Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan, Chicago fishing report for Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. The city’s showing off those cool, classic fall vibes. Sunrise hit at 5:56 AM, sunset clocks in just before 5:54 PM, so you get nearly 12 daylight hours to put in the work. Tidal swing today is moderate, with low tides early at 4:36 AM and again at 5:07 PM, high tide peaking at 10:53 AM and then 11:29 PM—perfect for targeting fish moving with the flow around mid-morning.

Weather’s cooperating, too. We’re riding out temps in the upper 40s to low 50s, bright sunshine, and just a whisper of wind off the lake, shifting southwest at about 10-15 mph in the afternoon. If you’re boating, heads up: there’s a Small Craft Advisory north of the city from Winthrop to Wilmette Harbor until 5 PM, with waves 1-3 feet nearshore building to 2-4 feet later. Nice chop if you’re after big predators, but work sheltered areas if you’re on smaller rigs—safety before slabs, always.

Lake surface temps are 48 to 54 degrees, according to the National Data Buoy Center. That’s deep fall transition: fish metabolism is slowing, and presentations have to match—think slow and subtle.

Activity’s been solid, with a nice bump in the major bite window right now, roughly around 8:15 to 10:43 AM. If you’ve got to pick a time, hit the lakeshore now or prep for dusk—you’re looking at optimized conditions with moving water and low light.

Here’s the skinny on species and catches:

- Bass: Smallmouth and largemouth numbers have slowed but haven’t shut down. Anglers slinging drop-shot rigs with green pumpkin worms or craws around city harbors—Burnham and Diversey especially—landed a mixed bag, mostly on 4-inch Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General. Mid-depth boulder patches (8-15 feet) plus Ned rigs or Z-Man Trick ShotZ have put smallmouth in the net. Move slow, let the bait soak—cold water bass are a patient bunch.

- Perch: Schools are staging tight around Montrose Harbor and Navy Pier. The ticket has been live minnows on drop-shot, tiny Swedish Pimples, and even micro plastics. Docks and pilings are holding jumbos—tip small jigs with spikes or waxworms for the best shot.

- Trout: Browns and lake trout are coming close to shore this week. Spinners and metallic spoons early will get bites, and those trolling breakwalls with shad-pattern crankbaits or flutter spoons are reporting good hookups. For trophy browns and lake trout, white tubes or hair jigs bounced on the bottom are working.

- Salmon: Main runs are wrapping but there are still some late kings and the odd coho lurking in deeper pools of city tribs. Drift natural spawn sacs or pink egg patterns along the bottom. Water’s running clear, so drop down your leader size for pressured fish—Northern Angler notes trout are hot for any fresh egg imitations.

Top lures and baits: green pumpkin and craw soft plastics for bass, Ned rigs, Z-Man finesse rigs, and Maxscent worms. For perch, live fathead minnows, tiny spoons, spikes on small jigs, and micro plastics. For trout, natural spawn imitations and shad-tone spoons, with metallic colors giving the extra flash needed.

Best bets for spots?
- **Montrose Harbor**: Active perch schools, late-run trout outside and inside.
- **Navy Pier and Burnham Harbor**: Mixed bag, with decent numbers of panfish, trout, and the odd lingering bass. Light line and subtle plastics get it done.

Final word—fish numbers are still strong for November if you can slow down and match the fall transition bite. Bundle up, bring your patience, and keep those drags set light.

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