[Bill]

Besides the cold, is it too early to try fishing for Coho from a boat? Also, is the Burnham launch open?

 

[Guest]

The Coho fishing has been good since February and it's been getting better. We fished off of 95th street-Calumet park Saturday and limited out. Pick up your Indiana license http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/index2.htm and fish the state line plant and the break wall in the harbor. Shad raps and dodger and fly combo's have been good. Our best bait has been a shad colored SR7 in this dirty water. Good luck.

 

[Bigguy]

I'm working on my boat right now & may be working on it until May. Roughly speaking, how long does the Coho run last? Also, what species are good targets on the Big Pond in early to middle May?

Thanks to all who respond.

 

[Guest]

It all depends on the boat. There is good fishing through May from Waukegan north. As the season goes on you need to push out a little deeper so watch the winds. There is also excellent perch fishing a the gong and the pipe right outside the harbor.

 

[Bigguy]

Thanks Marc, I know the pipe, what is the gong? My boat is a 16 1/2 foot, 7 ft wide, Duracraft 75 hp Coast Guard rescue boat (1962). I'm putting in a 25 gal. gas tank, extra flotation at the floor, livewell, boxing in most of the open back & adding a 9.8 hp kicker. Being safe, how far out would most boats this size go? Watching the wind & conditions, of course.

 

[Guest]

The gong is right outside and slightly north the harbor in 35 feet of water, can't miss it it's green. I've seen guys with boats your size out 5 to 7 miles which would give you good fishing through June. You have a decent size beam so you'll ride the rough stuff a little better then some I've seen out there. The one thing I would add if you are going to fish LM is a radio, Waukegan Harbor and the Coast Guard monitor ch 16 and 9. Be careful and watch the winds they can change fast on the big pond. We were out last year and it was flat, twenty minutes later we were heading for the harbor in five's. Drop me an e-mail and I give you a killer perch spot.