"Gale-Force Gusts and Towering Waves - Lake Michigan Fishing Report for November 30th, 2025"

Hey folks, it's Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan Chicago fishing report for Sunday, November 30th, 2025.

Well, we've got ourselves some pretty gnarly conditions out there today. A gale watch is in effect with south winds gusting to 30 knots this afternoon, building those waves to 8 to 11 feet occasionally reaching 14 feet. Tonight it's looking even meaner with south gales to 35 knots and waves pushing 10 to 14 feet occasionally 18 feet. Not exactly a day for the faint of heart, but if you've got the grit for it, there's still fish to be caught.

Sun's coming up at 6:32 AM and setting at 7:16 PM, giving you just over 12 hours of daylight to work with. Your major bite windows today are hitting hard from 2:27 to 4:27 AM and again from 2:57 to 4:57 PM. The minor windows are running 7:37 to 8:37 AM and 11:29 PM to 12:29 AM.

As for the bite, we're still in that solid fall run pattern. Chinook and coho salmon are pushing into the harbors—Montrose, Diversey, and Burnham are your best bets. Work spoons, crankbaits, and skein under floats along the pier heads and harbor mouths. Those north winds we've been getting are actually stacking the bait, so that's working in our favor when conditions allow.

Steelhead are showing on the structure with bright spoons and waxies on jigs, especially around the warmwater discharges. Lake trout are prowling the breakwalls—slow-roll swimbaits or bounce heavy blade baits in 15 to 30 feet of water. Inside the harbors and Chicago River, smallmouth and largemouth bass are feeding up on shad. Target current seams and marina corners with ned rigs, jerkbaits, and small swim jigs.

For hot spots, I'd suggest hitting the Diversey Harbor mouth early before this storm really intensifies, or post up at Montrose Pier if you're feeling brave. Just be smart out there—visibility is going to get dicey, and those conditions are going to be treacherous.

Thanks for tuning in, folks. Make sure you subscribe for more updates and stay safe out there!

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI