If you have any outdoor news, fishing or hunting reports or photos you'd like to share, send them to iloutdoors@comcast.net.
Latest Reports and News August 19, 2016 (Photos are at the end of this post)
Chicago River Report by Pat Harrison
| SPECIES | RATING | BAIT OF CHOICE | SUGGESTED LOCATIONS | REGULATIONS |
| LARGEMOUTH BASS | Good | Worms, black and blue jigs, minnows, and spinner baits. | Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around bridges and along the rocks. Reports of fish being caught around Jackie Branch, Sandusky Cove, and below the dam. | 14” minimum length limit, 6 daily creel limit. 1 fish daily creel limit in PONDS 14” minimum length. |
| CRAPPIE | Excellent | Jigs are working well. Quarter-Ounce pink and white tub jigs. Small & Medium Minnows. Meal worms. | Fish the main lake drop off areas. Try the Gun Creek Area. From shore fish near structures, hot spots are Jackie Branch, Sandusky, Sailboat Harbor, Marcum coves, and Ina Boat Ramp. | 25 fish daily creel limit with no more than 10 fish 10 inches or longer |
| BLUEGILL | Good | Crickets, worms, wax worms, meal worms, small jigs. | Fish in the back of necks and on flat shallow banks and on the rocks. Try fishing shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. From shore try Sailboat Harbor. | 10 fish daily creel limit in PONDS. |
| CHANNELCATFISH | Excellent | Sonny’s stink bait, Hoss’s Hawg Bait, leeches, night crawlers, and large minnows. | Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, Jackie Branch, and North Sandusky Day Use Area. Set line 3-4’ from the shore over rocks. Try leeches in moving water. Drift fish the flats. | 6 fish daily creel limit in PONDS.Jugs must be attended at all times while fishing. |
| WHITE BASS | Fair | Jig and curly tail grubs, inline spinners. | Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around along the rocks and dropoffs. Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. | 20 fish creel limit.No more than 3 fish 17” or longer daily |
| Information as of: 08/15/2016LAKE LEVEL: 407.22 AVERAGE POOL FOR THIS DATE: 406.29 WATER TEMP: 85°F The lake has recently received 10+ inches of rain at the north end of lake. The lake level is rising. |
Use of a minnow seine, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting within 1000 yards downstream of the Rend Lake dam and spillway is prohibited.
Maps of the Fish Attractor tree locations along with GPS readings are available at the Rend Lake Corps of Engineers Project Office. Contact Randy Cordray for more information at (618) 724-2493.
Ken "Husker" O'Malley
Huskeroutdoors
Waterworks fishing team
Niagara Fishing Forecast for Friday, August 19, 2016 by Bill Hilts, Jr.
1. LakeOntario and tributaries – It will be a busy weekend in Wilson, Olcott and the FortNiagara areas. It happens when the calendar aligns properly – three different fishing derbies on the same weekend, giving you nearly $100,000 in cash and prizes … if you get into all three contests. Just another friendly reminder that you have to be in it to win it and the odds are better for these contests than they are for the state lottery! Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker sends word that the mature king salmon are starting to stage off Olcott in 50 to 100 feet of water as they start to darken up color-wise. Any lure that will get them to strike out of aggression – J-plugs, cutbait and flashers, flasher-fly rigs, or magnum spoons – will work on any given day. This is a time when you can catch them outside of the preferred temperature zones, too. Out deep, a mix of immature salmon, the occasional mature and steelhead will show up in the top 60-70 feet of water over 350 to 500 foot depths. Standard or super slim sized spoons are the preferred trolling bait. Perch and rock bass are being caught in the harbors at Wilson and Olcott. Largemouth, smallmouth and pike are also possibilities. Over in Wilson at the state park, some work around the launch ramp should be completed by Friday for the LOC Derby but it might take an extra day or two so be prepared for a secondary option for launching. Eighteenmile Creek has good water flow after recent rains. It was 87 cfs on Wednesday morning, blowing out duck weed and triggering some fish to hit. First up on the contest calendar is the Orleans County Rotary Derby, currently running through August 21. Yes, it ends this Sunday. The current leader for the Grand Prize is a 30 pound, 14 ounce king salmon reeled in by Julie Schaeffer of Sligo, Pennsylvania – well within reach. Top steelhead is a 14 pound, 1 ounce fish caught by Robert Griffith of Akron, Ohio. Jessie Pepper of Rochester has the top lake trout with 16 pounds, 12 ounces and Patrick Pullinzi of Hamlin is the leading brown trout catcher at 15 pounds, 7 ounces. The Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby – the Fall Return of the King event that runs for 18 days – starts on August 19 and will be offering up over $70,000 in cash and prizes including $25,000 for the largest salmon weighed in. Go to www.loc.org for details. The third event kicks off on Saturday, August 20 – the 40th Annual Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby honoring the late, great Capt. Jeremiah Heffernan. The prize structure has been increased for this year’s history-making contest, including $4,000 for the Grand Prize. There are categories for salmon, smallmouth bass, walleye, carp and trout. The winning catches in each of those categories will be placed into a hat at the Captain’s meeting in Newfane. The winning pick earns the Grand Prize. Last year it was young Nick Perri, winner of the Brown Trout Division winning the top prize. The best part of the Odyssey is that kids fish for free in a special Youth Division. Lots of great prizes will be handed out – whether you catch a fish or not! Sign up at www.fishodyssey.net or at any of the registration outlets. Get out there and have some fishing fun. Also on Friday, August 19 is the inaugural Reelin’ for a Cure event out of Olcott.
2. Lower Niagara River – Walleye action has increased a bit, just in time for the NRAA walleye contest on Sunday. Worm harnesses or yellow sally flies rigged with a spinner and a worm, fished off three way rigs is the best approach. Mike Heylek sends word that the Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding its annual lower Niagara River walleye contest on August 21. There will be a guaranteed $500 prize structure no matter how many people are in - $250 for first; $150 for second; $100 for third. 100 percent cash pay back from the $20 entry fee and $5 big fish category. Best two fish, total weight. Scales will be open all day at the Lewiston Landing until 2 pm. The picnic and awards will also be at the pavilion at Lewiston Landing - pizza and wings from Mr. B's. You can check the NRAA website (
www.niagarariveranglers.com) and Facebook page Niagara River Anglers for details or stop in at Creek Road Bait and Tackle. If you fish in the contest, make sure you are registered for the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby set for August 20-28. Just ask John Walaczak! Bass action has also picked up a bit, but you do have to work for them. Crayfish and shiners top the list of preferred baits. Expect to catch a few sheepshead or silver bass, too.
3. Upper Niagara River – Bass is still the primary focus for drifters and casters with live bait working the best, fishing off three way rigs for drifters. Casters are using tubes, drop shot rigs or stickbaits – the same artificial lures that worked for the fishing pros a few weeks ago. StrawberryIsland is always a good spot to start, at the head of the island or just east of the island. In the west river, bass action can be good, but remember that is mostly Canadian waters – follow the rules. The head of the river in the current is also a good spot to target bass and the occasional walleye. Sheepshead are showing up regularly.
Bill Hilts, Jr. - Director, Outdoor Promotions
Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation
10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY USA 14303
www.Niagara-USA.com
Lake of the Woods, MN Fishing Report by Joe Henry
Walleye fishing was awesome this past week. Minimal wind and lots of sun allowed anglers to go anywhere and fish any tactic they wished. Drifting with spinners, anchoring and jigging, and downrigging crankbaits all brought fish in. 28-32 feet still holding fish with trophies mixed in. Gold, pink, white, blue, and silver were best colors. A nice bite just outside lighthouse gap in 11-15 feet, many small fish boated to hook into larger keeper fish. Also a nice school 6 miles off of Pine Island. Scattered schools across the shore to Zippel Bay, Long Point and Arnesen's. Smallies are hanging out in rocky areas and active.
On the Rainy River, some eyes being boated daily. Many anglers pulling cranks and spinners as top choice to cover water. Bass biting walleye rigs. Sturgeon fishing so-so but many spotted as they come bursting out of the water. Sturgeon "keep" season is now open through Sep. 30.
Up at the NW Angle, fishing in 12-24 feet with orange and gold spinners. Crawlers have been good along with downrigging with crankbaits. Areas between Little Oak and Oak Island fishing in the mud and rock has been pulling in fish. Many anglers are catching walleye as well as a few bonus slab crappies and jumbo perch. In In Ontario waters, spinners are the preferred tactic in areas with current and close to shore in 15-22 feet. The algae boom and not that much wind resulted in the reefs not producing as well. The muskies picked up a little this week. with lots of muskies sunning in shallow sandy bays. Resorts, guides, and hot deals at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.
Joe Henry | Executive Director | Lake of the Woods Tourism | LakeoftheWoodsMN.com m: 320-260-7727 | office: 800-382-3474 | Joe.Henry@LakeoftheWoodsMN.com
Filed under: Fishing, Fishing Report, Hunting, Outdoor News, Outdoors Fun
Tags: Asian carp, bass baits, Bass Fishing, Boating, Boulder Junction, Crappie Fishing, deer hunting, Don Dziedzina, fishing, Forest Lake Country Store, hunting, IL DNR, Outdoors, Southern Illinois, Walleye Fishing, Wildcat Lodge
