You don’t need a PhD in bait science to catch catfish. You just need to know when they’re hungry and where they’re hiding

This is your clear, no messing around, season-by-season breakdown for catching flatheads, blues, and channel cats around Illinois, especially in and around Lake Michigan.

Grab your rod, your coffee, and an Oooh Wee Hoodie (because, Midwest). Let’s get into it.

🌷 Spring: The Wake-Up Call (March – May)

The ice melts, the sun peeks out, and the cats start shaking off their winter sluggishness. They’re not exactly sprinting for dinner yet, but they are swimming around.

Where they’re at:

• Shallow, warmer pockets near river mouths and back
• Look for spots where creeks or discharge pipes flow into the lake, the water’s slightly warmer there.

What they want:

• Channel cats go for cut bait (shad, bluegill chunks).
• Flatheads still prefer live bait, green sunfish or small bluegill work
• Blues are rare in Lake Michigan, but if you find one, go fresh cut bait all the

Pro move:

Fish slow and near the bottom. Early spring cats are like you on a Monday morning. They’ll eat, but only if it’s easy.

☀ Summer: The Prime Time (June – August)

This is it. Catfish season is in full swing. They’re active, they’re feeding, and they’re basically begging you to show up.

Where they’re at:

• Nighttime = shallow rocks and nearshore
• Daytime = deeper holes and shady spots (they’re not dumb, they hate sunburn too).
• Around Chicago harbors and Calumet River outlets? Absolute

What they want:

• Flatheads: Live bluegill, goldfish (if legal), or
• Channels: Stink bait, chicken liver, or cut
• Blues (rare but possible): Big fresh cut The stinkier, the better.

Pro move:

Fish right after dusk or before sunrise. Bring bug spray and snacks. You’ll forget the mosquitos exist once that rod bends.

🍂 Fall: The Bulk-Up Season (September – November)

The bite slows slightly but gets smarter and bigger. Catfish are in bulk-up mode, getting ready for winter. If you want trophy-size catches, this is your window.

Where they’re at:

• Moving deeper Look for drop-offs, channels, and river mouths feeding into the lake.
• The Chicago River system gets interesting this time of Warmer, steady water temps keep them biting.

What they want:

• Cut bait all
• Flatheads still hit live bait, but they’re less picky

Think smelly, meaty, easy meals.

Pro move:

Fish late afternoon into dusk. The sun warms the shallows, pulling baitfish (and hungry cats) closer.

❄ Winter: The Chill Zone (December – February)

Let’s be honest. Fishing Lake Michigan in January isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re stubborn (or bored), you can still find some slow but solid bites.

Where they’re at:

• Deep holes, slow current, or warm-water discharge areas (power plants, river inlets).
• So deep and stable, but not frozen and hopeless.

What they want:

• Smaller, slower bait Worms, cut shad, or dead minnows.
• They’re eating less, so patience is your new best

Pro move:

If you’re not ice-fishing inclined, just clean your gear, plan next season, and tell exaggerated stories about your “summer monsters.” You earned the rest.

Final Cast

Illinois catfishing especially around Lake Michigan is a year-round game of timing, temperature, and tenacity.

You don’t need fancy tech or a secret formula. Just a solid plan, a feel for the water, and enough patience to wait for that glorious pull that makes all the mud, bugs, and 4 a.m. alarms worth it.

So the next time you’re wondering when the catfish are biting, remember:

They always are and if you’re out there at the right time, with the right attitude, and the right bait.

Now grab that rod, champ. The river’s calling.