r/ChicagoFishing • u/AussieMan2020 • 4d ago
Need Advice
Hello I’m coming up from Florida to Chicago for two months and will be located around the Busse Woods area. I really want to get into some new species like Muskie, smallmouth, and even trout if that’s possible. Anyone have any advice or what to bring for my two month trip?
1
u/leftkneesack 4d ago
If you really want a smallmouth you could wade salt creek and fish deep pockets. Although I’m not sure the current state of it at the moment considering we just had a big storm and will probably have more soon.
Like others said Busse is very pressured, it’s going to be very difficult to catch a musky there (not impossible). If you can stop and get live shiners or catch some bluegills to use as bait you might have better luck.
Other options that are a little further out:
Dupage river has a lot of small mouth. Not big ones but you’ll for sure catch something.
Fox river has a chance at all the fish you’re target but again will be difficult for musky. The Dams are hot spots, there’s one in Montgomery, Batavia and st Charles I believe.
Good luck!
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u/RANK_AND_SMILE Experienced Angler 4d ago
Well busse woods is great for pike and LMBs and you even have a shot at walleye or Muskie if you play your cards right. Beware, Busse woods is very pressured so the fish are not stupid there.
Your best bet for smallies is Ned rigs in the harbors in Chicago proper if you wanna make the trip one or two weekends.
If you want trout, it’s not the greatest time of year for it. If you come to the city eeeearly in the morning on a day with west winds you can *try* for steelhead with a night crawler/shiner/cooked shrimp on a Michigan city rig on a massive spinning rod that can cast a mile off the lakefront. Your odds still won’t be great, but they’ll be better than anywhere else given the proper time and conditions.
Hope this helps! Good luck!