Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Friday, October 31, 2025.

Sunrise was at 7:20 AM and sunset’s coming up at 5:49 PM, giving us a nice chunk of daylight, perfect for chasing the fall run. Weather’s seasonably cool—upper 40s at dawn climbing to the mid 50s later, mostly clear with a light south wind 10 to 15 knots. Waves running 1 to 2 feet, real manageable for pier walkers and boaters. Water’s cooling fast, hovering in the low to mid 50s, and that means it’s prime time for salmon and steelhead around Chicago harbors like Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham.

Chinook and coho salmon have been pushing into the harbors, especially morning and evening. Dawn bites are best—salmon are smashing spoons, crankbaits, and spawn sacs under floats. If you see a north wind stacking bait near the pierheads, get out there. Spoons in metallic finishes have been the steady producer, but if the water gets a little cloudy, try a chartreuse or loud pattern for extra flash. Steelhead are showing more and more, mostly on overcast afternoons. Target them with bright spoons, waxworms on jigs, or bounce a swimbait along those warmwater discharges when the nights fall cold.

Lake trout are on the prowl, but you’ll need to work for them. Slow-rolling swimbaits or heavy blade baits in 15 to 30 feet near breakwalls is the trick. They’re not thick on the inside yet, but those deep pockets are holding a few quality fish.

Inside the harbors and along the river, smallmouth and largemouth bass are fired up on shad. Ned rigs, small jerkbaits, and swim jigs along current seams and marina corners are the ticket. Largemouth are holding tight to manmade structure and weed edges, while smallies are cruising rocky points. If the water’s clear, go subtle—think natural colored Ned rigs or drop shots. If there’s a stain from the last blow, bump up to spinnerbaits or chartreuse swim jigs for better visibility.

Perch are in and out—hit-or-miss action, but pick up on calm mornings. Minnows or shrimp bits work best near weed patches and piling edges. If the wind lays down and the water clears, expect to see some nice stringers showing at popular spots like 31st Street Beach, North Avenue, and Jackson Park. Be ready at first light and fish slow; bites taper off fast as the sun gets higher.

Best baits this week? Spoons for salmon, spawn sacs for stubborn ones. Bass are on Neds, jerkbaits, and small swim jigs. Perch want live minnows, but keep some shrimp handy just in case they get finicky. For steelhead, bright spoons and waxies are top choices.

Hot spots right now:
- Montrose and Burnham Harbor: loaded with salmon at dawn.
- Jackson Park Beach: consistent perch bite and roaming bass.
- 31st Street Beach: great for early-morning steelhead and perch when the wind lets up.

Pro tip: a slightly stained lake after a north wind means louder lures and chartreuse accents outfish clear, subtle stuff.

Not many updates on amounts, but most of the Chicago harbors are seeing steady catches of coho, chinook, a few steelhead, bass mixed in, and perch on calmer days. Lake trout numbers lower but quality fish showing deep.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s report. Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates and local tactics. This has been a quiet please production. For more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn

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