Artificial Lure here, with your November 7, 2025, Chicago Lake Michigan fishing report—ready to help you put a bend in that rod even as the cold settles in.

Winter’s grip is settling heavy over Lake Michigan, and yesterday’s weather proved it, with South winds hitting 30 knots, even touching gale force at times, and waves building up to eight feet by dawn. Today’s winds are calming a bit, shifting West at 15 to 25 knots, with waves laying down late to around one to three feet—fishable, but safety first on the piers and nearshore. Skies are mostly cloudy before a dry afternoon, and the mercury is chilly, tempting a hat and gloves. First light crept in at 6:30 a.m., and sun taps out early at 4:39 p.m. If you’re banking on the major bite, set your sights on dawn and dusk—the full moon last night means those low-light windows are your ticket, especially for predators on the prowl.

The salmon bite is the story right now. Big Chinook and bruiser coho have finished most of their run, but some nice hangers-on are still showing at Montrose and Burnham harbors. Early risers tossing medium spoons or silver crankbaits, or floating skein sacs under bobbers at the harbor mouths, found action this week. The night owl crew had luck too, with the full moon making those night sessions productive, especially for coho.

Steelhead are the next wave—overcast mornings with just enough chop on the water are big triggers. Locals have scored solid fish at Diversey and the mouth of the Chicago River tossing vibrant spoons (think orange or chartreuse) and jigs tipped with waxies. If you’re surf-casting, try anywhere with a warmwater discharge after a frigid night—steelies are cruising those currents.

Bass are still in play downtown and in the harbor corners—look for largemouth and smallmouth staging in slower water near shad schools. Ned rigs, downsized jerkbaits, and small swim jigs are getting picked up. Best colors this week have been watermelon red and green pumpkin for plastics, natural shad for hardbaits. The bass bite is fickle with the cooling water, so slow your retrieve and be patient.

Perch action is hit or miss. Ohio Street Beach and the Forty-Ninth Street groins are producing when it’s calm. Minnows and shrimp pieces under slip bobbers are working, especially around structure and pilings where weedlines gather baitfish.

For lure selection, the big guns have been silver or white spoons for salmon and steelhead, with many switching to heavier profile chartreuse or firetiger when the water’s stained post-blow. If you want to target smallmouth, a downsized drop-shot rig with natural, translucent plastics is a killer (dealers’ choice, but Strike King Half Shell and 3" Senkos are favorites). Vibrating jigs in perch patterns, blade baits bounced off bottom, and even 3/4 oz chartreuse spinnerbaits have done work when lake clarity drops but the bite is there.

Top bait shops report a fresh run of golden shiners and small fatheads, and regulars are grabbing spawn sacs and Berkley Gulp minnows for steelhead and coho runs.

Hot spots this week:
- Montrose Harbor and Burnham Harbor—prime for remaining salmon and incoming steelhead. Work sunrise or sunset for best bites.
- Ohio Street Beach—perch and bonus bass when calm.
- Chicago River mouth—current edges for steelhead and bass.

Track water clarity: a little stain helps, and when it’s murky, switch it up to louder and brighter baits. Double-check access for winter hours and always watch the forecast before heading out—big wind turns Lake Michigan gnarly in a flash.

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