Hooked on Fishing

Great news for those of us who perch fish on Lake Michigan

Perch season is open again, after closing for the month of July.

The fishermen were out on Aug. 1 and 2 looking to find where the schools had moved since the end of June. After hitting a few known "favorite spots," anglers located perch in approximately 35 feet of water in the area around the Wilmette Sailing Club buoys ‘E' and ‘F'.

Those who paddle out that way with a canoe or kayak will find the spot about 1 ½ miles east of Wilmette Harbor. The fishing out there has been excellent, with more than half the perch caught exceeding 12 inches in length and weighing in at 1 to 1 ½ pounds.

The gobies are a little pesky, so fishermen need to keep their bait moving. Speaking of bait, a lot of the guys are using fathead minnows, but I prefer artificial bait like a Kastmaster. Both are producing good catches.

Speaking of Wilmette Harbor, I've been fishing there, waiting for perch season to reopen, and have been quite successful doing a little bass fishing.

The largemouth bass have been active in early morning around the sailing dock and on the outer side of the inner harbor breakwall. The smallmouth bass have been more active at the west end of the harbor, toward the lock and spillway and the refueling docks. Both species have been hitting a vertical presentation, like a tube or "wacky" worm.

The catching has been really fun - just remember that with all Lake Michigan bass the law is catch and release only.

I am off for some long overdue vacation time at a favorite spot in northern Minnesota. I'm looking forward to a shore lunch of fresh walleye and northern pike.

Get out there and enjoy fishing with your kid(s). Keep a tight line...
hookedonfishing@comcast.net