Episode Details

Back to Episodes
Lake Michigan Spring Bite: Coho Salmon and Perch Limits in Early Morning

Lake Michigan Spring Bite: Coho Salmon and Perch Limits in Early Morning

Published 1 week, 1 day ago
Description
Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for anglin' around Lake Michigan in Chicago. It's early mornin' on April 22, 2026, and the lake's callin'—water temps hoverin' around 42°F, perfect for that early spring bite.

Weather's lookin' cooperative: partly cloudy, highs in the upper 50s, light winds from the northeast at 5-10 mph, droppin' calm by dusk. Sunrise at 6:05 AM, sunset 7:50 PM—prime daylight stretch of 13+ hours. No tides here on the big lake, but solunar peaks hit major from 5-7 AM and 5:45-7:45 PM, with minors around midnight and 9 PM—fish'll be feedin' heavy then.

Action's pickin' up after a slow start to April. Recent reports show coho salmon crashin' the shallows, limits of 4-6 per boat off the breakwalls. Perch schools thick near the bottom, pullin' 20-30 a trip on minnows. Brown trout prowlin' 20-40 feet down, and smallmouth bass hittin' jigs in the 42° water—folks landin' 15-20 inchers steady. Lakers deeper, but chinook hints comin' early this year.

Best lures? Jerkbaits in natural shad or perch patterns for bass and coho—twitch 'em slow in the chill. Jigs tipped with soft plastics or minnows for perch and trout. Go-to bait: live minnows or nightcrawlers on slip sinkers. Chartreuse spoons for salmon when they surface.

Hot spots: Navy Pier breakwater for coho and perch—cast from shore at dawn. Hit the Chicago Gap off 31st Street Marina for bass and browns; troll 20 feet out.

Anglers, stay safe, check regs, and wet a line!

Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Listen Now

Love PodBriefly?

If you like Podbriefly.com, please consider donating to support the ongoing development.

Support Us