Artificial Lure reporting on this brisk Chicago morning, October 26th, 2025—here’s your Lake Michigan fishing roundup for the city and harbors.

Sunrise hit just after 7:16 AM, and sunset tonight will fall around 5:55 PM. No tides here, but conditions do shape the bite: overnight drizzle and northeast winds yesterday cooled things down, settling lake temps into the upper 40s near shore. The forecast from the National Weather Service calls for clear skies and highs drifting near 41°F, with moderate east winds building toward evening—expect waves of 2 to 4 feet, occasionally higher this afternoon. If you’re running a small craft, watch for a small craft advisory by nightfall.

Fall means the salmon run is still the story. Cooler October days have Chinook and Coho stacking into the Chicago harbors—Montrose, Burnham, and Diversey are seeing real action at first and last light. Dawn bite is strong on chrome spoons and crankbaits pitched along pier heads and breakwalls. Veteran locals are drifting skein sacs or spawn bags under floats, especially right after a north blow when bait flushes in. Word from FishingReminder is limits of coho coming on pink and orange patterns, especially around the Montrose horseshoe.

Steelhead are showing up on overcast mornings. Try tossing bright spoons or working waxworms on tipped jigs—warmwater discharge spots and transition areas near the river mouth are your best bet as night temps drop. A handful of lake trout have also prowled the breakwalls at Diversey and Jackson Park; slow-rolling big paddletail swimbaits over 15–30 feet or bouncing heavy blade baits can produce a surprise thumper.

Inside the harbors and the Chicago River, bass anglers are reporting the fall feed is fast—smallmouth and largemouth are crushing shad along current seams and near marina corners. Ned rigs, jerkbaits, and compact swim jigs have been money, especially on a light wind. Perch fishing has been spotty but picks up when it’s calm; bring live minnows or chunks of shrimp and work them near weed edges or pilings.

Best baits and lures right now:
- Spoons (chrome, orange, and pink for salmon and steelhead)
- Crankbaits, especially shad colors and bright chartreuse for low visibility
- Ned rigs and small swim jigs for bass
- Blade baits and large swimbaits for lake trout
- Live minnows, waxworms, or shrimp for perch

Hot spots for Chicago shoreline action:
- Montrose Harbor: Best place for fresh-run salmon, with active steelhead in the mix.
- Burnham Harbor: Good for both coho early and late, plus mixed bag bass along the marina.
- Jackson Park Inner Harbor: Perch bite improves after calm stretches, and the occasional big bass comes at sunrise.

A couple bonus pro tips: Track the water clarity—if it’s stained after a wind, swap to lures with louder profiles and chartreuse flash. When the lake lays down, focus on pier heads and breakwalls, and always fish early or late for a chance at the most aggressive fish.

Fall patterns mean big fish are near, and the local’s trick is timing the bite around those weather swings. According to the latest reports, there have been solid catches—coho and Chinook to 12 pounds, scattered steelhead up to 7, and perch showing on ice jigs rigged with waxies.

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