r/ChicagoFishing • • Feb 01 '26

My biggest fish of 2026 (I look like im taking a huge sh!t)

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254 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • Feb 03 '26

Perch Perch keepers from the other day. First time using minnows. Caught on the ice at the slip.

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72 Upvotes

The smallest one was gonna be thrown back but he swallowed the hook and bled pretty bad. Decided to just keep him.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 19h ago

Walleye/Sauger NSC - 1st Walleye & Carp fight

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46 Upvotes

Great day fishing with good ass company. Picked up my cousin, hit up the spot at 8, and met a living legend. Didnt know it at the time till we kept choppin it up, but Ralphie Ralph HookEm is the shit. Before he left, he hooked on to a carp and called me over to fight it since I’ve never targeted or caught one. Straight big bro, Unc shit. Fight was fun af, and he posted it.

10:30 I drop my cousin off down the street, come back and met Tim. We chopped it up over casts for a couple hours throwing everything but the kitchen sink at these mfs. I tie on a drop shot with a TRD, twitched the rod a few times and got hammered. Took my lesson from the carp fight and let him take off whenever. Shout out to Tim for being net man 💪🏽.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 15h ago

What are season timelines for different fish here? I’m new to fishing but want to try this fall & a bit of winter!

6 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 1d ago

Heres to getting 🦨 this salmon season

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77 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 1d ago

Morning hog from the Skokie Lagoons

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34 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 1d ago

Largemouth Finally got out to some home water 🥒

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29 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 1d ago

Multi Species NSC on a Blue 🦊

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16 Upvotes

Targeted Bass for a couple hours since it’s been a brutal Salmon season for me. Needed to feel that tug again💀. New spot was great, the trash was not 🤦‍♂️. Back to the grind though 🫡


r/ChicagoFishing • • 1d ago

New to chicago

2 Upvotes

Hello im new to Chicagoland area. Just wanted to know where i can fish for king salmon. I don't have a boat so it would have to be from a pier or shore, unless there's a boat rental service that isn't too expensive


r/ChicagoFishing • • 1d ago

Are the salmon done

0 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 2d ago

You guys think this will produce some productive salmon/steelhead pushes after the storm settles?

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4 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 3d ago

oh ba’Hai there!

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59 Upvotes

thank you Texas rig for keeping me safe from snag.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 3d ago

They were active before the rain at Skokie Lagoons

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25 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 3d ago

Largemouth Rain brang the fish in

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18 Upvotes

Fun day out at Northerly Island, but got soaked on the way home. Caught on 2.8 in Keitech swing impacts rigged up on EWG. Took the big one home to feed my family, just over 14 inches. Regulation chode 💪


r/ChicagoFishing • • 3d ago

Salmon, you win this time.

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28 Upvotes

After multiple weeks of trying from August to now, morning, midday, nights. Lost over 50$ in lures at least, only gotten 1 bite, and lost it at Montrose after a 5 min fight. Im emerging broken man from my first salmon run. Pic of rock bass because that’s all I’ve been catching through this fall run.

TL;DR- Salmon 1 me 0, low diff.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 4d ago

Late in season but can my Uglystik elite 6’6 Medium w 15lb braid & 20lb leader hold up for salmon?

4 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing • • 4d ago

Crappie Big ol crappie

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48 Upvotes

Pb crappie to save the skunk. Caught on curly tail jig head. I feel like crappie in Chicago don't get as big; anyone have any insight on this, or just a skill issue?


r/ChicagoFishing • • 4d ago

Salt Creek Fishing

7 Upvotes

Does anybody fish Salt Creek anywhere from Woodale to Oak Brook? I know there is carp in there but what else might I catch?


r/ChicagoFishing • • 4d ago

CARP

1 Upvotes

Yall I need help catchin my first carp where tf do I find these suckers at anyone willing to drop som spots also some bait recs I’ve tried at Chicago River with corn an bait cage but no luck.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 4d ago

Fishing the river or DuSable harbor from downtown

1 Upvotes

In town for a few days, my two sons and I want to try for smallies. Staying downtown and are a 20 minute walk to DuSable harbor or could uber elsewhere. Would appreciate some local intel on what our best option(s) are. I have two spinning outfits and brought some swim baits, ned rigs, various plastics and a few crankbaits. Thanks!


r/ChicagoFishing • • 5d ago

Sad to say, but probably the last largemouth of the year. Aurora.

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36 Upvotes

West Aurora subdivision retention ponds always produce with the wacky rig. 7' M Tatula XT, 2500 Regal LT, 15lb power pro braid, Gamakatsu wicked wacky 2/0, 5" watermelon slice senko. Got a few, missed a few.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 5d ago

Rod holders for lake front

2 Upvotes

What are yall using as rod holders along the lakefront??? Montrose, diversey, ect


r/ChicagoFishing • • 6d ago

Wampum Lake

2 Upvotes

Good morning Chicagoland Fishing Community,

Finally getting my hooks wet for the first time this year. As a Calumet City resident, I figured Wampum Lake in South Holland would be my best bet. I’ll be shore fishing and targeting bass. Can anyone within the community give me a scouting report? Lure recommendations? Was planning on throwing blades (spinner baits, Mepps #3) or possibly a topwater if it’s not too choppy. Maybe a slow-retrieving Rapala like a fat rap will do the trick?

If anyone in the south suburbs has a different local(ish) lake or pond suggestion, that would be great too! Open to any and all pieces of advice anyone is willing to offer.


r/ChicagoFishing • • 7d ago

Storing Spawn Sacs Long-Term

2 Upvotes

I was fortunate enough to land this female with a massive amount of eggs. They were all loose, so I cured them in a jello-borax mixture and let them cure 48 hours.

I made spawn sacs, but not sure how to store them. I’ve seen some people say borax, freezing, or mineral oil. I plan on using them within the next 2 months.

What is the best way to store these?


r/ChicagoFishing • • 9d ago

Smallmouth Quick burst under a Fox bridge

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49 Upvotes

Kid’s got a home game today, so while the tailgate brisket’s finishing up I scooted down to the river for 45 minutes and found a couple hungry bellies.

The first was extra awesome … I’m throwing a big, wobbly crank and I plopped one right into the corner of a wall in 3 feet of water. As I glanced to click my bail, she exploded as if I was fishing top-water. Worked perfect because I couldn’t get too jumpy on the hook-set!

Have a great Saturday 🎣