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Chicago Lakefront Fishing Report: Battling November Gales for Steelhead, Coho, and More
Published 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your Chicago and Lake Michigan fishing report for Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
This morning’s sunrise hit at 6:32, with sunset coming up early at 4:37 p.m. The city woke up to that unmistakable *November chill*, with arctic air and even some snow pushing in, according to Manistee News. If you’re gearing up, bundle up—those winds are nothing to sneeze at. The National Weather Service has a Gale Warning up for the lake from noon until at least 9 tonight. Expect south winds building to a screaming 30 knots by afternoon, gusting up to gale force and kicking up waves 8 to 11 feet, occasionally higher. By nightfall, it’s full-blown gales, so nearshore spots are safer and smarter today. Safety first out there.
Fish still gotta eat, and the action hasn’t stopped just because winter’s making itself known. Around Chicago’s lakefront, piers are producing, especially for steelhead and coho. While local news like Manistee News reports steelhead and coho being caught on the Michigan side, anglers here are getting good steel on spawn sacs under floats, especially near Montrose and Burnham Harbor. Coho numbers are lower than peak, but a persistent angler can get into them—try nightcrawlers or shrimp fished off the bottom when the wind settles.
Bass have remained surprisingly active on the inland stretches and harbor mouths. The Outdoor News Illinois fishing report from last Friday said bass action is still decent when you can get a bait down to them. Jigging blade baits and finesse jigs around dock pilings has been the ticket, with the colder water pushing them deeper but not shutting off the bite entirely. Live shiners are pulling strikes, but plastics on drop-shots are also turning fish. Ned rigs remain a steady late-fall standby, as proven up and down the system.
Walleye and perch are also coming in for those braving the conditions, especially off Navy Pier and the mouth of the Chicago River. Perch limits aren’t easy, but a few patient anglers are walking away with nice fish on small crappie rigs and fathead minnows, especially early morning.
For lures, with the water hovering in the mid-to-low 40s and clarity high after each cold snap, you can’t go wrong with natural-colored jerkbaits or small paddletails, worked low and slow. White and silver have been top colors. Steelhead are hitting pink and chartreuse spawn sacs under floats, while coho will take a minnow on a hair jig or a small spoon. Ned rigs and drop-shots are killer for smallies in deeper pockets, as pros like Kevin VanDam have shown across Michigan waters—just opt for the lightest weight you can keep bottom contact with in this wind.
A couple of hot spots? Montrose Harbor is always worth a stop this time of year—fish the north pier for steelhead and perch on calmer days. Burnham Harbor is another go-to, especially when the big lake is angry. The downtown wall along the Playpen can hold late-run bass and bonus coho, especially if the current is moving.
Today’s best times line up around the low-light windows, so that 6:30 to 8:00 a.m. window and again late afternoon will be your prime shot—especially as the prefrontal winds stir up the baitfish.
To all the diehards braving today’s November blow, good luck. Watch that weather, fish smart, and don’t be afraid to pack it in early if those gales ramp up. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your next update. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease 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
This episode includes AI-generated content.
This morning’s sunrise hit at 6:32, with sunset coming up early at 4:37 p.m. The city woke up to that unmistakable *November chill*, with arctic air and even some snow pushing in, according to Manistee News. If you’re gearing up, bundle up—those winds are nothing to sneeze at. The National Weather Service has a Gale Warning up for the lake from noon until at least 9 tonight. Expect south winds building to a screaming 30 knots by afternoon, gusting up to gale force and kicking up waves 8 to 11 feet, occasionally higher. By nightfall, it’s full-blown gales, so nearshore spots are safer and smarter today. Safety first out there.
Fish still gotta eat, and the action hasn’t stopped just because winter’s making itself known. Around Chicago’s lakefront, piers are producing, especially for steelhead and coho. While local news like Manistee News reports steelhead and coho being caught on the Michigan side, anglers here are getting good steel on spawn sacs under floats, especially near Montrose and Burnham Harbor. Coho numbers are lower than peak, but a persistent angler can get into them—try nightcrawlers or shrimp fished off the bottom when the wind settles.
Bass have remained surprisingly active on the inland stretches and harbor mouths. The Outdoor News Illinois fishing report from last Friday said bass action is still decent when you can get a bait down to them. Jigging blade baits and finesse jigs around dock pilings has been the ticket, with the colder water pushing them deeper but not shutting off the bite entirely. Live shiners are pulling strikes, but plastics on drop-shots are also turning fish. Ned rigs remain a steady late-fall standby, as proven up and down the system.
Walleye and perch are also coming in for those braving the conditions, especially off Navy Pier and the mouth of the Chicago River. Perch limits aren’t easy, but a few patient anglers are walking away with nice fish on small crappie rigs and fathead minnows, especially early morning.
For lures, with the water hovering in the mid-to-low 40s and clarity high after each cold snap, you can’t go wrong with natural-colored jerkbaits or small paddletails, worked low and slow. White and silver have been top colors. Steelhead are hitting pink and chartreuse spawn sacs under floats, while coho will take a minnow on a hair jig or a small spoon. Ned rigs and drop-shots are killer for smallies in deeper pockets, as pros like Kevin VanDam have shown across Michigan waters—just opt for the lightest weight you can keep bottom contact with in this wind.
A couple of hot spots? Montrose Harbor is always worth a stop this time of year—fish the north pier for steelhead and perch on calmer days. Burnham Harbor is another go-to, especially when the big lake is angry. The downtown wall along the Playpen can hold late-run bass and bonus coho, especially if the current is moving.
Today’s best times line up around the low-light windows, so that 6:30 to 8:00 a.m. window and again late afternoon will be your prime shot—especially as the prefrontal winds stir up the baitfish.
To all the diehards braving today’s November blow, good luck. Watch that weather, fish smart, and don’t be afraid to pack it in early if those gales ramp up. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your next update. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease 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
This episode includes AI-generated content.