Kayak Fishing Lake Michigan - Illinois Waters

Kayak Fishing Lake Michigan can be an excellent adventure and provide for bountiful catches. The Illinois waters of Lake Michigan are some of the best multi species fishing waters of the lake. We have a great fishery for salmon, trout, perch, pike, bass, and panfish. However, there are some things to know about kayak fishing the 6th largest body of freshwater in the nation. As charter boat operators, we regularly see kayak anglers out of our harbor and along the in-shore waters during the spring. However, there is excellent fishing all season long.

Launching 

There are many areas to lunch a kayak in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan. Some of the larger boat landings from the south to the north include: parks and harbors throughout Chicago, Evanston harbor, Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Waukegan Harbor, Illinois Beach State Park, and North Point Marina. For a full list locations click here. 

Safety 

Understand that you’ll one in cold water. During the spring the water and air temps are more equally matched as 42 degrees. While the waters do warm in the summer to the low 70’s inshore, this is still considered cold water submersion if you fall in.

• PFD’s and dry suits are always recommended for cold water kayaking.
• Practice coming off and boarding your kayak in a controlled area prior to fishing Lake Michigan.
• In addition, file a float plan with family or a friend.
• Finally, keep your cell phone and/or a handheld VHF radio in a dry bag in case of emergency.
• Always, Always, have a bright orange flag affixed 6-8” above your kayak and add lights for low light periods.

Fishing Tips & Techniques

Rod and Reel Combos for Salmon: A 7- to 8-foot rod designed for casting crank-baits is all that is needed. This will typically be a medium rod with fast action paired with a spinning or bait casting reel. These combos are perfect for harbor and near-shore trolling, casting and drifting. If you are using braid on your reel, use an 8- to 10-foot length of 12-pound clear fluorocarbon between the braid and the lure. Braids of 10-14lb is sufficient to fight a 20lb king salmon.

Trolling for Salmon

Three lines is allowable per state law in Illinois. The best way to do this is install 3 rod holders to the kayak. They may off one side or both. Use planing boards like the Yellowbird to separate your baits and cover more water. Behind the yellowbirds, flatline crank baits such as Bandits, Salmo’s, Rapalas, etc. Another option is the dodger/fly set up.

Jigging for Salmon and Trout

Using electronics to identify schools of bait or fish will be useful for jigging coho salmon, trout, perch or other panfish.

Plastics: A staple for jigging coho and trout is the 4-inch white Berkley Gulp Minnow on a 3/8 ounce bullet head jig, which will cover most harbor or inshore areas that are less than about 30 to 35 feet deep. If you find a school of bait, you’ll find fish on the edges and below it. 

Note: For perch and panfish this jig can be downsized to 1/4 ounce and a 2” Berkley powerbait tail will work great alone or along with a minnow.

Blade baits and vertical jigs: are another staple of the jigging crowd. They can be bomb cast or worked vertically under the kayak. The hard flash and  fast vibration are very attractive to both trout and salmon. Again finding bait is key.

Jigging spoons: in the 1/2- to 3/4-ounce class are great tools for inshore salmon. They too can be either worked vertical under the boat or long casted around pier heads and break walls. Jigging/casting spoons would include Little Cleo’s, Crocodile spoons, and Moonshine spoons. 

Bass Fishing

Few people know this, but Lake Michigan and it's bays are host to many large bass fishing tournaments. Use your same rod and reel combos as salmon fishing. Tube jigs worked around break walls and piers are sure fire ways to catch bass. Where permitted, fishing around empty docks in the harbor is a great place to pitch for bass as well. If you're a bass fisher, we are confident you already have the needed equipment.

Northern Pike

There is an abundant amount of Northern Pike in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan. In and around the harbors and outside of break walls the pike respond well to trolling or casting spinner baits like a 3-4” Mepp’s. Again use the same rods as salmon trolling and jigging.

Panfishing

The harbors and inshore waters are full of panfishing opportunities. Floats with worms or minnows work well in the harbor areas where casting is not permitted. Crappie, Gills, and Perch are common catches. Perch fishing with crappie rigs always performed well. Although in the summer months the perch move offshore, during the fall they can often be found in large schools within reach of a kayak. 25 - 30 foot of water is where to look, as well as, deeper pier heads and break walls. Drifting over schools with jigs or rigs is the perfect way to catch these shallow water fall delicacies. We recommend a 6-7' light weight / fast action rod combo for the perch drifting/fishing.

If kayak fishing big water isn't your style or you'd like to get off-shore, you may contact us to take you fishing for salmon and trout.

Cover Photo Courtesy of http://www.hobie.com