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Fishing report
Chicago Fishing Report and Conditions
Water temperature, sunrise and moon, the season for each fish, and the 15 captains and guides who fish here.
Live
Conditions now
Today’s outlook, wind, air pressure and the moon for Chicago, updated every time you open this page. Why pressure matters.
Wind nowLive
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National Weather Service
Air pressureLive
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National Weather Service
SunriseLive
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Sunset after load
MoonLive
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Phase
Live from the National Weather Service. Sunrise and moon are calculated for Chicago.
Wind
Wind in Chicago, next 24 hours
Hour-by-hour wind speed and direction from the National Weather Service. On open water, under about 10 mph is comfortable for most anglers; over 20 mph most charters stay in. How windy is too windy?
Solunar
Best fishing times today in Chicago
Solunar periods, worked out from where the moon is: the major periods are the two hours around the moon passing overhead or underfoot, the minor periods the hour around moonrise and moonset. Solunar times explained.
Plan ahead
Best day to fish Chicago this week
Each day ranked from the NWS 7-day forecast – wind, rain and storms – and the moon, so you can pick a date before you book. What happens if the weather turns.
What is biting
What is biting in Chicago
In October the main seasons here include chinook salmon, brown trout, smallmouth bass. The calendar below shows the main months for each fish.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coho salmon | ||||||||||||
| Chinook salmon | ||||||||||||
| Lake trout | ||||||||||||
| Steelhead | ||||||||||||
| Brown trout | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth bass | ||||||||||||
| Yellow perch |
Shaded months are the main season or open season for each fish, from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ own published calendars. Seasons and limits change – check current rules before you go. Sources: takemefishing.org, chicago.suntimes.com, windycitysalmon.com.
From the docks
This week's Chicago fishing report
Captains’ reports from Chicago
No captain report has been sent in for Chicago yet this week. Captains and guides listed here can send a short report – what you caught, where and on what – and we publish it here with your name and the date.
Go with a local
Fishing charters in Chicago
15 captains and guides fish from Chicago, Waukegan and Hammond. See them A to Z, with boats and prices.
For captains and guides
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