Fishing Calendar App
Fishing Calendar for Lake Michigan at Chicago, United States
Chicago's lakefront gives easy shore access to Lake Michigan's open water, where chinook salmon and lake trout are trolled from boats each summer while smallmouth bass hold along the rocky harbour breakwaters.
Lake Michigan right now
From the gauge at Chicago Lock at Chicago, IL · 7 Oct, 20:27 · Open on River map →
On 7 October 2026 at 20:27 Lake Michigan at Chicago Lock at Chicago, IL (4 km from this spot) stood at 13 cm, normal for this gauge over the past month.
Water level
13 cm
Normal
Lake Michigan over the last 7 days
Readings every hour at Chicago Lock at Chicago, IL, the gauge nearest this spot. The shaded band is the gauge's usual range over the last 30 days.
Water level
13 cm
Chicago Lock at Chicago, IL · last 7 days
All gauges on Lake Michigan
1 official gauge along the lake, the nearest highlighted. Flow is coloured as the gauging agency rates it: Low Normal High
| Gauge | Flow | Level | Water | Last 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Lock at Chicago, ILnearest 4 km away | — | 13 cm | — |
Best fishing times in October 2026
| Date | Moon | Sunrise | Sunset | Major periods | Minor periods | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 01 | Waning gibbous | 06:47 | 18:31 | 03:38–05:38, 16:11–18:11 | 09:55–11:55, 22:28–00:28 | 51% ●●●○○ |
| Fri 02 | Waning gibbous | 06:48 | 18:30 | 04:40–06:40, 17:14–19:14 | 10:57–12:57 | 87% ●●●●● |
| Sat 03 | Last quarter | 06:49 | 18:28 | 05:43–07:43, 18:15–20:15 | 23:27–01:27, 11:59–13:59 | 97% ●●●●● |
| Sun 04 | Waning crescent | 06:50 | 18:26 | 06:43–08:43, 19:13–21:13 | 00:27–02:27, 12:58–14:58 | 75% ●●●●○ |
| Mon 05 | Waning crescent | 06:51 | 18:25 | 07:38–09:38, 20:07–22:07 | 01:24–03:24, 13:53–15:53 | 36% ●●○○○ |
| Tue 06 | Waning crescent | 06:52 | 18:23 | 08:30–10:30, 20:57–22:57 | 02:17–04:17, 14:44–16:44 | 11% ●○○○○ |
| Wed 07 | Waning crescent | 06:53 | 18:21 | 09:19–11:19, 21:44–23:44 | 03:06–05:06, 15:31–17:31 | 16% ●○○○○ |
| See efficiency and feeding times for every day in the Fishing Calendar app — get it for iOS or Android. | ||||||
| Thu 08 | Waning crescent | 06:55 | 18:20 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Fri 09 | Waning crescent | 06:56 | 18:18 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sat 10 | New moon | 06:57 | 18:16 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sun 11 | New moon | 06:58 | 18:15 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Mon 12 | Waxing crescent | 06:59 | 18:13 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Tue 13 | Waxing crescent | 07:00 | 18:11 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Wed 14 | Waxing crescent | 07:01 | 18:10 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Thu 15 | Waxing crescent | 07:02 | 18:08 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Fri 16 | Waxing crescent | 07:04 | 18:07 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sat 17 | Waxing crescent | 07:05 | 18:05 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sun 18 | First quarter | 07:06 | 18:04 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Mon 19 | Waxing gibbous | 07:07 | 18:02 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Tue 20 | Waxing gibbous | 07:08 | 18:01 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Wed 21 | Waxing gibbous | 07:09 | 17:59 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Thu 22 | Waxing gibbous | 07:10 | 17:58 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Fri 23 | Waxing gibbous | 07:12 | 17:56 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sat 24 | Waxing gibbous | 07:13 | 17:55 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sun 25 | Full moon | 07:14 | 17:53 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Mon 26 | Waning gibbous | 07:15 | 17:52 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Tue 27 | Waning gibbous | 07:16 | 17:51 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Wed 28 | Waning gibbous | 07:18 | 17:49 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Thu 29 | Waning gibbous | 07:19 | 17:48 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Fri 30 | Waning gibbous | 07:20 | 17:47 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
| Sat 31 | Waning gibbous | 07:21 | 17:45 | ····· | ····· | Unlock · iOS / Android |
Fish of Lake Michigan
Species recorded along the gauged stretch of Lake Michigan, from GBIF occurrence ranges.
-
Lake trout
Salvelinus namaycush
-
Smallmouth bass
Micropterus dolomieu
-
Northern sunfish
Lepomis peltastes
-
Smallmouth redhorse
Moxostoma breviceps
-
Greater redhorse
Moxostoma valenciennesi
-
Bantam sunfish
Lepomis symmetricus
-
American paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
-
River chub
Nocomis micropogon
-
Blackspotted topminnow
Fundulus olivaceus
-
Lake sturgeon
Acipenser fulvescens
-
Black redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei
-
River redhorse
Moxostoma carinatum
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lake Michigan high right now?
- No. On 7 October 2026 the gauge's own month of readings put the level at Chicago Lock at Chicago, IL as normal (13 cm). This page shows the current reading of the nearest gauge whenever you open it.
- What fish are in Lake Michigan?
- Species recorded along the gauged stretch of Lake Michigan include Lake trout, Smallmouth bass, Northern sunfish, Smallmouth redhorse, Greater redhorse, Bantam sunfish. The list comes from GBIF occurrence ranges that cover the gauges, so it shows where a species has been recorded rather than how common it is.
- Where can I check the Lake Michigan water level?
- 1 official gauge measure Lake Michigan at Chicago Lock at Chicago, IL. Their latest readings are listed on this page and on the River map.
- When is the best time to fish at Lake Michigan at Chicago?
- The highest-rated day in the current month at Lake Michigan at Chicago is 10 October 2026, with a fishing efficiency of 100%.
- Do moon phases affect fishing at Lake Michigan at Chicago?
- Solunar theory links feeding activity to the moon's position. Major periods occur when the moon is overhead or underfoot, with shorter minor periods midway between them. New and full moons generally produce the strongest activity.
River data sources
Readings on this page come from official gauging stations: