Artificial Lure here in Chicago with your Sunday morning Lake Michigan Fishing Report for October 19, 2025.

Chilly fall air is biting this morning, with temps in the low 40s and a lake that's waking up rough—National Weather Service has a Gale Warning posted, so nearshore winds will be brisk, 15–25 knots shifting northwest by late today. Waves are 3 to 5 feet now but pick up to 8–11 feet into Sunday, so definitely keep a sharp watch on the water. As always, prioritize safety—Great Lakes weather is no joke this time of year, and with a stiff front on the way, squalls and surprise gusts are likely.

Sunrise hit at 7:10 AM this morning and we’ll see sunset just before 6:10 PM. That means best bite windows are right around dawn and dusk, when fish get active before the wind truly roars.

Recent catches in and around Chicago’s harbors prove fall patterns are here. Anglers are reporting king and coho salmon winding down, with river mouths and harbor entrances still giving up some late runners, mostly after sunset or before dawn. Glow spoons—especially in green, white, or chartreuse—are still the go-to for these holdover kings and the occasional coho, either cast from shore or behind a float.

Perch reports are on the upswing as water cools, especially from Navy Pier, Montrose, and the Calumet Slip. Perch are moving inshore and stacking near rocky structure. Best baits are live fathead minnows or pieces of raw shrimp—shrimp has turned out to be the sleeper trick this week, with steady action for those fishing it on the bottom or under a slip bobber. Jigging small spoons or perch rigs tipped with soft plastics is working too, especially when schools are moving through.

A handful of walleye are showing up in the downtown harbors on live shiners fished near breakwall drop-offs at dusk. The bite isn’t red hot yet—but will build as we trend deeper into October. If you’re targeting walleye, long slender crankbaits in natural and perch patterns are always a ticket, especially in low light.

Smallmouth bass are staging near rocky harbor points and bridge pilings, fattening up before winter. Tube jigs in green pumpkin or smoke color, Ned rigs, and finesse plastics bounced around deep edges in Burnham and DuSable Harbors are getting hit. Remember, these bass are hugging cover and are best targeted slowly.

Hot spots today:
- **Navy Pier**: Early limit perch possible using shrimp or minnows right along pilings.
- **Montrose Harbor**: Kings and coho are still possible on glow spoons at dawn, perch midday from the wall.
- **Jackson Park Slip**: Reliable for mixed perch catches—just fish close to bottom.
- **Burnham Harbor**: Best multi-species action—bonus smallies and the odd walleye at dusk.

Live bait reigns supreme—minnows for perch and walleye, shrimp for finicky jumbos, and nightcrawlers or wax worms will still tempt bluegill, especially midharbor and along weed remnants.

Today’s pro tip: Always keep a pack of fresh shrimp stashed; it’s outfishing other baits for perch, especially as they turn cautious in cooling water. And if the wind makes big water unfishable, the harbors and slips stay productive and safer.

Big lake weather can shift on a dime, so double check marine forecasts and wear your PFDs. For those heading out Monday, winds settle briefly, then ramp up again Tuesday—so there’s a slim window to capitalize between blows.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Michigan Chicago Fishing Report. Be sure to subscribe for daily updates and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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