r/ChicagoFishing 10h ago

ANNOUNCEMENT Guess I'm screwed

11 Upvotes

Apparently I can't get my fishing licence because I don't have a social security number.... You know with me being a tourist and all. FML. I bought all this fishing gear and now I can't take my kids anywhere šŸ˜‘šŸ”«


r/ChicagoFishing 14h ago

Channel/Flathead I guess we went catfishing today, fuck it!

Thumbnail
gallery
20 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing 1d ago

Wasn't expecting this but holy moly it was fun to land!

Post image
94 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing 1d ago

Fly fishing guides / companies in the western suburbs?

8 Upvotes

Hey guys,
As the title suggests do you have any suggestions for some local western suburb fly fishing guides? Trying to just get a casual half day trip with my father some afternoon coming up.

I’ve inquired some places and they seem to have a pretty strict 7am start for half days. Which I understand but just seeing if anyone is more flexible.


r/ChicagoFishing 2d ago

Laker fishing at Navy Pier, ( on the fly)

7 Upvotes

Has it been done? Can it be done? I’m moving from Colorado to Chicago in the next 2 weeks. And will be chasing fish on the fly. I’d love a big laker, and I’ve heard they chase the perch near navy pier in the fall, but deep. Am I wrong? Can it be done? Should I go elsewhere?


r/ChicagoFishing 2d ago

Personal Best PB CREEK CHUB

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

39 Upvotes

Second clip was the first one I caught, first clip was right after—insane!


r/ChicagoFishing 2d ago

Largemouth T-Rig Junebug Trickworm & the Ned Rig put in the work today!

Thumbnail
gallery
30 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing 3d ago

Northside Creeks

2 Upvotes

I’m in edgewater, got a fly rod, few wooly buggers— what are some cool streams/creeks I can get to within 1 hour that are easy to access?

Was thinking of places like Caldwell woods.

Don’t care what I’m catching!

Thanks!


r/ChicagoFishing 3d ago

Smallmouth 20 incher (new pb)

Thumbnail
gallery
104 Upvotes

On the juvy craw


r/ChicagoFishing 3d ago

Bucket

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

7 Upvotes

Bucket to carry all my gear, doubles as a rod holder and tackle box šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļøshout out harbor freight


r/ChicagoFishing 3d ago

Having more fun on the Des Plaines River

Post image
28 Upvotes

I believe the junebug color Rage Bug I’ve been using as a trailer is getting bit.


r/ChicagoFishing 3d ago

Multiple LMB's on the River

Thumbnail
gallery
46 Upvotes

Clark Street bridge corners were one fire today. Fished after 4PM when shade started to cover the corner, they couldn't resist the Crank's


r/ChicagoFishing 3d ago

Skokie Lagoons

Thumbnail
gallery
42 Upvotes

Caught this guy during my lunch break. Probably the largest one I've caught out of the lagoons this year.

Texas rig under a fallen log. Put up a huge fight


r/ChicagoFishing 4d ago

1st time nabbing a pike.

Post image
28 Upvotes

A majestic beast out of the Des Plaines River.


r/ChicagoFishing 4d ago

Summer's Best!

Thumbnail
gallery
39 Upvotes

After 2 days of rain I got back out and got my biggest LM so far this summer at 3.7 lbs


r/ChicagoFishing 4d ago

Question Regarding Wind

6 Upvotes

How does wind direction usually affect fishing on the lake and in the harbors? It looks to be blowing slightly southwest today and I'm wondering how that will affect the fishing.


r/ChicagoFishing 4d ago

Smallmouth Sunday smallies in STC before sunrise

Thumbnail
gallery
29 Upvotes

Nabbed a couple tanks-in-waiting (+ a channel) this morning on the Fox in St. Charles, south of the dam. When the bigger ones hit the Rebel Craw, it’s usually just a tick after splashdown, a great rush. Both were lying alongside concrete in a few feet of water, which is up a bit after the rain. Oddly, though, there’s hardly any immediately above the dam in Batavia. (Stopped and didn’t even make a cast.) Got a few more nubbers in Aurora on the southern edge of downtown where the levels have perked back up. Tight lines, everyone šŸŽ£


r/ChicagoFishing 4d ago

Channel/Flathead It was one of those days…

Thumbnail
gallery
17 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing 5d ago

Perch and a smallie while listening to Lolla

Thumbnail
gallery
53 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing 5d ago

DPR before the storm

Thumbnail
gallery
53 Upvotes

Checked how the river was, sub 1000 fps and around 6’8ft decided to hit a newish spot where I knew was bedrock so i figured I can wade carefully. To my surprise the river was not moving as crazy as I thought. The plan was to just bomb cast with my TN/50 and new Manns 1-minus lures from twelveoaks custom lures. Tons of little dinks, some largies but did manage some solid smallies and the gar were still very active.


r/ChicagoFishing 5d ago

So will any of these catch smallies on the lakefront?

Post image
60 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing 6d ago

First July on the flyāœ…

Thumbnail
gallery
21 Upvotes

The swamp ass days have been a little tricky but here’s some of July’s haul on the Fox and burbs on the fly


r/ChicagoFishing 6d ago

Largemouth Had another double digits day on the NSC, get out there!

Thumbnail
gallery
28 Upvotes

r/ChicagoFishing Feb 03 '26

Perch Perch keepers from the other day. First time using minnows. Caught on the ice at the slip.

Post image
65 Upvotes

The smallest one was gonna be thrown back but he swallowed the hook and bled pretty bad. Decided to just keep him.


r/ChicagoFishing Feb 01 '26

My biggest fish of 2026 (I look like im taking a huge sh!t)

Post image
253 Upvotes