb class, plenty of rock bass, plus the odd bonus coho or lake trout when casting deeper edges off the piers. Out deeper, trollers running 60–140 feet of water off Chicago and up toward Evanston have been doing well on coho and a few early‑summer kings. Crews are coming back with 5–15 fish boxes on good mornings: mostly coho in the 3–5 lb range, a couple of bigger kings, plus steelhead and lakers mixed in. The best action has been early, then again in the last two hours of light as the sun drops and the lake settles. For lures, nearshore smallmouth have been chewing on natural‑colored tube jigs, 3–4 inch paddletail swimbaits, and Ned rigs in goby or green pumpkin patterns. A simple drop‑shot with live nightcrawlers or fathead minnows is still money for both bass and rock bass along harbor walls. If you’re chasing trout and salmon, run standard coho spreads: orange or red dodgers with small peanut flies or Howie flies in green and silver, plus a few thin‑profile spoons in orange, UV, and bloody nose patterns higher in the water column. Flatlines and planer boards with small stickbaits or thin minnows in firetiger and silver/black have also been producing. A couple of hotspots to circle today: – Montrose Harbor and the adjacent pier: great multi‑species action from the rocks, with smallmouth, rock bass, and some trout cruising the edges. Pack light tackle, bring both plastics and live bait, and work the transitions where rock meets sand. – The 80–120 foot band off the Chicago skyline: if you’ve got a boat, point the bow east out of Burnham or Monroe and set your spread. Work north–south troll lines until you mark bait and hooks, then stay on them. Early morning surface‑to‑30‑feet has been strong for coho; as the sun climbs, drop a few lines deeper for kings and lakers. Fishing pressure has been moderate, so if you hit it at first light or slip out for the evening bite, you can still find some elbow room. Just remember to keep an eye on the wind; a quick north blow can stack some surprising chop against the concrete. That’s the rundown from the big pond. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’re in a warm early‑summer pattern on the big lake. Overnight temps slid through the low 60s, climbing toward the mid to upper 70s this afternoon with light southwest wind early, building to a breezy chop later. Skies are partly cloudy with decent sunshine windows, and humidity is up just enough to make it feel sticky on the piers. Sunrise came early over the lake and sunset will stretch well into the evening, giving you a long, fishable day with prime low‑light windows at both ends. Lake Michigan doesn’t have true tides, but we’re seeing the usual seiche‑driven water level bumps with the southwest wind pushing water around. That means you can expect slightly higher water and a bit more surge on the outer walls by midday. Early morning, water temps nearshore are hanging in the low to mid‑60s, cooler where there’s recent north wind or discharge. Nearshore trout and salmon action has been solid. This past week, charter captains out of Burnham and Diversey have been putting good numbers of coho and a few chunky kings in the box in 60–120 feet of water, with bonus lake trout and the occasional steelhead. Coho are still the headliner, running eater‑size with some bigger fish mixed in. Kings are fewer but quality when they show. Lakers are steady on the bottom humps. Best producers have been bright spoons and small flasher‑fly combos. Run orange and red‑dodger rigs with green or blue flies for coho, and larger silver or UV spoons for kings. Thin‑fin–style crankbaits and shallow‑running stickbaits in orange, firetiger, and chrome/blue are still taking fish higher in the column early and late. When the sun gets high, get your presentations down with dipsies and riggers. From shore, the bite’s been a mixed bag but worth the effort. Perch reports are scattered; a few better catches have come from deeper bends and rock transitions rather than straight harbor walls. Minnows, soft‑shells when you can get them, and small pieces of shrimp on drop‑shot or simple bottom rigs are the go‑to. Downsized jigging spoons and tiny paddle‑tails in natural shad or gold can pick off the more aggressive fish. Smallmouth bass around the Chicago lakefront structure have been active in that low‑light window. Rocks, pier corners, and current edges are holding fish. Ned rigs, 3–4 inch tubes in green pumpkin, and small swimbaits have been doing work. If you like power fishing, squarebill crankbaits ticking the rocks and 1/4‑ounce spinnerbaits in white or white/chartreuse are classic producers when there’s a bit of chop. Couple of hot spots to circle today: – Montrose Harbor and the adjacent horseshoe and outer wall. Good mixed bag potential: smallmouth along the rocks, a shot at perch, and occasional trout or salmon cruising the edges when the bait’s in. Work the inside early, then slide to the lake side as the sun climbs. – Burnham Harbor and the mouth of the harbor. Inside walls for perch and panfish on live bait, outside rocks for smallmouth and the odd trout. If you can get out a bit deeper by boat, that 60–90 foot band off Burnham has been a consistent coho and laker zone. For bait, keep it simple: fatheads or golden shiners, nightcrawlers for panfish and bass, and fresh spawn sacs if you’re targeting trout and salmon from shore. For artificials, think contrast: bright and flashy early and when it’s overcast, more natural chrome and shad tones as the sun gets high and the water clears. That’s your Lake Michigan Chicago rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Chicago Lake Michigan fishing report. We’ve got classic early‑June conditions on the big pond. Overnight air temps slid through the 60s, climbing into the low 70s this afternoon with light west to northwest winds and mostly clear skies. Nearshore surface temps are sitting in the upper 50s to low 60s, just warm enough to wake things up but still cool enough to keep the spring bite going. Chicago doesn’t have real ocean tides, but we do get seiches and small water‑level swings. Today they’re minor, so focus more on wind direction and current lines than “tides.” West and northwest winds will keep the water fairly clear and push warmer surface water a bit offshore. Work the color changes where that clearer water meets any stained pockets near harbors and river mouths. Sunrise came early and the low‑light window was money. Sunset will give you another prime feeding window; expect that last hour of light to fish just as well as dawn if the wind lays down. Lake trout, coho, and a few steelhead have been the headliners for boat anglers running out of places like Burnham, Diversey, and Montrose. Charter captains have been reporting mixed bags of lakers and coho in 60–120 feet, with the better action on fish hugging the lower half of the water column. King salmon are around but spotty; you might pick one or two while working deeper spreads. Best producers offshore have been: - Spoons in green, blue, and UV patterns run on downriggers and leadcore. - Flasher‑fly combos in white/green or white/blue. - Small crankbaits and thin trolling plugs in orange or firetiger when coho are higher. Closer to shore and from the piers, smallmouth bass and perch are the main game. Rock piles, breakwalls, and harbor mouths are holding bronzebacks, especially where there’s a mix of rock and sand. Fewer numbers but good size. Ned rigs in natural colors, 3–4 inch tubes in green pumpkin, and small swimbaits are putting fish in the net. Live shiners or fatheads under a slip float will out‑fish plastics when the bite gets finicky. Perch action has been hit‑or‑miss but worth a look when the lake lays flat. Best baits are: - Live minnows or soft shell crawlers on simple perch rigs. - Small emerald‑shiner‑style soft plastics when minnows are tough to find. Couple of local hot spots to circle: - **Montrose Harbor and the horseshoe pier**: Good multi‑species zone. Early morning smallmouth along the rocks, with a shot at a bonus brown or coho cruising the outer wall if you run spoons or medium‑size cranks. - **Burnham to Northerly Island shoreline**: Work the riprap and points with tubes and Ned rigs for bass. When the wind is light, you’ll also see roaming schools of perch—keep a sabiki or simple minnow rig handy. As always on this lake, watch the marine forecast. Storms and wind shifts can blow in fast and turn a calm morning nasty in a hurry. That’s your Lake Michigan Chicago update from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’ve got a classic early‑June pattern on the big lake. Water temps along the Chicago shoreline are sitting in the upper 50s to low 60s, warming faster in the harbors and inside the breakwalls. Winds have mostly been light to moderate out of the north‑northeast and should lay down more by late morning, giving you manageable chop and decent clarity close to shore. No real tide here on Lake Michigan, just seiche sloshing, but water levels have been stable, with a slight rise and fall on wind shifts. Sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m., sunset about 8:25 p.m., so you’ve got long low‑light windows to work with. Best activity has been first light to about 9 a.m., and then again the last two hours before dark, especially if clouds roll in. Salmon and trout action offshore has been steady. Charter captains running out of Burnham and Diversey have been picking up mixed bags of coho, kings, and a few lake trout in 70–120 feet of water. The coho are still favoring bright orange and red dodger‑fly combos and small orange spoons, trolled 2.0–2.4 mph. Kings are coming a bit deeper on magnum spoons in green‑glow and UV patterns, plus flasher‑fly rigs in white‑green. Average catches have been 5–10 fish on decent mornings, more when the wind and temp breaks line up. Closer to shore, smallmouth bass are the big story. Rock piles, crib structures, and the armor stone along the city front are holding good numbers. Plastics on light jigheads are doing work: green pumpkin tubes, goby‑style baits, and ned rigs in natural brown. Work them slow along bottom, especially around Montrose and the crib line. A lot of 14–18 inch fish being reported, with a few bruisers over 20. Perch are spotty but worth the effort when you find a school. Navy Pier, the south side of Montrose, and the Calumet mouth have all kicked out keeper fish recently. Best bait has been soft‑shells when you can get them; otherwise minnows and red worms on simple drop‑shot or perch spreaders. Morning bite has been stronger; once the sun gets high, they slide off a little deeper, so bring enough weight to stay near bottom. For multi‑species fun in the harbors—Burnham, Diversey, Montrose—float rigs with live minnows will draw perch, rock bass, and the occasional smallmouth. Nightcrawlers on simple bottom rigs are still catching freshwater drum and catfish along the inner walls and slips. If you’re throwing artificials from shore and want to cover water, tie on: - 3–4 inch swimbaits in smelt or alewife colors - Small silver or blue spoons - White or chartreuse inline spinners on overcast days Two hot spots to circle on your map: - Montrose Harbor and the adjacent pier and rocks: early‑morning smallmouth on tubes and ned rigs, plus roaming coho just outside the harbor mouth when bait shows. - Calumet River mouth and nearby breakwalls: perch and mixed bag on live bait, with a shot at shallow‑running coho and the odd brown trout on small jointed crankbaits and spoons. Keep an eye on the wind; if it swings around and stacks warm water on the city side, that nearshore bite can light up in a hurry. On flat, sunny days, drop a size on line and go more natural on colors. That’s your Chicago lakefront report from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’ve got a classic early‑June setup on the big lake. A cool start, light to moderate west and northwest winds, and small chop along the Chicago shoreline. Air temps climb through the 60s into low 70s with partly cloudy skies and only a slight chance of a brief shower. Pressure is steady to slightly rising, which usually keeps fish predictable and on the chew through the morning. Sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m. local, with sunset near 8:25 p.m., giving you a long light window. Low‑light periods are still the prime bite: first two hours after sunrise and the last two hours before dark. Lake Michigan isn’t tidal like the ocean, but we do get seiche and wind‑driven level changes. With today’s west and northwest breeze, expect slightly lower water along the Chicago side and a firmer, more defined breakline just off the piers and harbor mouths. That sets up nicely for salmonids and smallmouth to pin bait against structure. Recent reports from local anglers and shop chatter around Montrose and Diversey have coho salmon still hanging around in good numbers, with a mix of smaller kings and a few bigger lake trout deeper off the breaks. Shore casters have been seeing steady action at dawn tossing spoons and crankbaits, while boaters trolling 40–80 feet down over 80–140 feet of water are putting decent boxes together. In the harbors and along rock walls, smallmouth bass activity is picking up as water creeps through the 50s and into the low 60s in the shallows. Guys walking the rocks at Burnham, 31st Street, and Navy Pier have reported solid mixed bags of smallmouth and rock bass, with an occasional bonus brown trout early. Best lures right now for salmon and trout: - Bright casting spoons in orange, green, and chartreuse patterns - Size 9–11 minnow baits in natural alewife or blue‑silver - For trollers, standard and mag spoons in orange/UV, plus small flasher‑fly combos in green and white For smallmouth: - 3–4 inch tube jigs in green pumpkin or goby colors - Ned rigs with natural‑tone plastics - Small paddle‑tail swimbaits on light jigheads for covering water - On calmer, sunny afternoons, finesse drop‑shot rigs with goby‑style baits Best bait: - Spawn sacs and skein for trout and salmon under a float near harbor mouths - Golden shiners or fathead minnows on slip‑floats around the rocks for mixed species - Nightcrawlers drifted near the bottom will still catch just about anything this time of year A couple of hotspot suggestions: Montrose Harbor and the adjacent pier: Good mix of shore‑accessible coho, the odd king, lake trout out deeper, and smallmouth along the rocks. Work the outer pier at first light with spoons, then slide into the harbor mouths with live bait or jigs as the sun gets higher. Burnham Harbor and 31st Street rocks: Great stretch for smallmouth right now. Walk the riprap with tubes and Ned rigs, focusing on transitions in rock size, current seams from boat traffic, and any warm‑water pockets. Early morning and late evening have been the most consistent, but a light breeze and some cloud cover can extend the bite. If you’re boating, setting up just off the city in 90–130 feet and trolling a spread of spoons at staggered depths is a strong play. Watch your graph for bait pods and temp breaks; when you mark consistent arcs at a certain depth, park a couple of rods there and work that line. That’s your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’ve got a cool, early‑season pattern hanging on the big lake. Along the downtown and North Side shoreline, winds have been mostly light to moderate out of the north‑northeast, keeping nearshore water a little chilly but pretty clean. Air temps are riding in the 60s along the water, with a mix of cloud cover and sun breaks, and only a light chop on most piers and harbor mouths. Lake Michigan’s a freshwater inland sea, so no true tides, but you will see seiche swings and slight water‑level changes with the wind. That north‑northeast push has been stacking a bit more water and bait against the Chicago shoreline, especially around harbor mouths and the concrete walls with deeper water close in. Sunrise is right around 5:15 a.m., with sunset about 8:25 p.m., so you’ve got a long prime window. Best bite has been classic low‑light: first two hours after sunrise and the last two before sunset. Midday is slower unless you’re fishing deeper water or shaded structure. Harbors and nearby lakefront have been putting out a mixed bag. Perch are spotty but definitely around: smaller schools sliding in and out of Montrose, Diversey, and up toward Belmont. Most fish are in the 8–10 inch range with an occasional bigger slab. Fathead minnows on a drop‑shot, small crappie rigs tipped with pieces of nightcrawler, or soft plastic minnows in natural shad and smelt colors are doing the work. Keep your presentations tight to the bottom and around any rock or crib structure. Coho and a few bonus kings are still in play for boaters running just off the Chicago and Wilmette lines. Most of the chatter has limits or near‑limits of coho coming on small orange and red dodgers with peanut flies in green, blue, and chartreuse, 15–40 feet down over 60–90 feet of water. A few lake trout mixed in, mostly deeper and hitting spoons run close to bottom. Trollers running standard spoons in silver/blue, silver/orange, and UV patterns have been connecting when the flies slow down. Shore anglers are picking off occasional trout and salmon off Montrose and Navy Pier with casting spoons and crankbaits. Think 3/4‑ounce silver and blue, glow‑white, or firetiger spoons, along with size 10–12 jerkbaits in natural smelt patterns. Work a slow, steady retrieve with a few pauses; the water’s still cool enough that they’ll track a bait a long way. Smallmouth bass action is building along rock edges and harbor walls. Fish are running mostly 12–16 inches, with a few bigger bronzebacks showing. Ned rigs in green pumpkin, tubes in goby and alewife tones, and small swimbaits have been hot. If the wind muddies things up, switch to something with a bit more thump—small chartreuse spinnerbaits or paddle tails. Live bait: minnows and nightcrawlers remain the best all‑around options. For perch and panfish, keep the rigs light and the hooks small. For smallmouth, a lively shiner under a slip float, set just off bottom along the rocks, can be deadly in the low‑light windows. Today’s hot spots: - **Montrose Harbor and the outer wall**: perch near the rocks and occasional trout/salmon for casters. Work the corners where the current wraps. - **Belmont Harbor mouth and nearby rock shoreline**: good shot at smallmouth, with roaming schools of perch sliding through. Fan‑cast Ned rigs and tubes along the breaks. If you’re heading out, pack a mix of small spoons, peanut flies, natural‑color plastics, and live bait. Stay mobile: ten yards can be the difference between dead water and a school of active fish. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing reports and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’re sliding into that late–spring pattern now. Nearshore water temps along the Chicago lakefront are riding in the low to mid‑50s, a touch cooler after the recent north winds, but warming on sunny afternoons. Light chop early, building to a moderate northeast breeze as the day goes on. Air temps are hanging in the upper 50s to mid‑60s with a mix of sun and passing clouds. Sunrise comes early over the lake and sunset lands late, giving you a wide window. The prime bite has been in that first couple hours of daylight and again in the last 90 minutes before dark. Midday is slower, but the deeper gaps and harbor mouths are still producing if you slow down and get baits tight to bottom. Lake Michigan isn’t tidal like the ocean, but there is some seiche action with wind setup. After a stretch of east and northeast wind, water stacks on the Chicago side and pushes bait right against the walls. When that happens, the harbors light up fast – keep an eye on those sudden water‑level swings at places like Burnham and Diversey. Salmon and trout have been the headline. Shore anglers working the outer walls of Montrose and Belmont have been picking off coho and a few bonus kings in the low‑teens. Most folks are running slip bobbers with golden shiners or fatheads set 8–12 feet down over 20–30 feet of water. Trollers out of Calumet and Burnham have seen mixed bags of coho, a few steelhead, and scattered lake trout in 40–70 feet, mostly on orange and red dodger‑fly combos and small orange spoons. Inside the harbors, panfish are waking up. Crappie and big perch are sliding into the marinas and around the weedier corners and dock pilings. Small fatheads and wax worms under tiny floats are working, and if you prefer plastics, 1/32‑ounce chartreuse or white tube jigs are plenty. You won’t see perch limits like midsummer yet, but there’ve been enough slabs around to keep buckets clinking. Smallmouth bass action is steadily improving along the rock lines. The stretch from Montrose south to Navy Pier has been giving up solid bronzebacks, especially on calm mornings. Tubes in green pumpkin, 3‑ to 4‑inch swimbaits in natural shad patterns, and drop‑shot minnows have been the best producers. Work slow along the rocks and current seams; they’re still a little sluggish in that cool water but they’re feeding. Best baits right now: for trout and salmon, frozen herring or alewives, golden shiners, and bright orange or red trolling spoons. For bass, go with natural‑colored tubes, Ned rigs, and small swimbaits. For perch and crappie, minnows, wax worms, and small jigs tipped with gulp minnows or spikes. A couple of current hot spots: – Montrose Harbor and the outer wall: coho, a shot at a king, plus mixed trout and early bass. Work that inside corner and the end of the pier at first light. – Burnham Harbor and the nearby lakefront: coho from shore when the wind pushes in, and panfish stacking in the slips and around the pilings. Slip bobbers for the trout, tiny jigs for the panfish. If you’re heading out, bring a light jacket for the morning breeze, a couple rod setups to cover both trout and panfish, and be ready to move: the bite has been all about finding that active pocket of fish rather than camping on one spot. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing reports and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. We’re coming off a cool spring pattern. Around Chicago’s lakefront this morning you’re looking at temps starting in the low‑50s, climbing into the 60s by afternoon. Light north to northeast breeze on the big lake, generally under 10 knots, keeps things a bit choppy but fishable along the piers. Skies are partly cloudy; a mix of sun and clouds most of the day. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset close to 8:10 p.m. Your best windows are that first light bite from about 5 to 7 a.m., and again in the low‑light evening stretch 7 to 8:30 p.m. Lake Michigan isn’t tidal like the ocean, but wind‑driven seiches do push water levels around; with this lighter northeast flow, expect slightly higher water pushing into inside harbors and along wind‑facing walls by late morning. Harbors and nearshore water are still on the cool side, sitting in the low‑50s near the surface, warming a touch in protected pockets by afternoon. That’s been keeping the trout and salmon game going close to town. Charter captains out of Burnham and Diversey have been reporting mixed bags: coho salmon still the main story, with some chunky lake trout and the occasional steelhead and brown. A decent coho run has had boats taking 8–20 fish on better mornings when they spread lines from the surface down to about 30 feet. Offshore trollers running out 2–6 miles have been doing well on standard Lake Michigan spread: orange and red dodger‑fly combos, small orange and gold spoons, and thin fish‑style crankbaits. Coho are still chewing on small baits, so think peanut‑size spoons and mini flashers. Inside the harbors and from shore, guys soaking spawn sacs and nightcrawlers under slip bobbers are picking off a few browns and steelhead early, especially along rock walls with a little stain in the water. Perch action around downtown has been spotty but showing signs of life. Anglers working Navy Pier and the Calumet area report pockets of keeper perch when they find schools of bait. Best bets have been small fathead minnows, soft‑shells when you can get them, and tiny pieces of nightcrawler on drop‑shot or simple drop‑perch rigs. Gold or chartreuse jig heads tipped with minnows have been outfishing bare hooks, especially in that 15–25 foot range on calmer days. Smallmouth bass are waking up along the breakwalls and rocky points. The clearer the water, the more you’ll want to go natural: green pumpkin tubes, goby‑pattern Ned rigs, and small jerkbaits. On windier days, a white or shad‑pattern spinnerbait slow‑rolled along riprap has been drawing some thumping hits. Most smallies are running 14–18 inches with a few bigger fish mixed in; remember to check local regulations and handle them gently—this is that pre‑spawn window for a lot of fish. For multi‑species action from shore, it’s hard to beat a simple slip bobber rig with a medium shiner or nightcrawler set 6–10 feet down over 15–20 feet of water. That’ll pick up trout, an odd coho, and the occasional bonus whitefish or sheepshead cruising the harbors. A couple of hot spots to circle today: • Montrose Harbor and the adjacent Montrose Rocks: Good mix of coho from small spoons and crankbaits, plus smallmouths along the rock edges. Early morning tosses with silver/blue and orange/black spoons have been putting fish on the wall. • Burnham Harbor and the Burnham/Northerly Island shorelines: Coho and lake trout nearby for boaters running small dodgers and flies; from shore, slip bobbers with spawn or minnows around the harbor mouths and along the rocks are seeing steady action when the wind lines up. Best overall lures right now: small orange and red trolling spoons, orange or green dodger‑fly combos for coho, green pumpkin tubes and Ned rigs for bass, micro jigs with minnows for perch. Best baits: spawn sacs, fathead minnows, shiners, and nightcrawlers. That’s your Chicago lakefront rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This is Artificial Lure with your Chicago–Lake Michigan fishing report. We’re sitting on a cool late‑spring pattern along the Chicago lakefront. Overnight air temps dipped into the upper 50s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s this afternoon with a light west to northwest breeze around 5–10 mph. Skies are partly cloudy, barometer steady to slightly rising, and the lake is running low 50s nearshore, still cool but very fishable. Lake Michigan doesn’t have true ocean tides, but the wind‑driven seiche is modest today, so you’ll see only gentle water level changes. The real “tide” for us is the light window: sunrise hit around 5:25 a.m., sunset lands near 8:10 p.m. Your best bite is lining up that first 2–3 hours after sunrise and the last 2 hours before dark, when the wind lays down and the bait comes closer to shore. Coho and a few stray kings are still hanging around, but the hot nearshore action has been a mixed bag: coho, lake trout, browns, and early‑season smallmouth. Boat trollers working 40–80 feet out of Chicago, Evanston, and down toward Calumet have been boxing decent limits of coho with some bonus lakers. Anglers are reporting 5–15 coho per boat on better runs, with a handful of lake trout to 10–15 pounds. Best trolling program has been smaller orange and red dodgers with peanut flies in green, blue, and aqua on leads 12–20 inches behind. Thin‑fin style crankbaits and standard size spoons in orange, UV green, and bloody nose are also producing. Run them off planer boards with 2–5 colors of leadcore or shallow divers and cover that top 30 feet of the column. From shore, perch are spotty but improving. Pilings and rock edges around Navy Pier and the inner harbor mouths have given up modest catches—half‑day hauls of 5–15 fish for the patient guys. Best bait has been live minnows and soft shell craws when you can find them, otherwise pieces of nightcrawler or small gulp minnows on a drop‑shot or crappie rig. Smallmouth bass are waking up nicely along the rock walls. The Montrose and Burnham harbor mouths have seen solid action on bronzebacks in the 14–18 inch class, with a few bigger. Work the first breaks and rock transitions in 6–12 feet of water. Ned rigs in green pumpkin, tubes in goby patterns, and suspending jerkbaits in natural shad or perch colors have been the money. Keep retrieves slow with long pauses; that water is still cool. Trout and salmon from shore are tougher but not gone. Pre‑dawn casters at Montrose, Diversey, and the 31st Street breakwall are still popping the occasional coho and brown. Little Cleo and Kastmaster‑style spoons in silver/blue or silver/green, plus white hair jigs tipped with waxies or minnow strips, are your best bet. Focus on that first light window with a slight chop and some cloud cover. Two hot spots to circle: 1) Montrose Harbor and the adjacent pier: mixed bag opportunity. Smallmouth hugging rocks, perch in the basin, and a shot at trout and coho right off the pier ends early and late. 2) Calumet area and the south‑side slips: when the water’s a touch warmer here, coho and lake trout push closer. Trollers just outside the mouth and slip anglers soaking minnows see some of the earliest consistent bites. Overall fish activity today: moderate, with a strong lean toward dawn and dusk. Keep presentations subtle and stay mobile. If you’re not getting bit in 20–30 minutes, slide down the wall or change depth. That’s the word from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a lakefront update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

Artificial Lure here, bringing you the up-to-the-minute fishing scoop straight from the heart of Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline for Saturday, June 21st, 2025. Weatherwise, we’re waking up to a comfortable June morning, with temps slated to rise from the mid-60s up into the mid-70s by midday, under mostly clear skies. The humidity is moderate at around 56%, and we’ve got a gentle breeze clocking in at about 10 mph out of the south, so the lake is serving up manageable 1-2 foot waves—ideal for both pier and boat anglers. Sunrise hit at 5:16 AM, and sunset will close our day at 8:29 PM, giving you a long window to chase the bite. No tides on the big lake, but expect a steady lake level from week to week according to historical records from the Chicago Midway International Airport and Weather25.com. Now, on to the fishing! The main headline is coho salmon—still the star along the Chicago lakefront. Boat anglers are landing them both shallow (50-80 feet) and out deeper (up to 160 feet). Coho dodgers and flies remain the top ticket, especially trolled around 45 feet down. Spoons in blue, green, and orange are getting bit, with early mornings being prime time before the sun gets high. While the peak run has passed, expect scattered but solid action for another week or two. A few Chinook are also showing in the mix, especially out deeper, and big lakers remain steady off the first bank, with blue baits and cowbells the top producers. According to KidsFishingAdviser.com and the latest spooled-up local podcasts, you can expect to see mixed cooler bags with coho, a few Chinook, and bonus lake trout for those willing to put in the miles. From shore, Montrose and Diversey Harbors have been giving up a handful of coho and some stout smallmouth bass. Shore anglers are finding success on small shiny spoons and swim baits, especially in the early hours. Park Bait Shop reports that crawlers, large minnows, and even spawn sacs are getting attention around the slips—and don’t sleep on the slip bobber setups for the bonus bite. Smallmouth bass activity is climbing, with the warm water drawing them closer to rocks and breakwalls. Hotspots today: - Montrose Harbor: Early morning into mid-morning for coho and lake trout, with bonus bass action in the rocks. - Burnham Harbor: Consistent for mixed species, especially on the outer walls and near the mouth. - The first bank off the Chicago light: For boaters willing to troll blue or green spoons and dodgers, you’ll find lake trout stacked up and occasional schools of salmon moving through. Remember—perch season is open, but catches remain spotty, so keep your expectations in check. If you’re chasing bass, stick to plastics and live bait around structure. That’s the scoop for June 21st—thanks for tuning in, anglers! Be sure to subscribe for your daily dose of on-the-water intel and never miss a bite. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.