Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Winter Wipeout: Braving the Big Lake for Late-Season Monsters on Lake Michigan
Published 5 months ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, November 26th Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report. Sunrise rolled in around 6:50 AM, and we’re dropping daylight until sunset about 4:25 PM, just before the cold winds begin howling off the lake. Mother Nature is putting a real winter stamp on this week—National Weather Service has pegged west gales up to 45 knots and gusts possibly touching 50 knots through today. Waves are stacking from 7 to 14 feet, with a steady snow band rolling through the region, so be safe if you decide to brave the big lake. On the windward side of Chicago, expect 2°C at Wilmette, with gusts cresting 35 knots. It’s truly a hardy angler’s day.
Fish activity will fire in short windows. Solunar tables from Fishingreminder call for **major bite times** between 6:48 and 8:48 AM, and then again at 7 to 9 PM, with smaller feeding spikes midafternoon. If you’re dockside or shore casting—stay sharp during those windows.
Now, what’s actually biting after this cold snap? Locals have reported strong numbers on late-season **smallmouth bass** and some lively **steelhead** around the river mouths. A few **coho** and **lake trout** have snuck in just off the breakwalls, especially near Montrose and Burnham. Given the water churn and post-front conditions, numbers have dropped, but trophy specimens are still showing if you put in the time late or early.
Bait and tackle—stick with what’s working right now. Go-to’s for this weather:
- Drop-shot rigs sporting Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worms, especially in green pumpkin or brown back colors. The scent is helping draw strikes even in cold, turbulent water, according to Major League Fishing pros.
- Blade baits, like the classic Silver Buddy, run low and slow for smallmouth and trout near rock piles. Jonathon VanDam swears by blade baits in late fall for sheer quantity of bites.
- Medium size swimbaits on ball head jigs if you find a pocket of calmer water.
- Live bait is king right now: soak fathead minnows or nightcrawlers under slip bobbers if you’re trying for steelhead near the river inlets.
- For shallow harbor or marina cuts (Monroe, Diversey, DuSable), soft plastics in watermelon or goby shades are popping in these cold snaps. Ott DeFoe recommends frog baits in skinny residential cuts if any surface scum lingers.
Today’s tidal influence on Michigan is almost negligible, but a steady outflow from river mouths mixes things up along the lakefront, especially with the snowmelt starting.
Hot spots to target? Try Montrose Harbor’s north seawall for active bass early and steelhead after snow bands pass. Calumet River mouth is drawing trout with the colder flow. Burnham Harbor—if you can stay out of the wind—is holding mixed species at mid-depths right along the dock lines. Monroe Harbor continues to be a winter magnet for smallmouth aficionados, particularly when juice up your presentation with scent.
Don’t forget: with blizzard warnings and winter storm watches in effect across the Great Lakes, always check the latest marine and weather advisories before heading out. Dress warm, mind your footing, and fish safe.
Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure fishing report. If you like the info, be sure to subscribe—and let’s get ready for those winter monsters. 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.
Fish activity will fire in short windows. Solunar tables from Fishingreminder call for **major bite times** between 6:48 and 8:48 AM, and then again at 7 to 9 PM, with smaller feeding spikes midafternoon. If you’re dockside or shore casting—stay sharp during those windows.
Now, what’s actually biting after this cold snap? Locals have reported strong numbers on late-season **smallmouth bass** and some lively **steelhead** around the river mouths. A few **coho** and **lake trout** have snuck in just off the breakwalls, especially near Montrose and Burnham. Given the water churn and post-front conditions, numbers have dropped, but trophy specimens are still showing if you put in the time late or early.
Bait and tackle—stick with what’s working right now. Go-to’s for this weather:
- Drop-shot rigs sporting Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worms, especially in green pumpkin or brown back colors. The scent is helping draw strikes even in cold, turbulent water, according to Major League Fishing pros.
- Blade baits, like the classic Silver Buddy, run low and slow for smallmouth and trout near rock piles. Jonathon VanDam swears by blade baits in late fall for sheer quantity of bites.
- Medium size swimbaits on ball head jigs if you find a pocket of calmer water.
- Live bait is king right now: soak fathead minnows or nightcrawlers under slip bobbers if you’re trying for steelhead near the river inlets.
- For shallow harbor or marina cuts (Monroe, Diversey, DuSable), soft plastics in watermelon or goby shades are popping in these cold snaps. Ott DeFoe recommends frog baits in skinny residential cuts if any surface scum lingers.
Today’s tidal influence on Michigan is almost negligible, but a steady outflow from river mouths mixes things up along the lakefront, especially with the snowmelt starting.
Hot spots to target? Try Montrose Harbor’s north seawall for active bass early and steelhead after snow bands pass. Calumet River mouth is drawing trout with the colder flow. Burnham Harbor—if you can stay out of the wind—is holding mixed species at mid-depths right along the dock lines. Monroe Harbor continues to be a winter magnet for smallmouth aficionados, particularly when juice up your presentation with scent.
Don’t forget: with blizzard warnings and winter storm watches in effect across the Great Lakes, always check the latest marine and weather advisories before heading out. Dress warm, mind your footing, and fish safe.
Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure fishing report. If you like the info, be sure to subscribe—and let’s get ready for those winter monsters. 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.