I’m from the South West Chicago suburbs. Just wondering when Smallies typically spawn in this area.

 

Thanks much! 

Rivers or Lake Michigan?  Lake Michigan smallies start in early to mid May while in rivers it should be starting just about now.  

These to were midjune last year. One was on a bed, other phat with eggs. Rivers were blown out in may though so may have been a second round. Im south of Rockford.

Thankyou greatly guys!

Saturday I got 4 smallies, the best was 4lb, in the 31st harbor, all females.  My memory is seeing bed fish in the harbors as early as the first week in May.

 

scott

It not so much where you live & fish but water temperature that triggers the spawn. Smallies start to spawn when the water temps hit 55-56 degrees in the spring with the heaviest concentration occurring in the low 60 degree range.  

 

I was out saturday on river and saw a few beds with fish. The cold front will slow them down....

Thankyou greatly guys!

On 4/18/2021 at 7:02 PM, Bdnoble84 said:

These to were midjune last year. One was on a bed, other phat with eggs. Rivers were blown out in may though so may have been a second round. Im south of Rockford.

Rock River?

Spawn should be starting any day now if it hasn't already and go on another 4-5 weeks inland. Water temps are the key. On Lake Michigan, figure late April to mid May

Fish rock river as well but this was a small stream. I know small mouth can spawn into June but i was just surprised that they were still fat with wggs june 16

I saw them starting to make beds last week so quite soon around me.

Thanks a ton JWall14!

Back when I used to fish the Kankakee a lot, I crushed the postspawn smallies on Mother's Day Weekend in some eddies.  I had some epic days in the State Park back when the Kank was kicking out a lot of 20" bass.  That pattern worked every year.  So by that timing, smallies should be spawning right now in the rivers.  

Thankyou, I haven’t fished the Kank in a few years, I gotta get out there. Normally when I fished it, it was from just east of the 55 bridge to the confluence. 

17 hours ago, Otter17 said:

Thankyou, I haven’t fished the Kank in a few years, I gotta get out there. Normally when I fished it, it was from just east of the 55 bridge to the confluence. 

 

I fished there once but I spent most of my time on the Kank in the State Park or by Area 7 (or is it 9?) up to the Warner Bridge.  But I'm talking 15 years ago when I was on a wading kick.  If I was starting from scratch I would focus on the Dupage around Shorewood.  Seems like that stretch kicks out a lot of nice fish.  Also, they are catching a lot of nice pike in the Des Plaines.  Both of those places are closer too.