The pier will produce excellent fishing action this month as the chinook (or king) salmon, steelhead trout and lake trout begin to move shallow. They are usually found close to shore in about 100 feet of water. They can be found as shallow as 35 feet of water.

About 8 a.m., they move to the bottom of the water column, in 45- to 55-degree water, where temperatures are more to their liking. Anglers can shift to bottom rigs and continue to take fish but will get fewer strikes. At night, they begin to move back up in the column. Their peak feeding temperature is at about 54 degrees.

Chicagoans gain easy access to the area by using the train that stops at the marina. There is also ample parking and boat ramps for those who wish to fish from boats.

OCTOBER
Kankakee River: Smallmouths
The entire length of the Kankakee River in Illinois contains good smallmouth populations. The abundance of shoreline structure, above and below the surface, is home to the big brown bass. As long as the water remains relatively warm, they will bite. November often means ice and the action slows at that point.

The river extends from the Indiana state line to the Des Plaines River. Fishing for smallmouths is best in the center section of that length. Places like Kankakee River State Park and Des Plaines Conservation Area provide easy boat access, as well as miles of shoreline with good fishing.

The entire length of the river in Illinois (about 58 miles) contains considerable access for shoreline anglers.

NOVEMBER
Fox Chain of Lakes: Muskies
The once mysterious fish of 10,000 casts, muskies are well established in all of the lakes in the Fox Chain of Lakes. The colder water temperatures seem to bring out the best in this battler. Anglers with big baits and the stamina to endure the battle will find excellent muskellunge action this month on The Chain.

Muskies are widely distributed in the Chain of Lakes. The ample forage makes for a happy home to muskies virtually anywhere there is current.

Catch-and-release seems to be the rule rather than exception on this water. This rule is undoubtedly one of the main reasons muskie fishing continues to improve each year.

Although anglers can cast or troll for muskies, casting appears to be the favorite by 3 to 1 with Illinois anglers.

Large jerkbaits and large suckers are the primary weapons of muskie hunters in the lakes of the chain. Although keeper fish are caught, it is recommended that fish be returned to the water unharmed.

DECEMBER
Lake of Egypt: Largemouths
Lake of Egypt, a power plant water in Williamson County, south of Marion is some 2,300 acres of bass habitat. The lake is open all year, as it does not freeze over. In winter there are even bass tournaments held out of some of the marinas. Tournament anglers report finding bass from the warmwater discharge out into the main-lake channel and down about a third of the length of the lake. Others find bass in the backs of the coves at the north end of the lake.

Be aware that it is illegal to fish within 100 yards of any residence on the shore.

Cold month fishermen tend to find bass on the points, dropoffs and creek channels. The favorite lures are jig-and-pigs, jigging spoons, Little Georges, spinnerbaits and deep-running crankbaits. This pattern continues right up to spawning time.

This time of the year, many of the boat launch areas are closed. However, the three marinas on the northeast side of the lake remain open. You may have to pay a slight launch fee, but it is worth the money in case of a problem with ice on the ramp.