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Late Fall Fishing on Lake Michigan: Coho, Steelhead, and Bass Tactics for Chicago Anglers
Published 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure, your local angling expert with the Lake Michigan fishing report for the Chicago area, Friday November 14, 2025.
Sunrise hit at 6:37 a.m., and sunset arrives at 4:29 p.m. Temps this morning hovered between 33 and 41°F, with a brisk south wind ramping up from 6 to 9 knots. Skies are clear and the lake is calm near shore, but remember, off the main breakwalls, waves can pick up fast as winds build later today, so stay smart and safe if you’re venturing out. The National Weather Service notes the big stuff—waves 8 to 14 feet—will hold north and offshore, but our nearshore waters will get choppier by midday. As always, wear your PFD and check that forecast if you’re thinking about running out wide.
Recent weather saw a round of lake-effect snow and steady precipitation in the region, especially up toward Indiana and southwest Michigan. That fresh cold has dropped water temps into the low 40s, signaling late fall patterns: fish are transitioning to their winter haunts. In the city harbors—Montrose, Burnham, and Diversey—the bite has slowed but is still happening for anglers putting in the time.
Anglers this week found fair numbers of **coho salmon**, some scattered **steelhead**, plus **whitefish** moving in on the rocks and piers. Reports near Navy Pier have seen early morning coho caught using small spoons and spawn sacs. A handful of perch are showing up, but it’s not hot and heavy—look for them to improve on warmer afternoons or if north winds ease.
Bass anglers, according to BassForecast and regional trends, should seek out deep structure and main-channel edges, especially where there’s any current or warm inflow. The late fall pattern calls for finesse: throw **suspending jerkbaits** like the KVD series, or slower-moving Ned rigs and drop-shots with natural soft plastics. Jigs with craw trailers dragged slowly get attention from both smallmouth and largemouth, especially near marina rocks and docks as they hold any remnant heat. On the few warmer afternoons, try a flutter spoon or blade bait when you locate schools in deeper holes.
For panfish, action is spotty but persistent anglers vertical jigging with small tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or a crappie minnow are picking up bluegill and crappie in deeper pockets off Burnham and Jackson harbors.
**Best hotspots for today**:
- **Montrose Harbor**: Early coho along the outer wall with half-ounce Little Cleo spoons and salmon eggs on slip bobbers.
- **Navy Pier and DuSable Harbor**: Steelhead at first light—try floating spawn sacs or drifting nightcrawlers under a slip float.
- **Jackson Harbor**: Mixed bag—whitefish, perch, and some panfish mid-morning over deeper water, especially with wax worms and live minnows.
Tides aren’t a factor in Lake Michigan, but current and wind shifts do matter. After today’s sunrise, south winds could push warmer surface water toward shore, possibly juicing late-morning activity in protected harbors. If you notice any muddy runoff (especially after this week’s snow and rain), work the cleaner water close by—it creates solid ambush points for feeding bass and trout.
Quick lure recap: jerkbaits, Ned rigs, slow-rolled swimbaits for bass; spawn sacs and small spoons for trout and salmon; cut minnows and jigs for perch and whitefish. Have patience and work deep—fish metabolisms slow in these temps, so bite windows are short but real.
Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Michigan report. Remember to subscribe for more tips and up-to-date info. 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
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Sunrise hit at 6:37 a.m., and sunset arrives at 4:29 p.m. Temps this morning hovered between 33 and 41°F, with a brisk south wind ramping up from 6 to 9 knots. Skies are clear and the lake is calm near shore, but remember, off the main breakwalls, waves can pick up fast as winds build later today, so stay smart and safe if you’re venturing out. The National Weather Service notes the big stuff—waves 8 to 14 feet—will hold north and offshore, but our nearshore waters will get choppier by midday. As always, wear your PFD and check that forecast if you’re thinking about running out wide.
Recent weather saw a round of lake-effect snow and steady precipitation in the region, especially up toward Indiana and southwest Michigan. That fresh cold has dropped water temps into the low 40s, signaling late fall patterns: fish are transitioning to their winter haunts. In the city harbors—Montrose, Burnham, and Diversey—the bite has slowed but is still happening for anglers putting in the time.
Anglers this week found fair numbers of **coho salmon**, some scattered **steelhead**, plus **whitefish** moving in on the rocks and piers. Reports near Navy Pier have seen early morning coho caught using small spoons and spawn sacs. A handful of perch are showing up, but it’s not hot and heavy—look for them to improve on warmer afternoons or if north winds ease.
Bass anglers, according to BassForecast and regional trends, should seek out deep structure and main-channel edges, especially where there’s any current or warm inflow. The late fall pattern calls for finesse: throw **suspending jerkbaits** like the KVD series, or slower-moving Ned rigs and drop-shots with natural soft plastics. Jigs with craw trailers dragged slowly get attention from both smallmouth and largemouth, especially near marina rocks and docks as they hold any remnant heat. On the few warmer afternoons, try a flutter spoon or blade bait when you locate schools in deeper holes.
For panfish, action is spotty but persistent anglers vertical jigging with small tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or a crappie minnow are picking up bluegill and crappie in deeper pockets off Burnham and Jackson harbors.
**Best hotspots for today**:
- **Montrose Harbor**: Early coho along the outer wall with half-ounce Little Cleo spoons and salmon eggs on slip bobbers.
- **Navy Pier and DuSable Harbor**: Steelhead at first light—try floating spawn sacs or drifting nightcrawlers under a slip float.
- **Jackson Harbor**: Mixed bag—whitefish, perch, and some panfish mid-morning over deeper water, especially with wax worms and live minnows.
Tides aren’t a factor in Lake Michigan, but current and wind shifts do matter. After today’s sunrise, south winds could push warmer surface water toward shore, possibly juicing late-morning activity in protected harbors. If you notice any muddy runoff (especially after this week’s snow and rain), work the cleaner water close by—it creates solid ambush points for feeding bass and trout.
Quick lure recap: jerkbaits, Ned rigs, slow-rolled swimbaits for bass; spawn sacs and small spoons for trout and salmon; cut minnows and jigs for perch and whitefish. Have patience and work deep—fish metabolisms slow in these temps, so bite windows are short but real.
Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Michigan report. Remember to subscribe for more tips and up-to-date info. 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
This episode includes AI-generated content.