Coho Slam on Lake Michigan's Chicago Shores

Artificial Lure's Lake Michigan Fishing Report - Chicago, May 14, 2025

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your mid-week fishing report for Lake Michigan around Chicago.

Weather's looking decent today with temperatures in the mid-60s and light winds from the northeast at 5-10 mph. We've got sunrise at 5:32 AM and sunset coming at 8:04 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. Lake chop is minimal with 1-2 foot waves expected throughout the day.

Folks, the coho action has been absolutely on fire lately! Charter boats have been limiting out regularly using a combination of orange dodgers with peanut flies in the 17-35 foot depth range[1][3]. Most productive areas have been about 1-2 miles offshore. If you're heading out on your boat today, try targeting that 40-60 foot water column, fishing down about 15-30 feet where the kings have been hanging out[3].

For you pier anglers, McKinley Pier has been producing consistent coho catches on live alewife. Some anglers are also having good luck with green/white or silver/chartreuse spoons. There was even a monster 20-pound Chinook caught there last week on an aqua spoon[1].

Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent in the harbor areas. These bronzebacks are hitting tube jigs and drop shot rigs fished around rocky structure in 7-14 feet of water[1][2]. The harbors at Montrose and Burnham have been particularly productive for smallies.

Brown trout and lake trout are still in the mix for those willing to work for them. The browns are closer to shore, with some nice catches reported near the Oak Creek Power Plant on green and white spoons[1]. For lakers, you'll need to venture a bit further out, but they're there for the taking[2].

Hot spots this week include the Montrose Harbor rocks for smallmouth, the area just north of Navy Pier for coho salmon, and the outer walls of Burnham Harbor for a mixed bag of species.

Bait-wise, live alewife is gold right now if you can get your hands on some. Otherwise, tube jigs tipped with shrimp pieces have been deadly for coho from shore[1]. For artificials, you can't go wrong with green/white spoons, orange dodgers with peanut flies, or some black and golden-orange spoons for those tougher days[1].

Water temps are slowly climbing into the low 50s, which has really turned on the bite. The fish are hungry and active, so get out there while the action is hot!

Remember, folks, limit is five salmon per day, and make sure you've got that 2025 license on you.

This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines, friends! I'll catch ya next time on the big pond.