I wish I could tell you exactly where you will find salmon and trout off the Illinois shoreline this summer, but that’s just not possible. I can assure you they will be out there, chasing alewives and they will be big and plentiful. Many believe the only time you can catch large numbers of salmon is in early spring, but that’s untrue. If you get into the right area, and fish hard, 20 or 30 big salmon are quite possible.

Chicago’s spring fishing begins in early April in the Calumet Harbor area on the far south side, then quickly spreads north to Burnham Harbor, the Navy Pier and the Horseshoe Pier at Montrose Avenue. These areas allow access for shore-fishermen, and along with the offshore rollers, they all have pretty good luck.

By now, you should be taking cohos between 5 and 10pounds and good numbers of chinooks in the 10- to 15-pound range, with an occasional specimen tipping the scales over 20 pounds. Rainbow trout will be there, too, usually weighing between 5 and 10 pounds, but I have a 20-pound beauty hanging in my home that reminds me there are some real trophies out there, too. The past few seasons have seen an increasing number of giant brown trout pushing 20 or more pounds. You just never know.

While there’s no shortage of lake trout, they have become densely packed into just a few areas. Spots where I used to always be able to pick up a few lakers are now barren and not worth fishing. The main lake trout hangout in Illinois waters is Julian’s Reef, about 14 miles southeast of the Waukegan Harbor. Because they aren’t known for fierce fighting qualities, few fishermen are targeting the big lakers, especially since salmon fishing remains very good, and may be found much closer in, an important consideration given the $4 a gallon fuel costs.

Fishing regulations on Lake Michigan are simple. Three trolling rods are allowed per licensed fisherman, and you may use two lures per line. The daily limit is five fish per angler, only two of which may be lake trout.

All fishermen 16 and older must be licensed and possess a Lake Michigan salmon stamp. One-day Lake Michigan permits and non-resident licenses are available online at www.dnr.state.il.us or at many license vendors around Illinois.

Many fishermen utilize the fleet of charter fishing boats located in most harbors. The Chicago Sportfishing Association operates at the city harbors along the lakefront. For information, call (312) 922-1100 or visit www.great-lakes.org/il/fish-chicago.

In Waukegan, call the Waukegan Charter Boat Assn. at (815) BIG-FISH or Google "Illinois Lake Michigan Fishing." A charter boat captain should provide everything needed for an exciting day on the lake. Make sure the boat is U.S. Coast Guard licensed to carry passengers, fully insured and experienced. All necessary fishing gear should be provided, as well as electronics and safety equipment. At day’s end, your catch will be cleaned, bagged and iced for the trip home. All you really need to provide is suitable clothing for the expected weather and a cooler to transport your fish. Oh, yeah, be sure to bring a camera to photograph the big one that didn’t get away.

The Lake Michigan fishery is alive and well. And, yes, you can eat the fish.

For more information about Chicago fishing, call (312) 742-7529 or visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.gov.