Ice fishing promising on Fox Chain

Mik-Lurch (219-989-0575) and Greg Dickson of Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch (1-847-395-0813) both report good ice fishing activity in Fox Chain O’ Lakes.

Dickson says the outlook is “exceptionally favorable” for fishing this weekend, with main lake areas already producing. The backwaters have been frozen for about a week now.

Lake of Four Seasons is also looking food for this weekend says Mik-Lurch. Crappie and bluegill are good at the south bay of Channel Lake and south bay of
Pistakee. A 41-plus inch northern pulled out of the ice at the T-Channel of Pistakee Bay.

According to Henry’s (312-225-8538), the T-Channel ice thickness is at 4 inches and the east end of the lakes are at 3 inches as of Thursday.

Willow Slough in Indiana, which opens for ice fishing on Dec. 16, should be another good area says Mik-Lurch. Good reports out of Dunne Lake and Petite Lake says Dickson.

Tom Calam at Tom’s Bait & Tackle in Freeport (815-232-3337) says it will be a good 2-3 weeks before lakes have enough ice cover in his area. The Mississippi River is at about 2-inch thickness on ice in shallower bays says Calam. Anglers are having to go onto the piers to get to the ice.

Click here to read Dale Bowman’s update on Fox Chain ice fishing.