Artificial Lure here, bringing you the latest from the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago on this brisk Thursday, October 30th. Early risers were rewarded with a 7:20 AM sunrise and calm water nearshore, but don’t let that fool you—out on the main lake, northeast winds were gusting up to 25 knots this morning, with wave action rolling in at four to six feet, dropping a bit as we move into the afternoon according to the National Weather Service. If you’re venturing off the piers, exercise caution and check wind forecasts closely.

We had a balmy stretch for late October, but this dip back into fall temps has the salmon run buzzing again. The big news right now is the push of **Chinook and coho salmon** sliding into the harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are all seeing action before sunup and again towards dusk as cooler temps trigger the last good flurry of the run. Anglers casting **spoons and crankbaits** near the harbor mouths at first light landed a mix of both species, with the best bites coming right after a north wind—those wind-rolled chop days are still prime.

Not to be outdone, **steelhead** are appearing near warmwater discharges and shadowy corners on overcast days. Your best bet? Throw bright metallic spoons or waxworm-tipped jigs on a float near current seams. A few **lake trout** have even been caught tight to the breakwalls by patient anglers bouncing heavy blade baits or working swimbaits along the bottom, mostly in 15 to 30 feet of water when things settle down.

Inside the rivers and harbors, especially on the Chicago River and marina pockets, the **bass bite** is still hanging on. Both smallmouth and largemouth are feeding up, with ned rigs, small swimbaits, and jerkbaits drawing hits around structure where shad have stacked. Edges of marina docks and slower current seams produced the steadiest action—try a darker profile when the lake muddies up, or switch to chartreuse lures for extra visibility.

**Yellow perch** may demand a little patience but are worth pursuing on the calm, overcast mornings. The most consistent numbers came from the edges of weed beds and around pilings near 31st Street Beach and Jackson Park Beach. Top baits: small minnows or bits of raw shrimp on perch rigs, and don’t overlook slip-bobbers—they let you hover that bait in just the right spot. Reports mention a few bonus white bass snatching shiners along the same structure.

*Top tip from local docks*: After a wind event, check for stained water and don’t be shy with noisy lures or those with flash—visibility makes a huge difference this time of year.

Recommended Hot Spots:
- **Montrose Harbor**: Still plenty of salmon hovering in the mouth and along the outer wall right at first light; occasional steelhead reported near the discharge.
- **31st Street Beach**: Good for mixed-bag action—perch early, then a shot at trout or bass as the sun rises. Keep moving if you’re not getting bit—sometimes only fifty feet separates the hot hole from the skunk.
- **Burnham Harbor**: Sheltered corner for coho and an occasional pike. Steelhead can show up after a chilly, drizzly morning.

Best Gear and Bait:
- Spoons (3–4 inch, bright or glow colors at dawn)
- Medium diving crankbaits
- Blade baits and swimbaits for trout
- Spawn sacs or skein under floats for salmon
- Waxworms on jigs for steelhead
- Ned rigs, jerkbaits, and swim jigs for bass
- Live minnows or shrimp for perch

Today’s tidal swing is light—the lake isn’t tidal in the oceanic sense, but minor seiche effects and boat traffic can create subtle current shifts at the harbor mouths, so reload those casts if a barge or strong wind stirs things up.

That’s your boots-on-the-ground update from Lake Michigan, Chicago. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for more daily fishing intelligence! This has been a Quiet Please production, for...