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Navigating Autumn's Bite: Lake Michigan Fishing Report for November 5, 2025
Published 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Michigan and Chicago shoreline fishing report for Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
We’re waking up to typical fall transition weather—brisk winds, changing fronts, and fish on the move. Early this morning, sunrise hit at 5:57 AM, and you’ll have until sunset at 5:52 PM to get your lines wet, according to tides4fishing. Today’s only high tide crested at 11:28 AM, with low tide near 5:12 AM and again at 5:36 PM, so plan your fishing efforts close to those tide changes to maximize activity.
As for weather, the National Weather Service has us in a Small Craft Advisory until afternoon. South winds are already shifting strongly out of the northwest, gusting up to 30 knots, with waves building 3 to 6 feet. That’ll churn up bait and can really spark a bite in the harbors and protected piers, but use caution—only the most experienced small craft anglers should venture out today.
Water temps took a dive this week as unseasonably warm weather finally gave way to cool winds, and, per SnoFlo, you’ll want to focus your mornings or evenings for best success. A chilly stretch means most gamefish move deeper, but they’re still feeding hard ahead of peak winter.
What’s biting? Lakefront regulars reported solid catches of late-run Coho and King salmon lingering near Montrose and Diversey Harbors. Most salmon have colored up, but a few fresh silvers are still showing up as bonus fish for persistent casters—especially tight to the mouth during early daylight. Steelhead are starting to trickle in, with the best bites on nightcrawlers or medium golden roaches floated under a slip bobber off the breakwalls. Don’t be surprised by the odd brown trout either—spawn sacs and orange beads get the nod as “egg wash” peaks in most tributaries, as noted by Trails to Trout.
Harbors and nearshore structure are holding smallmouth bass, which have been caught in good numbers by anglers bouncing tube jigs and blade baits along rocky drops. Ned rigs in green pumpkin or chartreuse, as well as lipless crankbaits, are enticing aggressive fish fattening up for winter, according to Major League Fishing’s 2025 reports.
If you’re targeting panfish, navy pier and Belmont harbor are proven spots. Slip bobbers with spikes, waxworms, or small redworms will connect with late-fall perch and the occasional bonus bluegill when action is slow elsewhere.
Hot spots this week: Montrose Harbor is prime for mixed trout and salmon, especially on the windward side where chopped water means active baitfish. Burnham Harbor is another local favorite when the wind’s up, offering some protection and consistent bites. For those up for a walk, the rock piles around 31st Street produce smallmouth and perch, especially on overcast calm stretches between fronts.
Best lures right now: For salmonids, toss bright-colored spoons, orange spawn sacs, or ¼-ounce jigheads with white twister tails. Smallmouth are keying in on moving baits, so lipless cranks, blade baits, and Ned rigs are all in play. Live minnows catch just about anything right now if you’re willing to set up and soak.
With the moon just past full and strong solunar activity, you can expect consistent action around those tide swings and at dusk or dawn. Heads up—cooler temps are on the way, and there’s even a chance of light snow by the weekend per Manistee News, so this could be your last truly comfortable shore session before winter gear becomes a must!
Thanks for tuning in to today’s fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss your intel for the next trip. 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 content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI<
We’re waking up to typical fall transition weather—brisk winds, changing fronts, and fish on the move. Early this morning, sunrise hit at 5:57 AM, and you’ll have until sunset at 5:52 PM to get your lines wet, according to tides4fishing. Today’s only high tide crested at 11:28 AM, with low tide near 5:12 AM and again at 5:36 PM, so plan your fishing efforts close to those tide changes to maximize activity.
As for weather, the National Weather Service has us in a Small Craft Advisory until afternoon. South winds are already shifting strongly out of the northwest, gusting up to 30 knots, with waves building 3 to 6 feet. That’ll churn up bait and can really spark a bite in the harbors and protected piers, but use caution—only the most experienced small craft anglers should venture out today.
Water temps took a dive this week as unseasonably warm weather finally gave way to cool winds, and, per SnoFlo, you’ll want to focus your mornings or evenings for best success. A chilly stretch means most gamefish move deeper, but they’re still feeding hard ahead of peak winter.
What’s biting? Lakefront regulars reported solid catches of late-run Coho and King salmon lingering near Montrose and Diversey Harbors. Most salmon have colored up, but a few fresh silvers are still showing up as bonus fish for persistent casters—especially tight to the mouth during early daylight. Steelhead are starting to trickle in, with the best bites on nightcrawlers or medium golden roaches floated under a slip bobber off the breakwalls. Don’t be surprised by the odd brown trout either—spawn sacs and orange beads get the nod as “egg wash” peaks in most tributaries, as noted by Trails to Trout.
Harbors and nearshore structure are holding smallmouth bass, which have been caught in good numbers by anglers bouncing tube jigs and blade baits along rocky drops. Ned rigs in green pumpkin or chartreuse, as well as lipless crankbaits, are enticing aggressive fish fattening up for winter, according to Major League Fishing’s 2025 reports.
If you’re targeting panfish, navy pier and Belmont harbor are proven spots. Slip bobbers with spikes, waxworms, or small redworms will connect with late-fall perch and the occasional bonus bluegill when action is slow elsewhere.
Hot spots this week: Montrose Harbor is prime for mixed trout and salmon, especially on the windward side where chopped water means active baitfish. Burnham Harbor is another local favorite when the wind’s up, offering some protection and consistent bites. For those up for a walk, the rock piles around 31st Street produce smallmouth and perch, especially on overcast calm stretches between fronts.
Best lures right now: For salmonids, toss bright-colored spoons, orange spawn sacs, or ¼-ounce jigheads with white twister tails. Smallmouth are keying in on moving baits, so lipless cranks, blade baits, and Ned rigs are all in play. Live minnows catch just about anything right now if you’re willing to set up and soak.
With the moon just past full and strong solunar activity, you can expect consistent action around those tide swings and at dusk or dawn. Heads up—cooler temps are on the way, and there’s even a chance of light snow by the weekend per Manistee News, so this could be your last truly comfortable shore session before winter gear becomes a must!
Thanks for tuning in to today’s fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss your intel for the next trip. 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 content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI<