Today's Best Fishing Times for
Chicago, United States ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸

Solunar
Weather
7-Day
Spots

How to use our fishing calendar

Planning your next fishing trip in Chicago, United States ? Today is a poor day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...

  • Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
  • Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
  • Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
  • Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.

Fishing in Chicago, Illinois centers around Lake Michigan’s productive nearshore waters, the Chicago River system, and a network of park lagoons that offer year-round angling. From trophy salmon and trout to urban bass and panfish, Chicago fishing combines big-water opportunities with easy-access city shorelines and piers. read more...

Some of the best fishing spots near Chicago include: Montrose Harbor, Diversey Harbor, Belmont Harbor, Burnham Harbor, Calumet Harbor, Chicago River, North Avenue Beach, Skokie Lagoons, etc. see full list

Sun and Moon Times

The sun will be at it's highest point at . Today we have 15:15 hours of daylight. For shallow water fishing the twilight periods are often the most productive fishing times, especially on days when a major or minor time will coincide with twilight. In low light conditions predators have better cover for their ambush and often hunt in shallow water.
  • Nautical Twilight begins:
    Sunrise:
  • Sunset:
    Nautical Twilight ends:
  • Moonrise:
  • Moonset:
  • Moon over:
  • Moon under:
  • Visibility:
    90%
  • Waxing Gibbous - 90% illuminated Waxing Gibbous
Next Full Moon in ~3 days on 29th June
  • Distance to earth:
    403,920 km
    Proximity:
    4.2 %
We can compare the current moon distance to it's minimum and maximum distance from earth and express that as proximity. A high proximity means the moon is closer to earth. At 50% it would be at it's mean distance. A high proximity causes big tides, currents and has a direct effect on increased bite times. A proximity greater than 90% indicates a super moon.
Moon Phases for Chicago
Full Moon
Mon, 29 Jun
New Moon
Tue, 14 Jul
Full Moon
Wed, 29 Jul

Solunar Bite Times

Settings
Display Settings:
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Best fishing times:
  • minor Time:
    01:22 am - 03:22 am
  • major Time:
    09:15 am - 11:15 am
  • minor Time:
    05:08 pm - 07:08 pm
  • major Time:
    09:46 pm - 11:46 pm
All times are displayed in the America/Chicago timezone and are automatically adjusted to daylight savings. The current timezone offset is -5 hours. Green and yellow areas indicate the best fishing times (major and minor). The center shows the current moon phase which is a Waxing Gibbous at 90% lumination. According to the Solunar Theory, today is a poor day for fishing, but you need to cross check this with the current weather forecast for a final decision. Currently we have a major fishing time. The next best fishing time will be tomorrow. The gray time indicator displays the current local time.
America/Chicago • Fri, 26 Jun 22:41 • 41.85, -87.65
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Current Fishing Weather

Updating Weather Infos...

7 Day Fishing Weather

The weather plays an important role in fishing. Wind strenght and direction often determine where you can fish and where fish might be holding. Although high pressure is usually good for fishing, steep pressure changes often trigger feeding frenzies and are great times for fishing. Of course temperature has also a strong effect on fishing and comfort on the water. So make sure to cross check the weather forecast with the solunar fishing times to determine the best times to go fishing. The graph below shows you the 3 hourly weather progression over the next 7 days. Scroll the graph left or right to see more.
Selected Weather Station: Chicago, US
Temperature
Wave Height
Swell Height
Wind
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudcover
Rain Precipitation
UV Index
Retrieving Weather...

7 Day Fishing Forecast Calendar
Date Major Bite Times Minor Bite Times Sun Moon Moonphase
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Waxing Gibbous
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Waxing Gibbous
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S: 		Full Moon moon phase
Full Moon
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Full Moon
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Full Moon
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Full Moon
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Waning Gibbous
*bold times indicate best fishing times around sunrise or sunset

Fishing Overview Chicago

Chicago fishing revolves around three main zones: Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and Calumet River system, and dozens of park lagoons. Lake Michigan delivers salmon, trout, smallmouth bass, and perch; the rivers add warmwater species like bass, catfish, and carp; and the lagoons offer convenient panfish and bass action right inside the city.

Seasonal patterns drive success on Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline. In early spring, coho salmon, brown trout, and steelhead push tight to shore, making them prime targets from the Montrose, Diversey, Burnham, 31st Street, and Calumet area harbors. Casting spoons, crankbaits, or floating spawn sacs under slip bobbers works well in cold water. By late spring and early summer, Chinook salmon, lake trout, and coho spread deeper; most anglers switch to trolling with downriggers, divers, and leadcore from charter boats or small craft launched from city harbors.

Summer focuses on smallmouth bass and yellow perch along rock walls, breakwalls, riprap, and harbor mouths. Look for bass on rocky structure from Navy Pier to Calumet, especially where current from harbor gaps mixes with main-lake water. Tube jigs, Ned rigs, small swimbaits, and live minnows catch consistent fish. Perch school along weed edges, cribs, and harbor slips; use light line, small hooks, and live minnows or soft plastic grubs on drop-shot or simple bottom rigs.

Fall is one of the best times to fish in Chicago. Chinook and coho salmon stage close to harbor mouths and river entries, hitting glow spoons, crankbaits, and skein under floats during low light. At the same time, smallmouth feed heavily on crayfish-shaded jigs, and perch push shallow again on warm afternoons. Winter brings a mix of open-water and ice opportunities: when conditions allow, ice anglers work sheltered harbors and lagoons for perch, panfish, pike, and occasional trout using small jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows.

The Chicago River and Calumet River provide year-round urban fishing with current breaks, bridge pilings, and barge slips acting as ambush points. Target smallmouth, largemouth, drum, carp, and catfish by working jigs, crankbaits, and swimbaits along walls and corners. After heavy rain, focus on inside bends where current slows. At night, cut bait and live bait rigs produce channel catfish around deeper holes and industrial structure.

Chicago’s park lagoons and ponds like those in Lincoln Park, Humboldt Park, Jackson Park, and Wolf Lake offer accessible largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and stocked trout. In spring, fish shallow coves, newly green weed lines, and wood with wacky-rigged worms, small spinnerbaits, and under-a-bobber presentations. During summer, downsize to finesse plastics and fish early and late to avoid pressure. In fall, work the first drop-off outside dying weeds with small jigs and live bait.

To fish efficiently in Chicago, travel light and stay mobile. Use medium or medium-light spinning gear with 6–10 lb braid and fluoro leaders for multi-species coverage, and keep a small selection of spoons, jigs, and finesse plastics ready. Pay close attention to wind direction on Lake Michigan—onshore winds often push bait, warm water, and active fish toward the city’s piers and shorelines, dramatically improving the bite.

The Best Fishing Spots around Chicago

Montrose Harbor

Chicago’s busiest lakefront fishery, Montrose Harbor offers coho and king salmon and steelhead in spring and fall, abundant yellow perch in summer, and roaming smallmouth bass along the rocks; anglers work the harbor walls, the Montrose Pier, and nearby surf, while boaters stage here to reach nearshore structure—if it’s slow, many hop down the shoreline to Diversey Harbor or Belmont Harbor.

Diversey Harbor

Protected water, long walls, and easy access make Diversey Harbor a favorite for spring coho, summer perch, and fall salmon, with incidental brown trout and smallmouth; its pockets and corners concentrate bait, and when winds kick up, shore anglers can still find calm edges before trying nearby Montrose Harbor or Belmont Harbor.

Belmont Harbor

Belmont Harbor’s long perimeter and riprap hold smallmouth bass, summer perch, and seasonal salmonids, while nighttime lights draw bait and predators; shore casters work spinners and live bait under floats, and small boats slip out at dawn to troll just outside before shifting south to Burnham Harbor if the bite moves.

Burnham Harbor

Framed by Museum Campus, Burnham Harbor produces spring coho, summer perch, and fall salmon, plus urban staples like carp and rock bass; clear edges, docks, and nearby breakwalls funnel fish, and when bait pushes south, anglers often continue to Calumet Harbor for bigger schools.

Calumet Harbor

At the city’s southeast edge, Calumet Harbor is a powerhouse for spring coho and fall king salmon, with summer runs of perch and solid smallmouth around the breakwalls; boats troll the ribbons of warmer water near the mouth, while shore anglers target current seams before checking nearby Jackson Park Harbor.

Chicago River

The Chicago River (Main Stem and branches) offers true urban angling for smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, carp, and channel catfish; fish bridge pilings, eddies, and shade lines by shore or kayak, and when lake winds howl, many pivot from the lakefront to this consistent option near Wolf Point and beyond.

North Avenue Beach

A classic shoreline casting spot, North Avenue Beach produces summer perch, roaming smallmouth, and occasional salmonids in the shoulder seasons; anglers work the jetties, rock lines, and first breaks at dawn, and if action slows they often slide north to Belmont Harbor or Montrose Harbor.

Skokie Lagoons

Just north of the city, the interconnected Skokie Lagoons are popular for paddlecraft and bank fishing with solid largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, and bluegill; weedlines, timber, and channels fish well from spring through fall, and many anglers pair a morning here with an afternoon at Montrose Harbor on the lake.

Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Chicago area

Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 12 beaches and bays in this area.

Thirty-first Street Beach - 3.81455155882km , Twelfth Street Beach - 3.89801456147km , Ohio Street Beach - 5.72694689814km , Oak Street Beach - 6.21388131849km , Forty-Ninth Street Beach - 7.07928581413km , Fortyninth Street Beach - 7.32532134776km , North Avenue Beach - 7.43624449434km , Fullerton Beach - 8.55511236195km , Fifty-Seventh Street Beach - 8.71425127712km , Lincoln Park Beach (historical) - 8.82279630436km , Fiftyninth Street Beach - 8.99803684052km , Jackson Park Beach - 9.93809901329km

Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 3 main harbours in this area.

AAA Marina Incorporated - 5.86436280892km, Lincoln Park Boat Club - 8.22566564129km, Fiftyninth Street Marina - 9.03871789417km

We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Chicago. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.

South Fork South Branch Chicago River - 1.38571068209km , South Branch Chicago River - 1.38571068209km , Cortez Basin - 2.44006190887km , West Arm of the South Fork (historical) - 2.45266296001km , Bubbly Creek (historical) - 2.75481412121km , Burnham Park Harbor - 3.44665507821km , Northerly Island - 3.77258050649km , Thirty-first Street Beach - 3.81455155882km , Twelfth Street Beach - 3.89801456147km , Southerly Breakwater - 3.93505754562km , Chicago River - 4.16293447804km , North Branch Chicago River - 4.16293447804km , Chicago Harbor - 4.75111498605km , Easterly Breakwater - 4.83761137982km , Ogden Slip - 5.24827225466km , Ohio Street Beach - 5.72694689814km , AAA Marina Incorporated - 5.86436280892km , Oak Street Beach - 6.21388131849km , Outer Harbor - 6.46267974356km , Shore Arm Breakwater - 6.53433122516km , Outer Breakwater - 6.8984376644km , Forty-Ninth Street Beach - 7.07928581413km , Fortyninth Street Beach - 7.32532134776km , North Avenue Beach - 7.43624449434km , South Pond - 7.57455960608km , Simmons Island - 8.08033004594km , South Lagoon - 8.09185857505km , Lincoln Park Boat Club - 8.22566564129km , Fullerton Beach - 8.55511236195km , Fifty-Seventh Street Beach - 8.71425127712km , North Pond - 8.72885854656km , Columbia Basin - 8.75676932339km , Lincoln Park Beach (historical) - 8.82279630436km , Diversey Harbor - 8.96189557874km , Fiftyninth Street Beach - 8.99803684052km , West Lagoon - 9.00849548842km , Fiftyninth Street Marina - 9.03871789417km , East Lagoon - 9.08746212172km , Wooded Island - 9.1902975444km , Jackson Park Beach - 9.93809901329km

Harbours and Marinas Beaches Bays Wharfs Points,Reefs,etc
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